Sunderland Greyhound Stadium Parking, Directions & How to Get There

Sunderland greyhound stadium sits on Newcastle Road, alongside the A184 between the village of East Boldon and Sunderland city centre. The location is straightforward to reach by car from any direction, and the on-site parking is free — space for 500 vehicles with no booking required. For a venue that holds up to 1,500 spectators, that parking ratio is generous, and on most race nights you will find a spot without difficulty.

Getting there by public transport is less intuitive but entirely possible. The Tyne and Wear Metro does not drop you at the door, but it gets you close enough, and bus connections cover the remaining distance. A taxi from the city centre takes under ten minutes.

What follows is a practical breakdown of each travel option, with arrival timing advice for anyone who has booked a restaurant package and needs to be seated before the first race.

By Car — Routes and Parking

The A184 is the key road. It connects to the A19 via Testo’s Roundabout — one of the main north-south trunk road corridors through the north-east of England. Whether you are driving from Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough or anywhere along the A19, the route funnels you onto the A184 signposted for Sunderland and from there to the stadium on Newcastle Road.

From the A19 northbound or southbound, take the A184 exit at Testo’s Roundabout, signposted for Sunderland. Follow Newcastle Road east toward the city. The stadium is on the south side of the road, roughly half a mile south-east of East Boldon. The entrance is well-signposted on race nights and hard to miss if you are looking for it.

From central Sunderland, head north-west on Newcastle Road (A184). The stadium is roughly two and a half miles from the city centre — a five-minute drive in normal traffic. From the north via the A19, take the A184 exit and follow the same route. The approach is uncomplicated regardless of direction; the only real variable is traffic volume during Friday evening rush hour, which can add ten to fifteen minutes to the journey if you time it badly.

Sunderland greyhound stadium parking is free and unregulated — there are no barriers, no ticket machines, and no time limits. The car park has space for 500 vehicles on a tarmac surface with reasonable lighting. On a typical Friday night or Sunday afternoon, the car park fills to perhaps half capacity. For Category One events — the Premier Classic or the ARC Grand Prix — it can get busier, and arriving thirty minutes before the first race is sensible rather than cautious.

There is no designated overflow parking on site. If the main car park is full, the surrounding retail and industrial estate offers some informal options, but these are not managed by the stadium and there is no guarantee of security. In practice, the 500-space car park is sufficient for the vast majority of meetings.

One practical note for drivers: the stadium car park is shared with other businesses on Stadium Park during daytime hours. If you are arriving for an afternoon BAGS meeting, be aware that some of the parking may be taken by other users. Evening meetings do not have this issue.

By Public Transport — Metro, Bus and Taxi

The nearest rail station is East Boldon, on the Tyne and Wear Metro’s South Shields line. From there, it is approximately a twenty-minute walk to the greyhound stadium — manageable in good weather, but not the most comfortable option on a wet Friday night in January. A short taxi ride from East Boldon station solves the problem.

A more practical option from Sunderland city centre is the bus. The number 9 service runs along Newcastle Road and stops within a couple of minutes’ walk of the stadium entrance. The frequency varies by time of day, but Friday evening services are generally reliable enough to get you to the track before the first race if you leave the city centre with a reasonable margin.

Bus stops on Newcastle Road are the closest to the stadium entrance. The walk from the bus stop to the main doors is short — a couple of minutes at most. Check local Nexus timetables for the most up-to-date routes and schedules, as services can change seasonally.

Taxis are the easiest non-car option. The journey from Sunderland city centre to the stadium takes under ten minutes and costs between £6 and £10 depending on the time and the firm. From Newcastle city centre, the fare will be higher — typically £20 to £25 — but it is a straightforward run down the A19 and A184. Several local taxi companies are familiar with the stadium, and on race nights there are usually cabs available at the venue for the return journey. Rideshare apps also cover the Sunderland area, though availability can be patchy late on Friday nights.

For groups, a minibus or shared taxi makes financial sense. A party of eight splitting a £20 taxi fare is paying less per person than a return bus ticket, and the door-to-door convenience is hard to beat — especially if dinner and a few drinks are involved.

Accessibility and Practical Tips

The stadium is accessible at ground level, and wheelchair users can access the trackside viewing areas without encountering steps. The main entrance, restaurant areas and betting facilities are all on the same floor. If you have specific mobility requirements, it is worth contacting the stadium in advance through the official website to confirm arrangements for the meeting you plan to attend.

Toilet facilities include accessible cubicles in the main spectator areas. The car park surface is tarmac throughout, and the distance from the nearest parking spaces to the main entrance is short — no more than a two-minute walk even at a slow pace.

Arrival timing depends on what you are there for. If you have booked a restaurant package, the stadium recommends arriving at least thirty minutes before the first race to allow time for seating, ordering and settling in. The restaurant operates on a fixed sitting, and latecomers risk missing the starter. For general admission — standing trackside with access to the bar and betting windows — arriving ten to fifteen minutes before the first race is usually sufficient.

Weather is worth thinking about. Sunderland is an outdoor stadium, and the trackside viewing areas are exposed. The restaurant offers covered seating with a view of the track, but if you are standing trackside, you are at the mercy of the north-east English weather. On a dry summer evening that is a minor consideration. On a rainy November night it is not. Dress accordingly — layers, a waterproof jacket and shoes that can handle a damp tarmac surface will serve you better than anything fashionable.

For families: greyhound racing is generally a relaxed, informal environment, and children are welcome at Sunderland. There are no age restrictions on entry, although anyone placing a bet must be over eighteen. The pace of a meeting — a race every fifteen minutes — means there is plenty of downtime between events for food, drinks and a wander around the venue. It is not a theme park, but for an evening out with older children who enjoy animals and a bit of mild excitement, it works well enough.