Cleveland Tourist Information

Cleveland, on the north east coast, is one of England’s smaller Counties, created in 1974 - it was previously part of the North Riding of Yorkshire. The name Cleveland means 'Cliff Land' and describes the County well, with the dramatic Cleveland Hills and spectacular coastal cliffs. Cleveland Tourist Information is available in the major towns of the County.

The River Tees flows through the County and, away from the industrial centres, Cleveland can boast of some beautiful scenery and is well known to walkers for the Cleveland Way National Trail.

Cleveland Tourist Information can be found in the Town Hall, Middlesbrough the administrative headquarters at the heart of the County. Middlesbrough is a thriving town with an expanding choice of shops and restaurants. There are several interesting attractions, such as the Middlesbrough Art Gallery, the Cleveland Crafts Centre and the Dorman Museum. Nearby at Marton-in-Cleveland is the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. All the family will enjoy a day at Ormesby Hall, and animal lovers should visit Newham Grange Leisure Farm.

Guisborough in the south of the county offers Cleveland Tourist Information at Priory Grounds in Church Street. Guisborough is a historic market town dominated by the Augustinian Priory ruins. On the outskirts of the town is Guisborough Forest Walkway, where there are circular way marked walks, dedicated cycle tracks and a year long programme of events - call into the visitor centre for details.

In the west of the County, Cleveland Tourist Information is located in the central library in The Square, Stockton-on-Tees. The town's heritage is linked to the Shipbuilding, Iron and Steel industries. The Green Dragon Museum in the town centre tells Stockton's story, past and present. Preston Hall set in beautiful parkland is now an impressive museum, well worth visiting. The building of the Tees Barage has made the River Tees a safe place, ideal for all sorts of water sports.

East Cleveland Tourist Information can be found at the seaside town of Saltburn-by-the Sea, in Station Square. Saltburn-by-the-Sea developed as a Victorian resort and still retains its pier, the only one in north east England. The pier is linked to the town by a cliff lift, opened in 1884 it is the oldest remaining water balanced tramway in Britain. Enjoy a trip on the 15 inch gauge Saltburn Miniature Railway, running from the sea front to the lovely Valley Gardens and the Saltburn Valley Woodland Centre.

Saltburn Smugglers Heritage Centre, illustrates when this coastline was a haven for smugglers in the 18th century. During Victorian and Edwardian times Cleveland was the most important area of ironstone mining in England, the Cleveland Ironstone Museum, offers you the chance to experience the miners' underground environment.

To the north, Redcar is a traditional seaside town with good clean sandy beaches. The town offers good shopping facilities and entertainment. Redcar was originally a fishing village and today you can still see the fishing boats coming in to harbour to sell their catch. Redcar is home to the oldest lifeboat in the world built in 1802, which you can see for yourself at Zetland Museum.

Cleveland Tourist Information can be found in Hartlepool in the north of the County, situated at the mouth of the River Tees. Hartlepool is a maritime town whose history dates back to the 7th century when St. Aidan built England's second monastery on the headland overlooking the natural harbour. Today visitors to the town can enjoy good shopping, leisure and dining facilities. The town has a 400-berth marina, a haven for small craft and diving and water sports are popular pursuits. Hartlepool's Maritime Experience and Historic Quay Heritage Centre are great attractions. South of the town, broad sandy beaches stretch to the sea marches of the Tees estuary and are a staging post for migrating birds and home to colonies of seals.