Tourist Attractions

Museums

First stop is Captain Cook Country. Middlesbrough is the famous explorer's home territory and birthplace; all of which can be explored at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Stewart Park. Or drive out and visit young James's schoolroom in Great Ayton, not far from Roseberry Topping where you can finish off the day with a challenging, but hugely satisfying walk with magnificent views of Middlesbrough's unusual landscape. Look out for the Roseberry Topping's steep jagged rockface; legend has it the young James Cook climbed it with his bare hands.

The Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough centre also commemorates the endeavours of more famous and ingenious Middlesbrough folk. Explore the bird and egg collection of the famous local ornithologist, Thomas Hudson Nelson, or see Dr Frank Elgee's curious artefacts including a hill-fort and burial mound. Other quirky bygones include pottery, fashion, moths, beetles, household items and over 70 000 fossils!

Galleries

The most exciting thing to happen this year in Middlesbrough is mima - the new Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Costing an impressive £19 million and designed by top architects Erick van Egeraat, mima kicks off a string of big money, town-changing projects. A great glitzy glass-fronted centrepiece next to the Carnegie Library, mima brings together the town's art collections as well as a changing programme of touring art exhibitions.

Stately Homes

Not far out of Middlesbrough Centre, Ormesby Hall is used locally to escape from the noise of town life, either as a great setting for a walk, a run around with the family or 'picnic in the park' summer events. Owned by the National Trust, the hall is an 18th century Palladian mansion with six acres of gardens, model railways, a restored Victorian kitchen with game larder and scullery and working 18th century stables.

Landmarks

Don't expect pretty rivers and chocolate box landscapes in Middlesbrough. The area has been shaped by Middlesbrough's gigantic industrial history, and that means you can expect a big, bold, Metropolis-esque illuminated townscape. For sheer scale and magnitude, there isn't a man-made sight in the North East as extraordinary as Middlesbrough's famous industrial skyline. Whatever your preconceptions, drive by it at night and be prepared for a Hollywood-inspiring sight. Look out for its influence in the film Bladerunner, directed by Ridley Scott who was born in nearby North Shields.

The Transporter Bridge is Middlesbrough's enormous blue trademark icon, and can be seen from most parts of the Tees Valley. Built in Middlesbrough's industrial heyday, the bridge is only one of two in the country, and carries cars and people from one side of the River Tees to the other in a giant cradle. Stop at the visitor centre and learn a bit more about the humble bridge's colossal history and clever engineering; it can carry more than 600 people at a time.

Other well known, uber Middlesbrough landmarks include the illuminated pink neon CNE building, Claus Oldenberg's pop art Bottle of Notes and Spectra-text. Of course if you like something more scenic we also have Roseberry Topping. Based on the fringe of the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors, it's one of the area's most distinctive icons that can be seen from one end of the Tees Valley to the other. It's based in incredible countryside and makes for a great, and sometimes challenging walk - but the views at the top are well worth it!

Green Is The New Black

People don't think of Middlesbrough as a hot-spot for green, walking boots and waterproof days out, but it's actually got some great wildlife and environmental attractions.

Nature's World at Acklam is the North East's miniature equivalent of the Eden Project. Check out their organic gardens, futuristic hydroponicum (a garden of the future), mini safaris, orchards and compost heaps for some fun and educational time out - all perfect for enquiring minds. Local kids and school groups have been visiting the friendly farmyard at Newham Grange Leisure Farm for years. Go along and meet the gang yourself, which includes donkeys, goats, rabbits, sheep and pigs. There are also lots of big leafy green parks in town for games and running around - see the Parks section.

Sport

Middlesbrough has some world class sporting facilities that are worth a visit even if sport isn't ordinarily your bag. Middlesbrough Football Club, the former home of many footballing greats including Brian Clough, Jack Charlton, Bryan Robson, Juninho, Paul Gascoigne and Steve McClaren, is a local passion. Match day makes for a fun and thrilling family day out - even if you're not local you won't be able to resist jumping up and down and joining the 'come on Boro' chorus.

If you like skateboarding, blading or BMXing, the chances are you've already heard about Prissick Plaza. Only the second of its kind in the country, the plaza is a unique, world-class facility for wheel-borne extreme sports fanatics. The Park has already attracted major sporting names from the US and Europe, and is pipped to become a training site for the 2012 Olympics. And it's free to visit, so get your skates on!

Useful Links

Wikipedia - Roseberry Topping

Wikipedia - Middlesbrough_Transporter_Bridge

BBC Transporter Bridge Webcam