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Accessible South Shields

Blue Badge parking, accessible and Changing Places toilets, and free beach wheelchairs.

Blue Badge parking

• On the street, Blue Badge holders can park free at meters, pay and display and blue-badge bays, and on yellow lines for up to 3 hours with the clock displayed (unless there is a loading ban). Some car parks are free for badge holders: check the signs. (South Tyneside Council: Using your Blue Badge; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• South Promenade South car park, Sea Road, NE33 3NB: free with a disabled badge, with disabled spaces and a toilet block next to it. (South Tyneside Council: South Promenade South car park; checked 4 Nov 2026) It's the nearest car park to the beach wheelchair store. (Beach Access North East: South Shields; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• Blue Badge holders qualify for free travel through the Tyne Tunnel once the vehicle is registered. (South Tyneside Council: Using your Blue Badge; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• Other car parks: see our Parking guide.

Beach wheelchairs

South Shields Surf School runs adaptive surfing; Beach Access North East has the details. (Beach Access North East: South Shields; checked 4 Nov 2026)

Changing Places toilets

• South Shields Town Hall, Bents Park and Souter Lighthouse (also Boldon Community Association). (South Tyneside Council: Changing Places toilets; checked 4 Nov 2026) At Souter it's opposite the café and uses a RADAR key. (National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas; checked 3 Nov 2026)
• Asda, Coronation Street, NE33 1AZ, is listed as the nearest to the museum. (North East Museums: South Shields Museum access information; checked 4 Nov 2026)

Accessible toilets

• The accessible toilets at Haven Point car park and the Grotto are open 24 hours. Other seafront toilets are open 9am–4pm until 24 March 2027. (South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times; checked 3 Nov 2026)
• South Promenade: one disabled toilet at the north end of the car park; Colmans Seafood Temple has a ramp, a lift and a large disabled toilet. (Beach Access North East: South Shields; checked 4 Nov 2026)

Places with step-free access

• South Shields Museum: free and step-free, with a wheelchair to borrow, accessible toilets with baby changing on two floors, and a 3–5 minute walk from the Interchange. (North East Museums: South Shields Museum access information; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• South Marine Park: all areas accessible, with accessible toilets. (Visit South Tyneside: South Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• North Marine Park: ramped paths and a wheelchair-accessible roundabout in the play area. (Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park; checked 4 Nov 2026)
• The Dunes: wheelchair access throughout, disabled parking and toilets. (Visit South Tyneside: The Dunes; checked 4 Nov 2026)

Access at individual pubs, cafés and shops varies, so check with the venue.

Sources for this page

1. South Tyneside Council: Using your Blue Badge, checked 4 Nov 2026
2. South Tyneside Council: South Promenade South car park, checked 4 Nov 2026
3. Beach Access North East: South Shields, checked 4 Nov 2026
4. South Tyneside Council: Adapted wheelchairs for the sand and sea, checked 4 Nov 2026
5. South Tyneside Council: Changing Places toilets, checked 4 Nov 2026
6. National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, checked 3 Nov 2026
7. North East Museums: South Shields Museum access information, checked 4 Nov 2026
8. South Tyneside Council: Public toilets and opening times, checked 3 Nov 2026
9. Visit South Tyneside: South Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
10. Visit South Tyneside: North Marine Park, checked 4 Nov 2026
11. Visit South Tyneside: The Dunes, checked 4 Nov 2026