Souter Lighthouse
South Tyneside's beacon of history!
Souter Lighthouse, with its dramatic red and white hoops, is an iconic landmark on the North East coast and the first in the world to be purpose built for electricity.
You can experience what life was like for the Lighthouse Keeper, with a reconstructed Victorian Keepers cottage and many hands on activities.
There's a fun activity trail, along with some fantastic regular events such as craft activities and rockpool rambles.
Visitors can still see the machinery, which remains in working order, and of course climb to the top of the tower. It's well worth the effort, and once you've regained your breath you can literally see for miles!
The beautiful South Tyneside coastline below may seem very calm now, but it was in fact once very dangerous. Many ships ran aground amongst the treacherous reefs & rocks and smugglers plied their dastardly trade on our shores, so when the lighthouse opened in 1871, with its state of the art technology, it was very needed!
Decommissioned in 1988, this property is now managed and protected by the National Trust.
Surrounding the lighthouse are miles of grassy fields, spectacular cliffs and rocky bays. Enjoy a cycle or a walk along the beautiful coastline and take in the spectacular scenery.
Marsden Bay and Whitburn Village are only 5 minutes away and definitely worth a visit.
Souter is a haven for wildlife and a must for all visitors.
Did you know?
Souter is a special place all year round and was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity.
Highlights
- Climb the 76 steps to the top for spectacular views
- Play in the Foghorn Field, where there are free sports activities during school holidays
- See the engine room with all its machinery
- Join the National Trust team for a seashore safari, exploring the nearby rockpools
- Enjoy a delicious cake or scone in the tea room
- Birdwatching - Look out along the coast for a variety of birds of prey which can be seen at various times of the year, including kestrels, sparrowhawks, peregrine falcons and owls
- With lots of green open space at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, this is the perfect place to keep active, whether you want to run, walk or cycle
Opening times
Please check opening times at Souter Lighthouse opening times.
Admission prices
National Trust ticket prices apply.
Facilities
- Cafe
- Car and coach parking
- Toilets
- Baby changing facilities
- Gift shop
- Group discounts available
Access
- Accessible toilet
- Large print guide
- Tactile exhibits
- Wheelchair access to ground floor
- For those unable to climb the tower live camera pictures from the top of the tower can be viewed at ground level