Things to Do in South Shields
From the Roman ruins at Arbeia to the beaches of Sandhaven and the theatres at The Customs House, here is your complete guide to things to do in South Shields.
South Shields sits at the mouth of the River Tyne, where the estuary meets the North Sea. It is a town with a Roman past, a proud industrial heritage, and some of the finest beaches in the North East. Whether you are visiting for the day or thinking of moving here, there is far more to South Shields than first meets the eye.
Here is your guide to the best things to do in South Shields.
Arbeia Roman Fort
Arbeia Roman Fort, on Baring Street, guarded the main sea route to Hadrian's Wall and served as a military supply base for the forts along the Wall. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the finest full-scale Roman reconstructions in the country, including a commanding officer's house, a barracks block, and the fort's west gate.
The small museum on site houses significant finds from excavations spanning more than a century. Admission is free, and the fort is open from late March to the end of September.
Best for: Free entry to one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the North East. Allow at least an hour for the reconstructions and museum.
The Beaches
South Shields has two main beaches. Sandhaven Beach is the larger stretch, running south from the river mouth along the seafront. It is a sandy, sheltered beach with good facilities including toilets, cafes, and easy access from the seafront car parks. Littlehaven Beach, a smaller bay to the north, offers panoramic views across the harbour mouth to the ruins of Tynemouth Priory on the opposite headland. Littlehaven's landscaped dunes and public art make it a quieter, more contemplative spot.
Both beaches have been awarded Seaside Awards for water quality and are popular for swimming, sandcastle-building, and rock-pooling.
Best for: Sandhaven for families and facilities; Littlehaven for harbour views and a quieter beach day.
The Customs House
The Customs House, at Mill Dam, is South Tyneside's premier arts venue. Housed in a handsome listed building overlooking the River Tyne, it contains a 440-seat theatre, a cinema, an art gallery, and a restaurant and bar. The programme covers everything from touring West End shows and stand-up comedy to local amateur productions and children's pantomime.
The building itself is worth visiting for its architecture and riverside setting. The bar and restaurant area has outdoor seating with views across the Tyne.
Best for: Theatre, cinema, gallery, and a riverside bar, all under one roof. Check the programme at customshouse.co.uk.
South Marine Park
South Marine Park is the green heart of the seafront. The park's boating lake is a firm favourite with all ages -- you can hire a pedalo or rowing boat and share the water with swans, ducks, and geese. The Lakeshore Railroad, a miniature steam railway running a third of a mile around the lake, has been operating since 1972 and is the only public steam-working nine-and-a-half-inch gauge railway in the country.
There are two play parks, a bandstand, well-kept gardens, and paths that connect the park to both the seafront and Ocean Road. The park runs seasonal events throughout the summer.
Best for: Boating lake, miniature steam railway, play parks, and gardens. A proper old-fashioned seaside park.
The Word
The Word, the National Centre for the Written Word, opened in 2016 on the Market Place in the town centre. It is a striking modern building that serves as the main library for South Shields but goes well beyond books. Inside you will find interactive digital exhibits, a fabrication lab, a performance space, and a programme of events and workshops throughout the year.
The rooftop terrace offers views across the town centre and down to the river. Admission is free.
Best for: Far more than a library. Free entry, digital exhibits, events, and a rooftop terrace with town views.
Souter Lighthouse and The Leas
A short drive or bus ride south of the town centre, Souter Lighthouse on the coast road at Whitburn was the first lighthouse in the world built specifically for electric illumination when it opened in 1871. Now managed by the National Trust, the lighthouse and its grounds are open to visitors, with a small exhibition inside and a tea room in the keeper's cottage.
The surrounding coastal strip, known as The Leas, is a two-mile sweep of limestone cliffs, wildflower grassland, and dramatic rocky bays. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to thousands of nesting seabirds including kittiwakes, fulmars, and cormorants. The clifftop path leads to Marsden Rock and Marsden Bay, where the Marsden Grotto -- a pub built into the cave at the base of the cliffs -- has been serving drinks since the eighteenth century.
Best for: The Leas walk from Souter to Marsden is one of the finest short coastal walks in the North East.
Ocean Road
No guide to South Shields is complete without mentioning Ocean Road. This long, straight road connecting the town centre to the seafront is known throughout the North East as South Shields' "curry mile", home to dozens of Indian, Bangladeshi, and Asian restaurants and takeaways. It is also where you will find Colmans Fish and Chips, Minchella and Co ice cream parlour, and a mix of independent shops.
On a warm summer evening, Ocean Road buzzes with diners, families heading to the beach, and the smell of spices drifting from restaurant doorways. It is the social spine of the town.
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