Virtually all of Seaburn consists of low-density private housing interspersed with open parkland, laid out in the middle of the 20th century.

The seafront is home to a sandy blue flag beach, seaside promenades, two amusement arcades, children's playgrounds, fish and chip shops, small guest houses and two 4 star hotels, The Grand Hotel and the Seaburn Inn.

[citation needed] The main shopping street is Sea Road, which runs from the seafront up through Fulwell to the Seaburn Metro station.

In the late 1980s, the old Seaburn Hall site was redeveloped, with a Morrisons supermarket, new amusement park and leisure and fitness centre.

The suburb is part of the Fulwell ward on Sunderland City Council, and is represented by three Conservative councillors.