The red and grey granite lighthouse on Roker Pier is located at the end of the northern pier of the harbour, marking the sheltered entrance to the River Wear and Sunderland. A tunnel runs along the 609-metre long pier.
In 2012 a restoration programme began, but in 2016 a heavy storm caused considerable damage. However, by 2018 the pier tunnel and lighthouse were restored, and both the lighthouse and the pier tunnel are now open for guided tours.
The former lighthouse on the Old South Pier is located nearby on the seafront.