Hylton Castle is a fourteenth-century gatehouse tower on the western edge of Sunderland, now managed by English Heritage. It is one of the best-preserved examples of a fortified gatehouse in northeast England, with the main four-storey tower largely intact, including the heraldic carvings on the upper facade. The castle served as a family seat for the Hylton family from the Norman period until the eighteenth century, and the grounds include the ruins of a later chapel.
Entry to the grounds is free; the castle tower itself may have restricted access depending on restoration work. It is located about four miles from the city centre — a bus runs from the centre, or it can be reached by cycle path. The setting is somewhat suburban, surrounded by modern housing, but the tower itself is striking, particularly the carved shields and figures above the main entrance arch.