Just north of Sunderland City Centre, Seaburn and Roker beaches are a seaside
playground for both adults and children. Closest to the city, is Roker further
north is Seaburn. Seaburn seafront has many seaside attractions, including a
sandy beach, amusement park and arcades, promenades, children's playgrounds,
fish and chip shops, gift shops for trinkets and ice creams, guest houses, the
Marriott hotel , which used to be the Seaburn Hotel and also the Swallow Hotel.
Seaburn funfair was redeveloped in the late 1980's, a new amusement park and
leisure centre built and a Morrisons supermarket.
There seems to be something for everyone whether on holiday or a day out.
Morrisons supermarket entrance displays a huge replica painting of critically
acclaimed painter L. S. Lowry in acknowledgement of time he liked to spend and
stay in the area. Seaburn also hosts the Sunderland International Airshow, the
largest free airshow event held in Europe.
The airshow is aimed at all ages with a variety of aeroplanes and helicopters
and lots of other activities such as the Army with tanks people can go into to
have a look and the Air Force with aeroplanes and simulators for people to look
at and have a go of and lots more going on throughout the two days making it
very popular with the public.
Seaburn also holds Sunderland's annual Boxing Day dip. A Wearside winter
tradition held each year to raise money for charity. Hundreds of very brave
Wearside's brave the weather and throw themselves into the North Sea at Seaburn
on December 26th. Friends, family and passers bye shout and cheer them on as
they run into the freezing cold sea. no matter what the weather has been, frost,
blizzard or icy rain, to prepare themselves the local fire brigade shower the
dippers with freezing water from hosepipes to prepare them for when they
actually go into the icy North Sea.
