Public transport and parking: How to get to and from the Sunderland Airshow 2018

Need some tips on getting to and from the Sunderland Airshow 2018 this weekend?
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Sunderland City Council have issued the following travel advice.

You can also find full details of what’s happening and when here.

Need help in getting to and from the 2018 airshow?Need help in getting to and from the 2018 airshow?
Need help in getting to and from the 2018 airshow?

Travelling by car

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For visitors travelling by car, there will be park and ride services operating from the Stadium of Light, Deptford Terrace, Fulwell Quarry and Downhill at a cost of £2.50 per person with under fives travelling free.

Seafront parking is available at a cost of £10 and can be booked via the Sunderland Airshow website or purchased on the day.

There is limited Blue Badge parking available at Morrisons, Seaburn Showfield and Marine Walk while all Park and Ride services are accessible.

There will also by clear road-side directions for motorists travelling to Sunderland on the main routes into the city with regular traffic updates on the Sunderland Airshow website and social media channels, with local radio bulletins throughout the day on both BBC Newcastle 95.4FM and 103.4 Sun FM 103.4.

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Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt of Northumbria Police, said: “We are pleased and proud to once again be supporting the Sunderland Airshow, and we are expecting hundreds of thousands of people to attend the event over the course of the weekend.

“Work is ongoing with Sunderland City Council, Nexus and other partners to ensure visitors get to and leave the site as efficiently and safely as possible.

“Motor patrol officers will be on duty to assist in keeping traffic flowing throughout the main routes and we would again encourage visitors to take advantage of the increased public transport and Park’n’Ride services which will be in operation.

“Roads will be busy, so please be patient if driving to and from the event and leave plenty of time for your journey.

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“Make sure you switch off your sat-nav as you approach Sunderland as it will direct you to the most popular route, thereby causing delays. Instead, follow the signs to designated parking areas.

“Please keep an eye on the Northumbria Police social media feeds for the latest messages and travel advice, and anyone with questions should ask an officer on patrol or a nearby steward.”

Travelling by public transport

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, will be running extra Metro trains to get people to and from the Airshow with extra staff on duty to help advise passengers.

Customer services director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “Metro plays a key role getting thousands of people to the airshow, and we will have extra trains running to cope with the demand.

“This is one of Metro’s busiest weekends of the year.

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"We expect services to be busy over the weekend, particularly at Seaburn station, with queues following the event.

“Extra Metros will be running, but my message to customers is to please leave plenty of time for your journey.”

Leading regional bus company Go North-East will also increase their services including direct services to and from Washington.

Go North East commercial director, Stephen King said: “We’re delighted to be providing the Park and Ride service once again for the Sunderland Airshow, and looking forward to transporting visitors to the thirtieth show."

He added details of its services can be found here.

Sunderland Airshow Park & Ride Bus Services

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Four Park & Ride sites with frequent buses taking you non-stop to the Seafront.

The sites will be signed from all major routes into Sunderland, including the A19.

Friday, July 27, park at the Stadium of Light and catch the PR3 to the Bungalow Cafe for all the action on Friday evening.

Buses start at 2pm and run every 20 minutes until 4pm, then every 10 minutes throughout the evening with the last bus leaving the Bungalow Cafe at 11pm.

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On Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, there are four Park & Ride sites to choose from with buses running frequently throughout the day and plenty of them to keep you on the move.

Park at Downhill Sports Complex (PR1), Fulwell Quarry (PR2) or the Stadium of Light (PR3) with buses running every few minutes from 9am to Recreation Park at Seaburn. Buses will run until 8pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday.

You can also park at Deptford Terrace, next to the Queen Alexandra Bridge (PR4), with buses running every few minutes from 10am to the Bungalow Cafe.

Buses will run until 8pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday.

Park & Ride Prices


£2.50 return per person (under fives travel free).

Unfortunately, concession passes can’t be used on the Airshow Park & Ride bus services.

General Information

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*All the buses on the Airshow Park & Ride services will be low floor, easy access and can accommodate one wheelchair on each bus or up to two unfolded pushchairs. At busy times, customers may be asked to fold pushchairs or wait for the next bus to load.

*Staff will be on hand at each Park & Ride site and at each bus stop at the airshow site to make your journey as easy as possible and if you’ve got any questions, just ask.

*Once you arrive at the Airshow site, the bus will leave from the same stop for your return journey back to the Park & Ride site.

Up to date information on any changes over the weekend are available from www.sunderlandinternationalairshow.co.uk.”