North East Land Sea and Air Museums (NELSAM) is a multi-domain transport heritage centre located near Usworth in Sunderland, standing out as one of the best things to do with kids in Sunderland. Operating as an interactive transport and aviation museum, it gives families a look across historic military aircraft, classic cars, trams, fire engines, and wartime street scenes.

Prices start from £0.00 for children under 5 years old, while standard adult admission is £7.50 and child entry is £4.00. With family passes available for £20.00 and free parking included, it serves as an affordable educational day out for families.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, this expansive site provides a memorable journey through local transport history. Children can walk around massive V-bombers, explore vintage trams, examine military fire engines, and step into wartime history displays. It makes for an engaging, hands-on escape in Tyne and Wear.

What are the key features for families?

• Interactive Exhibits: Hands-on vehicle controls, open display bays, and walk-through transport sections let children step into history.
• Educational Day Out: Families explore World War II Home Front history, RAF Usworth airbase legacy, commercial tramways, and military transport development.
• Sensory Play and Nature: The hum of vintage engines, metallic aircraft fuselages, tactile steering wheels, and outdoor walking areas engage young senses.
• Outdoor Exploration: Outdoor display lawns connect separate hangars, tram sheds, and military vehicle displays across the historic airfield site.

What are the main highlights kids will love?

• Avro Vulcan B.2 (XL319): Standing beneath the giant delta wing of a famous Cold War jet bomber parked on the outdoor display apron.
• Sunderland Street Scene & Vintage Trams: Walking along a reconstructed historical street complete with shops, period signs, and restored city trams.
• English Electric Lightning F.53: Seeing a classic British supersonic fighter jet up close to marvel at its extreme speed design.
• Military & Civilian Fire Engines: Examining historic red fire tenders, green goddesses, and emergency rescue gear up close.
• Gloster Meteor F.8: Looking at one of Britain's earliest operational jet fighters to see how jet technology transformed flight.

Specific Named Objects and Sub-Exhibits Within the Collection:

• Avro Vulcan B.2 (XL319) Jet Bomber
• English Electric Lightning F.53 (ZF578)
• Gloster Meteor F.8 (WL181)
• De Havilland Vampire T.11 (WZ518)
• Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (XE624)
• Short Seamew AS.1 (XE924) Maritime Patrol Plane
• Reconstructed 1940s Wartime Street & Shopfronts
• Historic Gateshead & Sunderland City Electric Trams
• Bedord Green Goddess Emergency Fire Tender
• World War II Air Raid Shelter & Anderson Shelter Display