Middlesbrough Town Hall

Contemporary art in a striking modern building.

This strange hybrid was opened in 1911. The Tees ferry was too slow but a conventional bridge might impede sea-going vessels. So they built a gantry with a gondola, with capacity for 200 people and 9 cars across the river to Stockton. It's survived various accidents, bombings and breakdowns, but became unsafe in 2019 and remains closed, and it's difficult to see the money being found to repair it. You can admire the gaunt structure from either bank.

"The Boro" play soccer in the Championship, England's second tier. Their home ground is the 34,000-seat Riverside Stadium, half a mile east of the railway station, a 10-minute walk. Tickets can be bought at the stadium. In 2022 Riverside was also used for matches in the Rugby League World Cup, postponed from 2021.

Typical old-style museum founded in 1904, where stuffed animals regard you through reproachful glass eyes. Good selection of artistic pottery and other local history exhibits.

This has mainstream rep theatre and live music events.

Museum about explorer James Cook (1728-1779), who was born here, proved unsuitable as a shop assistant, and moved to Whitby where he took up his maritime career.