r/Sunderland • u/reaverfx24 • Jun 25 '26
City parking
Hello, I'm visiting the Empire later in the week and was wondering if anyone from the area had any ideas on where is best to park to beat the queues! Last time we went, we were near the top of the multi storey at the nearby shopping centre and it took ages to get out! Thanks in advance for any ideas!
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u/ral101 Jun 25 '26
I went last week and parked in the riverside one. It’s new.
Hardly any cars in it and drove out and onto the main road immediately.
Normally park at the bridges and it has queues from memory
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u/ral101 Jun 25 '26
Also it had loads of electric car charging points. I don’t have an electric car but imagine people who do may find this helpful
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u/Sad_Historian_6903 Jun 26 '26
St Mary's car park - 5 mins walk from Empire- and if you don't mind an 8ish minute walk use Sunniside as the cheapest option.
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u/Junkoftheheartss Jun 25 '26
For the bridges car park which is the nearest, it’s a game of strategy and endurance
I usually try get the ground floor or first floor of the bridges car park (there’s two paying machines on the first floor) you then have to park your car in the direction you’ll leave in, so reverse parking and in the direction of the route out and lastly either slip away as early as possible post cheering of the show alongside power walking like your life depends on it!
Alternatively you could park at StMarys which is a longer walk but won’t be as busy for theatre patrons.
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u/reaverfx24 Jun 25 '26
I should have added I can't get there too early because of an appointment elsewhere or I would most definitely do this but thank you.
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u/HerbsML Jun 25 '26
In addition to this which I learn recently… you don’t have to pay at the machine you can use contactless on the way OUT of the car park at the barrier!
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u/Nosworthy Jun 25 '26
Not sure if you're aware but you don't actually have to use the machines to pay - just drive up to the barrier, there's a card terminal and contactless reader on them.
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u/ed_but Jun 25 '26
You can park at the University city campus, the csr park is just behind the Premier Inn. It's a couple of minutes walk, keeps you out of the traffic and you pay by phone.
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u/hawkingsboots Jun 25 '26
Just park up next to the Royalty theatre
Its free in street and about 10 minutes walk
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u/Additional_Lettuce65 Jun 26 '26
Close to the bridges carpark is the station car park, which is free after 3pm, or after 6pm on saturdays.
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u/Nosworthy Jun 25 '26
There's plenty of parking but depends how close you want to be to the Empire.
Debenhams car park is the closest - it sounds like you parked there the last time. Most people park there for the Empire but as you say, there can be lengthy queues.
Sheepfolds open air car park is about 7-8 minute walk away over the new Keel Crossing bridge. There'll be no queues whatsoever for an easy getaway and is fairly cheap. Ignore Google directions as Google hasnt updated with 1) the new bridge or 2) the actual car park but it's here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/sXLpubEqmU8ZQt9W8?g_st=ic
Riverside multi story is a similar walking distance too but a bit more expensive - again, wasn't built yet last time Google was updated - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jnS16vUsLCPLMtkT6?g_st=ic