Revealed: Where you can park and ride when The Tall Ships Races come to Sunderland

The parking plans for Sunderland's leg of The Tall Ships Races have been announced.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Sunderland for The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International.Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Sunderland for The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit Sunderland for The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International.

Four Park and Rides sites - and details of where coaches will stay - have been revealed today.

And visitors can now pre-book parking facilities online for The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018.

Spectacular firework displays are planned for the Sunderland leg of The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International/Valery Vasilevsky.Spectacular firework displays are planned for the Sunderland leg of The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International/Valery Vasilevsky.
Spectacular firework displays are planned for the Sunderland leg of The Tall Ships Races. Photo: Sail Training International/Valery Vasilevsky.
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Coaches, drivers and Blue Badge holders can make sure they enjoy everything the event has to offer – and save money - by pre-booking their parking spaces.

Four Park and Ride sites will have capacity for over 3000 cars, and there will be dedicated coach parking at the Stadium of Light, and Blue Badge parking at St Peter’s Riverside.

In addition, fully accessible shuttle buses will run at frequent intervals between the event zones on the north and south of the River Wear so that people can experience everything the event has to offer.

Tall Ships Races Project Director, Michelle Daurat, said: “I would really urge all visitors to get online and book their parking tickets now,

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“We’re expecting more than one million visitors to the event and with so much to see and experience across the mouth of the River Wear a little forward planning can make all the difference.”

Park and Ride tickets pre-booked online costs £10 per car per day and will cover the driver and four passengers to travel on the Park and Ride buses.

These tickets will also allow the holders to access the event shuttle buses throughout the day of validity. Additional Park and Ride passengers are charged at £4 each and under-fives travel for free.

If bought on the day, the Park and Ride ticket cost is £4 per passenger.

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Blue Badge parking is also available to buy online with tickets for each available at just £10 per day – a 50 per cent saving on the ‘on the day’ price of £20.

The event schedule begins on Wednesday, July 11, when the ships will lower their gangways to visitors.

On Thursday, July 12, the programme of culture and entertainment continues when a Crew Parade will weave through the city centre, bringing a carnival atmosphere to the streets, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.

On Friday, July 13, a major artistic commission will take place on the riverside and local sail trainees taking part in the Races will arrive to join their ships.

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Finally, on Saturday, July 14, the ships will take part in a spectacular Parade of Sail, past the coastal resorts of Roker and Seaburn, with onshore entertainment continuing well into the evening.

To pre-book parking and for further information visit https://www.tallshipssunderland.com/shop/parking.

The Park and Ride car parks are;

l Fulwell Quarry - Post code: SR5 1JT - Drop off at Event Zone C (St Peter’s Riverside) Tuesday - Friday and Event Zone D (Seafront) on Saturday.

l Downhill - Post code: SR5 4BB - Drop off at Event Zone B (Town Moor ) Wednesday - Friday and Event Zone D (Seafront) on Saturday.

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l Herrington Country Park -Post code: : DH4 7EL - Drop off at Event Zone B (Town Moor ) Wednesday - Friday and Event Zone C (St Peter’s Way) on Saturday.

l Seaburn Camp - Post code: SR6 8AA - Drop off at Event Zone C ( St Peter’s Riverside) Wednesday - Friday and Event Zone D (Seafront) on Saturday.