Hylton Castle is one of Sunderland’s most fascinating historic landmarks. Standing proudly for more than 600 years, this medieval gatehouse is a remarkable reminder of the power and influence of the Hylton family. Built around 1400 for Sir William Hylton, the castle once formed part of a much larger fortified residence. Today, the surviving stone tower, with its impressive architecture and historic heraldic details, gives visitors a glimpse into medieval England. Together with the nearby St Catherine’s Chapel, Hylton Castle creates a unique atmosphere where history, legends and local heritage come together. A truly special place and a must-see for anyone interested in the story of Sunderland.

Lovely place to visit with a great history that is well presented and very knowledgeable guides. The cafe is lovely and the views of the city are incredible. Well worth a visit and take in the history of the city and surrounding area.

Great Castle, very nice place to visit and take in some history…

Been waiting to go in here for 30 years and today we did it! Amazing inside and Colin our guide was really excellent. (Thank you for answering my questions!) Its only £5 a ticket which is a bargain

Visited 7th of Feb 2026 and used our English heritage membership although the price is only £5 per person for a guided tour which I feel is a really fair price for the sights and information given. The castle itself is the gatehouse of the original structure which has seen extensive restoration but still hold its medieval charm. We were able to access all four levels of the castle and were particularly impressed by the marshalls room at the top which had a weird low temperature of its own even being connected to the castle up to date heating system. Our guide went on to speak about the ghost story of the cad (cold) lad who was brutally murdered by a baron having forgotten to get the baron horse ready instead falling asleep. There was some really interesting stories told which added to the medieval atmosphere. There are facilities of a cafe on site with fair prices but please be aware you can only access the castle tour through a guide and can't free roam.