Things to do in Cleveland
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.
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.
Around Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is the administrative headquarters at the heart of the county - 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, you'll find 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
Guisborough in the south of the county has a Tourist Information Office 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.
West Cleveland
In the west of the County, sits 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 Barrage has made the River Tees a safe place, ideal for all sorts of water sports.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
East Cleveland is home to the popular seaside town of Saltburn-by-the Sea. Saltburn 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.
Redcar and Hartlepool
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.
Hartlepool in the North of the county, is 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.
Days out in Cleveland
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Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum marks the site of Cook's birthplace in Marton on the outskirts of Middlesbrough and is situated in the beautiful landscaped grounds of Stewart Park.
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Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum
On the site visitors can enjoy an exciting and authentic underground experience and discover the special skills and customs of the Cleveland miners.
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Dorman Museum
Town in Time is a permanent exhibition about Middlesborough and its people from earliest times. Middlesborough as a religious community, rural life, industrial revolution to the present day. The Dorman Museum also has a programme of temporary exhibitions
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Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art
mima is a bold new gallery of modern and contemporary art designed by Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects, located in the heart of Middlesbrough. -
Newham Grange Country Farm
Newham Grange Country Farm is unique and special. Come and make friends with the rare breeds of farm animals, enjoy a walk around the fields, and why not bring along a picnic for a treat.
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Ormesby Hall
Ormesby Hall is an intimate home lived in by the Pennyman family for more than 300 years, with fine plaster work, carved wood decoration and fascinating portraits.
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Zetland Museum
Zetland - The Oldest Lifeboat in the World, was built in 1802 by Henry Greathead. She remained in service until 1880 and saved more than 500 lives.
Places to Visit in Cleveland
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Darlington
Darlington is a large town in County Durham with a population of around 98,000 residents. It is known as the Gateway to the Tees Valley and is best known for its pioneering railway history.
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Hartlepool
Hartlepool is an ancient port town in Cleveland, nine miles north of Middlesbrough.
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Marske-by-the-Sea
Marske-by-the-sea is a large village situated on the North East coast, between Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Redcar. Mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1085, Marske was to become the most important village along the coast. The Village gave h -
Middlesbrough
The large town of Middlesbrough in Teesside sits on the bank of the River Tees.
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Redcar
Famous as being home to Yorkshire’s only coastal racecourse, Redcar is just north of Middlesborough and close to the River Tees estuary.
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Saltburn-by-the-Sea
The seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea is located 12 miles from Middlesbrough on the east coast North Yorkshire.
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Skinningrove
We have just received a description of Skinningrove from one of our readers. This description is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days.
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Stillington
The Parish of Stillington and Whitton is situated in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East England, a rural community with a population of around 1300 people.
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Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a town in the north-east of England, split between County Durham and North Yorkshire.
