Middlesbrough Tourist Information

Middlesbrough City Centre Information

The Middlesbrough shopping experience is one of the best in the North East blending modern shopping centres with outdoor craft markets and spectacular city centre Victorian architecture, spacious squares, cutting edge art galleries and public art. Discover a fantastic choice of retro clothing shops, chic restaurants and cafes around the central award winning Teesside University. The compact and mostly pedestrianised city centre contains a choice of shopping centres including the Hill Street Centre, Dundas Shopping Mall and central big one The Mall Middlesbrough. All these Middlesbrough shopping centres boast a choice of favourite high street stores including top chain fashion clothing shops, cafes and Middlesbrough restaurants. Around the Middlesbrough shopping centres the city centre like many of the rich Northern industrial cities retains much of its stunning Victorian and Edwardian architecture, shop fronts and character pubs.

The Linthorpe Road which pushes out from Middlesbrough city centre past Teesside University towards the Dorman Museum is a real hotspot for stylish Middlesbrough restaurants and cafes. Landmark buildings in Middlesbrough city centre feature spectacular Victorian and contemporary architecture. Middlesbrough Town Hall, now a centre for theatre shows and comedy, is one of the great Northern Victorian town halls designed by G Gordon Hoskins in 1882 who also designed many of Darlington's historic buildings. Reflecting the Victorian Middlesbrough town hall in its glass frontage is Middlesbrough's cutting edge contemporary landmark building, MIMA Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. This outstanding contemporary art gallery and North East landmark contemporary building was designed by Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects. The beautiful central square surrounds mima and features the famous 'Bottle of Notes' sculpture by Claes Oldenburgh and Coosje van Bruggen. Cafe Prego, with a great children's menu, is within MIMA Middlesbrough and is a popular spots for lunch and drinks and features artwork designed by Gijs Bakker.

Middlesbrough Railway Station is another of the city's striking Victorian buildings dating from 1845 with the adjacent decorative cast iron Albert Bridge designed by the architect William Peachey. The great glazed arch train shed roof of the Albert Bridge was lost during Air Raids in Middlesbrough in 1942.

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MIMA Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art

Admission is free to MIMA Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. This outstanding North East contemporary art gallery has changing exhibitions by the best of international contemporary artists. The building is a stunning contemporary design and works a little like a showcase for the urban Middlesbrough city centre. Views of Middlesbrough can be seen through framed windows from inside MIMA and from the roof platform viewing terrace.

The MIMA Middlesbrough art collection features artwork from 1900 to the present and includes fantastic artwork by artists such as Peter Blake, Gijs Bakker and Dorothy Hogg. The collection's forerunners were both the Middlesbrough Art Gallery and the Cleveland Craft Centre. Details of current and forthcoming art exhibitions at MIMA Middlesbrough are listed on the gallery's website.

MIMA Middlesbrough is one of the UK's top contemporary art galleries and art exhibitions here often feature work by some of the most famous pioneer modernist and contemporary artists of the 20th into the 21st century. Artists featuring in recent art exhibitions at MIMA Middlesbrough include Gerhard Richter, Mark Garry, Henrik Hakansson and drawings by the abstract aesthetic pioneer Ellsworth Kelly.

The roof terrace at MIMA Middlesbrough is open to the public and affords spectacular views across to Middlesbrough town hall and the city centre. Cafe Prego is also onsite and open daily and not to be missed is the MIMA Middlesbrough art shop which sells a superb selection of contemporary art gifts, ceramics, prints, postcards, contemporary jewellery and art books.

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Transporter Bridge Middlesbrough Visitor Centre

Many visitors to Middlesbrough have memories of taking a trip on the iconic Transporter Bridge across the River Tees at Middlesbrough. The bridge is a treasured icon within the North East, one of only 3 remaining Transporter Bridges in Britain, and has featured on top TV drama shows such as Auf Wiedersehen Pet. The idea for the Transporter Bridge, a bridge designed to the aerial ferry principle, was conceived in the late Victorian era by Charles Smith, manager of the Hartlepool Ironworks. Although not built until the early 20th century, the original idea of the Transporter Bridge is credited to Smith's pioneering Victorian idea.

The Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough is one of the North East's most famous bridges and an indication of the world class engineering and design skills which have a long history in this region of Britain. Spanning 851 feet in length, the Transporter Bridge was opened on 17th October 1911 and acclaimed as an outstanding piece of engineering. The Bridge is still very much open today for trips across the River Tees and you can find out more about the history and building of the Transporter Bridge at the visitor centre which sits alongside the Bridge.

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Museums in Middlesbrough

The Captain Cook Brithplace Museum in Middlesbrough sits just outside the city centre at Marton within Stewart Park (clearly signposted off the A19). The museum is purpose built and is located near a granite urn which marks the spot of Captain James Cook's birthplace cottage in Stewart Park Middlesbrough. In conjunction with the Captain Cook Museum in Whitby, the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Middlesbrough is not to be missed for learning more on the life and voyages of Britain's most famous navigator.

