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North East Land Sea & Air Museums

100 Years of Transport History

The North East Land Sea & Air Museum - NELSAM - sits on the former RAF Usworth and Sunderland airport site, next to the Sunderland Nissan factory, and comprises of the former Aircraft museum (NEAM), military vehicles collection, and the North East Electric Traction Trust (NEETT) is also based on the site. Amongst our varied and unique exhibit is a cold war Avro Vulcan B2 Bomber, which flew into the former airport to become the first Vulcan to go into private collection. Visit our Displays and Exhibits page to see what we have in our collection and browse our history.

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NELSAM are proud to have been awarded multiple awards from Tripadvisor, based on the consistently great reviews left by visitors. We have also been added to the list of Top 3 places to visit in Sunderland by ThreeBestRated, and included in the Tripper Guide for Sunderland.
Tripadvisor Certificate of excellence 2017Tripadvisor Certificate of excellence 2018Tripadvisor Certificate of excellence 2019Tripadvisor Travellers Choice award 2020Tripadvisor Travellers Choice award 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers Choice award 2024 Best Places to visit in Sunderland Best Places to visit in Sunderland Tripper Guides - The best travel plans

Visitor Information

Location

Old Washington Road, Sunderland ,Tyne and Wear, SR5 3HZ. Getting Here

Opening Hours

Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Closed Thursday 17th October for one day

Admission Charges

The museum is only accepting credit and debit cards for payments; no cash.

Adults: £6.50
Children 5-15: £3.50
Concessions 60+: £3.50
Family Ticket (2 adults with 2 children): £18.00
Please note we no longer accept Groupon vouchers as of the 30th August, please see Groupon for refunds if you have already purchased vouchers from them.

Under 5s & carers: £0.50
Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
School and group visits can be arranged, please see 'Group visits' for further details.

Direction, Access and Facilities...

2024 EVENTS

Dates for your Diary!


All events standard admission prices unless stated otherwise

Aircraft Museum 50th

12th May

Celebrating 50 years of collecting Aeroplanes!


Spring Classic Car show

19th May

Classic Cars on display at NELSAM


40 Years as a Charity

28th June

Celebrating 40 years of being a Charity Aircraft Museum


Scooter Club Rally

12th-14th July

Local Scooter Club Rally weekend at NELSAM



Summer Classic Cars

28th July

Second Classic Car day of 2024 at NELSAM



Model Show & RAF Day

18th August

Model show with the Tornado SIG and IPMS, plus an RAF day supported by RAf Leeming and Air Cadets

Heritage Open Days

7th-8th September

Museum open days as part of Heritage weekend

Saab Cars

15th September

Saab cars on display at NELSAM

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Emergency Services!

Due to the COVID-19 situation, this event has unfortunately been cancelled, however may be re-arranged to a future date.

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Museum Plans for the year ahead

  • The Anson will be moving back in before the end of February. To position it at the far end of the hangar will see the F84, Hunter, Meteor, Sycamore and Jetstream being moved out of the way. Once the Anson is in place the Shorts SD3-30 and Comet will move to the far end of the building to establish the Civil Aviation display
  • At the end of March the Post War Jets will be positioned and subject to weather the Lightning will move inside the main hangar
  • End of April will see the positioning of the Morane and Spitfire in the space currently occupied by the Shorts
Keep checking for updates and the opportunity to see some exhibits making a rare appearance outside.

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Cashless Payments only Closed 17th October

The museum will be closed all day on Thursday the 17th October. The museum will be back open as normal from Friday 18th October.

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January 2023 Exhibit swap with Kent BoBM

Replica DH Moth arriving at NELSAM
Replica DH Moth arriving at NELSAM
Replica DH Moth arriving at NELSAM Photos courtesy of David Thomson
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November 2022 - Remembrance day ceremony


Wreath laying at NELSAM
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New Exhibit - Hawk T1 - Arrives at NELSAM

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Falklands 40th at NELSAM

Credit: Sunderland Echo Full Article can be found here.

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Model Show at NELSAM

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Classic Cars at NELSAM

Sunday 7th August saw NELSAM welcome a wide variety of classic and vintage vehicles on site, some from as early as the 1930s, with the good weather ensuring an estimated turnout of over a thousand four the day. With everything from a classic Rolls Royce to a Clan Crusader, built at the factor next to the museum in the 1960s, there was something for everyone, and NELSAM hope to make this a regular event. You can read more in the Sunderland Echo Write-up.
Classic Cars at NELSAM Classic Cars at NELSAM Classic Cars at NELSAM
Photos courtesy of Daniel Lines

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NELSAM hosts photography event

NEWS

Important site news and developments


Model Show

August 2024

Model Show at NELSAM ...


New Exhibit

13th May 2024

New Exhibit, Hawk T1, arrives at NELSAM...

Photography day at the museum

March 2024

The Museum hosts a day of photography...

Exhibit swap

January 2023

The museum's Austin K2 fire engine swapped for a de Havilland Moth...

Remembrance Day 2022

November 2022

NELSAM holds a small remembrance ceremony...


Classic Cars at NELSAM

August 2022

NELSAM joined by classic cars for the day...


More...

CONTACT

Want to get in touch? Drop a note!

Old Washington Road, Sunderland ,Tyne and Wear, SR5 3HZ
Phone: (+44) 0191 5190662
Email: Info@NELSAM.org.uk
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(c) Google maps position of NELSAM
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Registered Charity Number: 1150286 - Limited Company Number: 02828043 - Member of Aviation Heritage UK (AHUK)