Built-up area in Sunderland, England
| Coordinates: | 54.901, -1.512 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | NZ 31 56 |
| Population: | 53,526 |
| Dialling code: | 0191 (Newcastle upon Tyne) |
Washington sits within the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, roughly between Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham. Designated a New Town in 1964 to ease housing pressure on Wearside, it blends planned suburban neighbourhoods with older villages; its name goes back to Anglo‑Saxon origins and the town is best known historically for Washington Old Hall, the timber‑framed manor linked to the family of George Washington.
Today Washington mixes green spaces and leisure attractions such as the Washington Wetland Centre with business parks and retail facilities that underpin the local economy. Good road links make it a convenient commuter base for nearby cities, and socially it combines a village feel in parts with the community amenities and layout of a modern English new town.