Getting Here

By Bicycle & Foot

The Beam is easily accessible by both bike and on foot, with plenty of changing facilities including showers and internal and external bicycle storage, you could use this mode of transport as part of your regular commute. See local cycle and walking maps here

And due to its riverscape location why not enjoy a leisurely pursuit during your lunch break.

By Bus

Park Lane Interchange is approximately 12 minutes walk from The Beam providing bus links to Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Teesside and throughout Tyne and Wear. Stagecoach and Go North East also run regular services to Sunderland’s residential neighbourhoods that stop at the Riverside Sunderland site on St Mary’s Boulevard.

For up to date travel information see Traveline

To download local timetables and access ticket information see Nexus

Tyne & Wear Metro

The Tyne and Wear Metro operated by Nexus is the backbone of an integrated public transport network across the city and throughout the region. The nearest station is Sunderland Station, exit via Union Street.

The closest Metro station to Riverside Sunderland is Sunderland (Sunderland Train Station). Sunderland station is shared with Northern mainline services. There is an island platform with two faces; Metro trains use the southern end of the platforms (called Platform 2- southbound – and Platform 3 – northbound) and mainline services use the northern end of the platforms (called Plaform 1- southbound – and Platform 4 – northbound). The station has four accesses with the main entrance being on Athaneam Street. The nearest access points for Riverside Sunderland site are via Union Street or Fawcett Street.

The station is approximately a six minute walk from The Beam (0.3 miles) and is mostly flat.

To download local timetables and access ticket information see Nexus

By Train (Local)

Trains operated by Northern Rail between Nunthorpe and Middlesborough and Newcastle and the Metro Centre also run from Sunderland Train Station. As well as between Sunderland and Newcastle, to Hexham and Carlisle.

By Train (national)

The East Coast Main Line offers direct train services via Grand Central to London. And via London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to London Kings Cross. Typical journey times to London are three and a half hours.

By Road

Within the city, east-west road links are provided by the A690 and A1231 dual carriageways which connect to the A1M and A19, providing road access to the rest of the UK. Typical drive times are Leeds 1.5 hours, Edinburgh 2 hours and London 5 hours.

The Beam is located within the Riverside Sunderland site off the A183 St Mary’s Boulevard – Keel Square.

By Air

Newcastle International Airport is approximately 35 minutes by car in off peak traffic with journey time added during peak times. It is also accessed directly via the Tyne and Wear Metro from Sunderland Station and takes approximately 50 minutes. Address: Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 8BZ.

Teeside International Airport with regular flights to Scotland, Humberside, Jersey and Amsterdam. Address: Darlington DL2 1LU

Car Parking

It is important to outline that there will be  no parking available  at The Beam but there are lots of public car parks in and around the city centre.

Payment of the daily or hourly rate can be made with cash at the machines are in most locations by using the RingGo cashless parking facility. Details of the RingGo system is available on posters at each location.

For more info visit www.sunderland.gov.uk/RingGo

Car Park Costs

Park for free in Sunderland City Centre after 3pm from Monday to Friday all year in the City council car parks (except Riverside Sunderland and Sheepfolds). Check out the list of car parks and tarrif prices close to the Beam here 

Motorcycle Parking

Motorcycles can be parked in St Mary’s Car Park. Chargeable at the hourly tariff. There are no designated bays, but motorbikes and mopeds can park in a safe area – near to the main office – which will be designated to you by the security staff on duty.

Car Sharing 

Please consider car sharing for your journey to The Beam.  One of the greatest benefits of sharing a car is financial. You can save a lot of money by car sharing in a number of ways, depending on the arrangements you make with the person sharing your car. Sharing a car is also good for the environment. Many of us are concerned for the planet and reducing the number of cars on the road is an important step to making the world around us healthier. Car sharing is a great way to achieve this end with more people sharing one car there will be fewer individual cars on the roads, reducing carbon emissions and creating cleaner air in our towns and cities.

Disabled Parking / Blue Badge Holders

There are ten disabled bays on the ground floor of St Mary’s Car park and a further nine disabled bays on the second floor available for staff and visitors to use (normal St Mary’s car park charges apply)

There are other designated disabled bays in or around the Riverside Sunderland site for more information visit the Disabled Parking section on the Sunderland City Council website.

Electric Car Charging

West Wear Street car park has the Fastned Charging station that is close to the Riverside Sunderland site. The UK’ first 24/7 drive though electric filling station has a bespoke canopy and provides:

·       2 x 175kw ultra rapid charging units

·       4 x 50kw rapid charging units

It is ideally located for drive in, short stay to recharge batteries for EV vehicles at a rate of 39p/kwh. For more information visit www.fastnedcharging.com/en/

A list of all charging points in the city centre are shown below.

To view information on public charging stations located close to The Beam visit Zap Map