The Captain Cook collection at the Birthplace Museum features a range of James Cook's personal items and memorabilia from his voyages. Published accounts, images of Cook's voyages and an outstanding collection of books on Captain James Cook also form part of the collection. Changing exhibitions also often feature Cook related items and memorabilia from the National Collection and from the National Maritime Museum in London. Family friendly and with a superb programme of year round events such as trails, children's activities, craft workshops and drop-in events, the museum has a great onsite gift shop selling a range of Captain Cook prints, ship models, books and souvenirs. The Resolution Resources Room in the museum is available for research, conference events and for use by school visits. Full disabled access is throughout the museum.

Sister museum venue to the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is The Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough located at the far end of Linthorpe Road. The Dorman Museum is clearly signposted from Middlesbrough city centre. Eight themed galleries sit within the museum displaying pieces from the outstanding Geological collection including many fascinating fossils. The Ethnographic Collection consisting of a range of artefacts from around the world as well as the Ornithological collection of mounted mammals, birds and reptiles both originate from the Edwardian colonial era and travellers and collectors such as Thomas Hudson Nelson and Sir Alfred Pease.

Social history collections are also here at the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough and include objects from every day life dating from the 1930s. The collection of photographs is a particular highlight at the museum, depicting scenes from Middlesbrough's steel and iron industries, Middlesbrough transport and fascinating aerial photographs of Middlesbrough's industrial sites. A 20th century women's fashion clothing collection is also on display. A collection of Middlesbrough's famous Linthorpe Art Pottery, first launched in 1879, can also be seen at the Dorman Museum designed by Dr Christopher Dresser. The architect and Orientalist Christopher Dresser is credited as the key influence for introducing oriental design into English fabrics, ceramics and silver and glassware.

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What's On in Middlesbrough, Gay Scene Nightlife & Live Music

Middlesbrough nightlife is also one of the best in the North East. Middlesbrough is a great student city with a choice of Middlesbrough night clubs and a blossoming gay scene. Satur-Gay takes place at the Cornerhouse Club on Exchange Place near Middlesbrough Station weekly. Top gay bars in Middlesbrough include The Oak on Newport Road and H's Bar on Linthorpe Road. Catch top dance DJs at the spectacular Empire Middlesbrough which is also a centre for Middlesbrough live music gigs. Middlesbrough Town Hall plays host to big bands and concerts alongside theatre shows and comedy clubs. Middlesbrough pubs, clubs and live music venues all feature near the Empire Middlesbrough along Corporation Road including Doctor Browns pub and Walkabout Middlesbrough nightclub.

Middlesbrough live music gigs and festivals are cutting edge. Middlesbrough is a UK city with a reputation for hosting new exciting bands and live music gigs. The Middlesbrough Music Live Festival takes place annually in June across Middlesbrough city centre live music venues such as Middlesbrough Town Hall and the Middlesbrough Empire. Art festivals in Middlesbrough include the UK's largest festival of digital art, music and moving image, the AV Festival annually in March. This North East Festival hosts digital art exhibitions and events across the top North East urban centres of Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough festivals and events are impressive. Also featuring is the annual Animex Festival in Middlesbrough annually in February. This Middlesbrough Festival is a top International Festival of Animation and Computer Games. The SuperGay Middlesbrough Pride Festival is held annually in September and the Party in the Park 70s music event takes place in July annually at Ormesby Hall.

Middlesbrough Town Hall plays host to the North East's biggest comedy club, The Big Mouth Comedy Club. The Town Hall also offers an eclectic programme of classical music concerts, children's theatre and cutting edge drama. The new monthly band night at Middlesbrough town hall features top up and coming North East bands.

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Middlesbrough Football Sport & Leisure

Within easy reach of Middlesbrough city centre is the spectacular Riverside Stadium, home to Middlesbrough Football Club. One of Britain's oldest football clubs dating from 1876, Middlesbrough has long been a top football city. Today the famous Riverside Football Stadium in Middlesbrough is one of the city's landmark buildings. Fans chose the name for the Riverside Stadium opened in 1995, one of the pioneering new football stadiums in Britain. Football stadium tours in Middlesbrough are available around Riverside and feature a tour of the home and away dressing rooms, the player's tunnel and pitch side, the press room and the Middlesbrough FC Hall of Fame board.

Sports Centres and facilities in Middlesbrough include the fantastic Prissick Plaza Skateboarding and BMX Park, one of the top skateparks in Britain. A range of sports are available in Middlesbrough including Middlesbrough karting at Teesside Karting, Tennis World Middlesbrough and a choice of Middlesbrough Golf Clubs and Golf Centres. Bungee Jumping and Zip Sliding are also available from Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough for the brave!

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RSPB Saltholme Wildlife Reserve & Discovery Park

Just north of the Transporter Bridge and Middlesbrough city centre across the River Tees and en-route to Seaton Carew (A178) is the Saltholme Wildlife Reserve and Discovery Park. These beautiful wetlands just north of Middlesbrough are home to a wide range of birds including Common tern, Peregrines, Yellow wagtails and Lapwings.

The RSPB Saltholme Wildlife Reserve features a cutting edge environmentally friendly centre building offering panoramic views of the wetlands. A cafe and RSPB gift shop are also onsite. Several architect designed hides for birdwatching sit around the wetlands including the main striking Wildlife Watchpoint. Regular family events and activities such as Wildlife Explorers hands-on activities are available at Saltholme. Other facilities onside include a large car park with disabled parking and coach parking spaces, toilets including disabled toilets, baby changing facilities and a picnic area. The wetlands site is pushchair friendly and guided walks are available.

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