The Stadium of Light, the celebrated home of Sunderland A.F.C., is a distinguished and well-known sports and events venue in the United Kingdom. This grand stadium, located in Sunderland near the River Wear, has a seating capacity of 49,000, making it the UK’s ninth-largest stadium. The Stadium of Light’s distinctive architecture, which includes the notable North Stand, makes it an instantly recognizable landmark, with spectacular views from every angle.
Aside from hosting Sunderland A.F.C.’s exciting home games, the Stadium of Light is a multipurpose venue that hosts a variety of international sporting events. It serves as a venue for not only football but also other sports and events, such as rugby and concerts by some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Coldplay, Rihanna, Spice Girls, and Ed Sheeran. Interestingly, the Ed Sheeran concert in June 2022 drew 60,000 people, setting a record for the Stadium of Light.
Now let’s explore, where we can find Free and Paid Parking Spaces in Stadium of Light!
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Stadium of Light Parking
Match Day Parking at the Stadium of Light
On match day, streetside parking on nearby streets is not an option, as it is at many other major stadiums in the UK. Sunderland City Council closes more than 60 streets to non-residents prior to, during, and immediately following the match, and anyone parking on the street is likely to face a fine. While the exact list of closed streets is not available online, expect the entire Sheepfolds area, Hay Street, Millennium Way, and the A1290 and Keir Hardie Way north of the stadium to be closed.
Onsite parking at the SoL is also not an option because there are only a few spaces available and all passes have already sold out. People with disabilities should visit the SoL’s accessibility page for more information on accommodations.
Off-site matchday parking options
With no onsite parking and road closures around the stadium, the only viable parking option is to park offsite and walk or take public transportation to the stadium. Stadium management recommends the latter option, as there are several parking options that involve leaving your car in a secure location and then taking an express bus, rail transport, or your own two feet to the stadium. We have compiled a comprehensive list of options for you, including costs (where applicable), directions, and time estimates for getting to the stadium in time for kickoff.
Free parking with train to the stadium
While this isn’t the best option for parking as close to the SoL as possible, it is one of the best for saving money on parking and time spent stuck in traffic looking for closer parking. This option entails parking for free at East Boldon Station and then taking the green line (2 stops) to Stadium of Light Station. Trains on the green line run every 12 minutes, and tickets range in price from £2.75 to £4.85 per day, depending on the time of year and the zones you visit. If the station parking lot is full, you can park on nearby residential streets in East Boldon.
- East Boldon Station Car Park NE36 0AB – Free | 5 min train + 15 min walk
- Bede Terrace NE36 0DZ – Free | 3 min walk + 5 min train + 15 min walk
- Baldwin Avenue NE36 0EL – Free | 3 min walk + 5 min train + 15 min walk
- Cleadon Lane NE36 0AJ – Free | 3 min walk + 5 min train + 15 min walk
Seaburn Metro is one station closer to the South Loop. While you could make the same move from this metro, the onsite parking lot is much smaller and more likely to be full before you arrive.
- Seaburn Metro Car park SR6 9AA – Free | 3 min train + 15 min walk
- Coniston Avenue SR5 1RB – Free | 2 min walk + 3 min train + 15 min walk
- Dene Lane SR6 8EG – Free | 2 min walk + 3 min train + 15 min walk
Park and Ride with express bus
Sunderland Enterprise Park operates a matchday express bus to and from the stadium. This option is easily accessible from the A19 via Wessington Way (A1231) and is worth considering for those approaching the stadium from the west. On game day, buses run every 5 minutes before the game (beginning 90 minutes before kickoff) and frequently after the game until all fans have been transported back to their vehicles.
Sunderland Enterprise Park SR5 2TH – Price n/a | 5 minute bus ride
Park and Walk
Another way to avoid traffic near the stadium and save a pound or two on parking is to find one of the many low-cost parking lots just south of the river, then walk 15 to 30 minutes to the Stadium of Light. There are several affordable and secure parking options just south of the A1018 bridge. This includes:
- St Mary’s Car Park SR1 3AH – £1.50 per hour | 15 minute walk
- West Wear Street SR1 1XD – £1.00 per hour | 15 minute walk
- Sunniside Multi Storey Car Park SR1 1UL – – £1.30 per hour | 16 minute walk
- Charles Street Car Park SR1 1XB – £1.00 per hour | 16 minute walk
- High Street West Car Park SR1 1UN – 90p per hour | 15 minute wal
While the streets immediately surrounding the SoL are closed to non-residents, those slightly further away are not. If you are willing to walk for about 20 minutes, you can park for free. When parking on the street, always make sure you are not impeding traffic or causing inconvenience to others.
- Morgan Street SR5 2HR – Free | 22 minute walk
- Goschen Street SR5 2JP – Free | 25 minute walk
- The King’s Road SR5 2JF – Free | 25 minute walk
One final option is to park in one of the parking lots near the beach to the east. With the beach only a 30-minute (1.3-mile) walk away, this option saves you time and money while also providing an excellent opportunity to explore the beach after the match.
- Marine Walk Car Park SR6 0PR – £3.00 per day | 30 minute walk
- Harbour View Car Park SR5 0RG – £3.00 per day | 30 minute walk
Parking app options on match-day
Overall, finding convenient and affordable parking options near the Stadium of Light on matchday isn’t particularly difficult. Sure, you’ll have to walk for 15 to 30 minutes, but there are plenty of affordable options, unlike some other stadiums in the UK, particularly in London.
However, in recent years, searching for parking options on driveway rental apps has grown in popularity. In essence, these apps enable private garage or driveway owners to rent them out on an hourly basis for extra cash. While this option is extremely popular in areas where parking is scarce or expensive, it is becoming more widespread.
Because the property owners can set their own prices, you will typically find both extremely low and absurd prices. We cannot overstate the importance of booking your spot in advance. After weeks of testing, ParkingScout determined that looking for private parking two to three weeks before matchday is the best strategy. Good spots go quickly!
We compared two of the game’s biggest players, JustPark and Your Parking Space, for parking options on match day with a two-week lead time, beginning one hour before kick-off and lasting four hours. The results are available below.
JustPark
Despite checking with two weeks until matchday, JustPark only had seven available options. This is significantly fewer than near other stadiums, most likely due to the affordability and convenience of the existing parking. The options on JustPark ranged from £5.10 to £11.20 for four hours, which is very similar to what council-run car parks charge. There are no significant savings here, but it may save you a few minutes of walking.
Your Parking Space
Surprisingly, the options on Your Parking Space were slightly cheaper than on JustPark; however, with few options available and the majority of options being further away and requiring the use of public transportation, we believe there is not much use here either. Sure, if you are willing to walk about an hour in each direction (or swim across the river), you can find parking for as little as £3 for four hours, but otherwise, you should look into council-run parking lots.