The best things to do in Seaham

Are you planning a trip to this quaint seaside town in County Durham? Seaham is situated on the Durham coast and is just 6 miles south of the vibrant city of Sunderland. And it’s nothing short of spectacular. Think stunning cliff-top views, sprawling coastal paths and a colourful pebble beach filled with hidden treasure, Seaham's famous seaglass!

This helpful blog includes all the best things to do on your upcoming trip to this coastal gem, as well as information about our Grand Central trains to Seaham. All you need to do is sit back, relax and let us plan your seaside getaway. 

Things to do in Seaham for all ages

Are you travelling to Seaham with the whole family and looking for activities that will appeal to everyone? You’re in luck, because below we have put together the best things to do in Seaham for all ages.

Go and see the famous Seaham Tommy Statue

This famous soldier statue, situated right in the heart of Seaham’s seafront, was cleverly built using weathered steel to commemorate the end of World War I. The soldier is positioned to portray the moments after the cease-fire and the end of the First World War. This impressive piece of art was only meant to be a temporary exhibit in Seaham; however, the locals of this seaside town became very attached to Tommy, and they raised an impressive £102,000 to buy it and keep it as a permanent feature of the town.

Explore Seaham’s colourful pebble beaches in search of seaglass 

Seaham is best known for its unique multi-coloured sea glass, which dates back to the town's history with Victorian glassworks and is still readily available today. This, along with Seaham’s beautiful beaches, makes it an extremely popular place to visit, appealing to both adults and children alike! Discover the different beaches you can visit below:

• Seaham Beach (this is the town's main beach)
• Seaham Hall Beach
• Blast Beach
• Chemical Beach

Tip: Head up to Nose’s Point to get the best views of Blast Beach below. 

Visit the East Durham Heritage & Lifeboat Centre

This centre is located in Seaham’s Harbour Marina and explores the heritage of East Durham, and is home to the famous restored lifeboat, The George Elmy. This was stationed at Seaham from 1950 to 1962, fully restored and returned to Seaham in 2013 for display in the centre.

Things to do in Seaham for adults 

Pamper yourself at the Serenity Spa 

What better way to enjoy a well-deserved break at the seaside than a visit to the spa? The relaxing Serenity Spa, located right next to Hall Dene Woods in Seaham, is the perfect place to spend a few hours pampering yourself.

Treat yourself at Seaham Waves Seaglass Jewellery 

Pick your own unique statement jewellery pieces crafted from beautiful multi-coloured seaglass at Seaham Waves Seaglass jewellery. This local family business hand-collects all of their seaglass from beaches along the North East coastline to create unique, eco-friendly pieces.

Go for food and drinks at Sambuca Seaham 

This popular restaurant and bar in Seaham is situated close to the Outer Harbour, and is the perfect spot to stop off for some food and a few drinks after a busy day visiting the sights of Seaham. They are best known for their Italian cuisine, but you can also enjoy seafood, steak and grill-type dishes too, whatever takes your fancy!

Why not check out the Sambuca Seaham menu ahead of your trip?

Things to do in Seaham for kids 

Visit the Dalton Moor Farm 

What better way to keep the kids entertained than a trip to the farm? Dalton Moor Farm is located roughly 4.7 miles from the centre of Seaham, and is known for its sustainable living and wellbeing approach. The farm hosts private Farm Discovery Tours designed for families or small groups to see the animals and learn about the farm's practices. 

Take the kids to the Hole In Wand, Dalton Park

Spend an hour or two at the magical mini-golf course, the Hole In Wand. You can enjoy an enchanting 9-hole game of crazy golf, and your 3-5 year olds can have their try at spell-casting and potion-making at Little Wizards!

Go on a scavenger hunt of Seaham

Discover treasures of Seaham while solving impossible riddles, completing top-secret missions and tackling interactive challenges! This fun walking tour is the perfect way to admire Seaham's sights while keeping the little ones entertained.
 

Free things to do in Seaham

Travelling to Seaham on a budget and looking to find things to do for free? Discover our top picks below of things to do in Seaham, free of charge!

Go see the Seaham Harbour Marina 

Take a walk around the lovely Seaham Harbour Marina, home to an array of local businesses for you to explore. Since its grand opening in 2013, the Harbour Marina has won several awards for its outstanding restoration and architecture.

Visit Durham Cathedral 

Durham Cathedral is located in the centre of Durham, around 14 miles from Central Seaham. Although not directly in Seaham, this is a free must-see site if you have time to visit on your trip. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features stunning architecture and rich history. The site offers free entry and guided tours for visitors.

Getting to Seaham

Now you’ve discovered all the fascinating things you can do in Seaham on your trip, is time to plan how you’ll get there! And what better way to travel than on one of our Grand Central trains to Seaham. Discover some of the major routes we cover to this seaside town below and find out how long each service takes:

• London's King's Cross to Seaham - in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes
• York to Seaham train station - in 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Sunderland to Seaham - in just 10 minutes!

There are four direct services a day to Seaham from each of these major locations. 

Which ticket do I need?

The ticket type you will need depends on how long you plan to stay in Seaham. If you’re planning a quick day trip or a weekend trip with an exact return date in mind, your best option is a return ticket. If you’re heading to Seaham for a break and you’re not sure yet what day you’ll return, a single ticket might be the ideal choice! We also offer a range of ticket types at Grand Central to suit all travel needs:

• Advance Fares for booking specific trains to Seaham
• Anytime train tickets for those not wanting to commit to a specific travel time
• Off-peak tickets are ideal for bagging a cheap fare, as long as you’re happy to travel outside of rush hour  

You’re all set for your trip to Seaham

You’re now all set for your trip to Seaham! You’ve got the low-down on the best things to do, and you know the best way to get there. You can book your train tickets to Seaham through the journey planner on our site or via our Grand Central Rail app (available to download on Google Play and the App Store).