Decades ago Teesside would have been crowded with factories belching smoke, producing many of the products the UK exported to the rest of the world. Hire a car to see the Teesside of today relying on tourists coming to visit the more natural attractions of the Tees Valley.
Pride of place amongst these is the long distance footpath along the Tees which enables the active to see the remains of the area’s fortunes now as derelict factories or warehouses turned into luxury flats along a river that is cleaner than it has been for hundreds of years.
Teesside Mini Guide
Isn’t Teesside Simply a Group of Industrial Towns?
It used to be but the traditional industries have now disappeared and the towns are now populated with smaller, cleaner high technology companies. The closure of the big industries such as steel and chemical plants has made the region look to its natural sights to attract the tourist who in years past would not have considered visiting. Apart from the Tees Valley which is beautiful in places, there’s quick access to the North York Moors and the historic cathedral city of Durham is close by.
How do I get to Teesside?
Durham Tees Valley Airport is only ten miles from
Middlesbrough and makes for a quick way to get there from other regional airports. From the airport to any of the towns and cities of the area is less than half an hour. An alternative is to take the east coast railway line up from London which stops at Middlesbrough and other destinations in the region.
So What can I see in the Area?
There is a lot you can do in the towns and cities that make up Teesside. Preston Park in Stockton is a great place for a family day out. It has acres of parkland to picnic in and a quiet spot is always easy to find. On snowy days people come here to sledge on the gentle slopes of the park grounds. There’s also a reconstruction of a Victorian Street with houses holding exhibits of what life was like at the time of the Industrial Revolution.
In Marton there’s the museum dedicated to Captain James Cook, one of Britain’s most famous explorers. The displays bring to life what conditions were like on his ship, HMS Discovery during his longer journeys and there’s a range of artefacts belonging to the man.
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