There are plenty of low cost and free things to do in Teesside. Maybe you want something to do with the kids on a rainy day? Or maybe you want a low cost date day out? Or maybe you just want a stash of ideas to come back to whenever you fancy heading out? These ideas are for you!
In this blog post, I’m sharing a range of free and low cost (under £10pp) things to do in Teesside. From museums to parks and bowling to mini golf, there’s lots of suggestions in this post.
Huntee – free to download, but requires a phone with a 4G/5G connection – this app covers all of Teesside and beyond, offering fun trails to follow! Each trail comes with riddles and questions to answer, and there’s a scoreboard for each one, so they’re like little competitions too.
Jump to: Middlesbrough | Stockton-on-Tees | Hartlepool | Redcar & Cleveland | Darlington | Options over £10pp
Middlesbrough
Dorman Museum – free entry – offers a great range of permanent display galleries to captivate visitors of all ages, from space to Middlesbrough through time. Admission is free and there are lots of free and paid activities on throughout the holidays. (Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 6LA)
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum – £4.80 per adult, £3.75 per child and over 60s, and free for under 3s – this museum tells the story of one of the world’s greatest navigators and mariners. Enjoy a series of permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions throughout the season. The museum is located inside Stewart Park, which is lovely to explore too. (Stewart Park, Marton, TS7 8AT)
MIMA – free entry – an international art gallery and museum based in Centre Square. They also have a lovely cafe! (Centre Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AZ)
Albert Park – free – a beautiful park just outside of the town centre and next to the Dorman Museum. It comes complete with a lake, roller rink and two playgrounds. (Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3LB)
Stewart Park – free – a gorgeously green park in Marton. It’s home to two lakes, a playground, animals and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. (The Grove, Marton, Middlesbrough, TS7 8AR)
Fairy Dell – free – Fairy Dell in Coulby Newham is the perfect place to enjoy a slice of the countryside without leaving Middlesbrough. It features a mixture of park, woodland, and wetlands, with a central lake, sculptures and a bird hide. (Gunnergate Lane, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, TS8 0UT)
Teessaurus Park – free – a small area of parkland that’s home to fantastic sculptures of dinosaurs. Each one includes a fun fact board for you to learn more. (TS2 1QE)
Roseberry Topping – free, but parking starts from £3.50 for 2 hours – this distinctive hill marks the Teesside skyline and is a lovely walk when the weather is good. There are two routes to take and once you reach the top, you can see countryside, industry and the sea. (Roseberry Lane, Newton under Roseberry, TS9 6QR)
STACK Middlesbrough – free entry – STACK is a collection of shipping containers that serve up street food and drinks. There’s free live music on almost every day and there’s a programme of children’s entertainment on over the holidays (priced between £1.50 – £2.50 per child). (Exchange Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 1DE)
Roxy Movies – tickets from £5.50 per person – a boutique, three screen cinema in Captain Cook Square. This cinema shows the latest movies, as well as special anniversary screenings! (9-10, Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 5UB)
Newham Grange Farm – £5.70 per adult, £4.85 per child and senior citizen, and free for under 2s – a Middlesbrough farm with small animal petting, larger animals to see, mini golf, play areas and more. Ideal for a whole day out! (Wykeham Way, Middlesbrough, TS8 0TG)
Putter Chaos – £8 per adult, £5 per child and student – a family-friendly, 18 hole adventure golf course. It features different zones with different themes, and a bar with soft drinks. (51 Wilson Street, Middlesbrough, TS1 1JA)
Cherry Hill Garden Centre mini golf – £3.50 per adult, £2.50 per child – a 9 hole outdoor mini golf course that features facts about the area and local landmarks. Plus stunning views of the Cleveland hills! (Stokesley Road, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, TS8 9DY)
National Trust Ormesby Hall – £7.50 per adult, £3.50 per child, free for under 5s – Ormesby Hall, garden and parkland is a green oasis on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Not only can you explore the house and grounds, but there’s a great programme of activities on over the summer holidays that are free with admission. (Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough, TS3 OSR)
Stockton-on-Tees
Ropner Park – free – a fabulous park with lake, playground, tennis courts, bowls club and bandstand. This is especially lovely in the summer when the flower beds are in bloom! (Hartburn Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 4EF)
Preston Park – free – this expansive park has an incredible playground, skate park, open field and woodland walks. Preston Park Museum and Butterfly World are also on site, but there is an extra charge for those – see below. (Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, TS18 3RH)
Wynayrd Woodland Park – free – this park offers beautiful woodlands, footpath trails, cycle routes, a large play area, tea room, a programme of activities in the Station House and Planetarium and Observatory. (Thorpe Thewles, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3JG)
Preston Park Museum – £5 per adult, £3 per child and free for under 3s – this museum houses a vast collection of artefacts which tell the story of Stockton-on-Tees. There are lots of rooms and exhibitions to explore, and a Victorian street to wander down. (Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, TS18 3RH)
Butterfly World – £6.50 per adult, £4.50 per child – a tropical wonderland of animals, including an impressive collection of free-flying butterflies, koi fish, meerkats and reptiles. It’s just like stepping into a jungle! (Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, TS18 3RH)
John Whitehead Park – free – this park includes a skate park, play area, muti-use games area, outdoor gym, tennis courts and a bowls club, making this a great place to get active. You can also re-fuel with refreshments from the cafe. (John Whitehead Park, Billingham, TS23 2DD)
Explore the Tees Barrage – free – a walk around the Tees Barrage is always good, especially when the whitewater rafting course is up and running. I also recommend taking a walk further along the river towards Newport Bridge because you may spot a seal or two. (Tees Barrage Way, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QW)
Stockton ARC – cost dependent on event or activity – the Stockton ARC is a haven of things to do, with regular craft workshops, a cinema and family-friendly shows. Take a look at their listings and see what takes your fancy.
RSPB Saltholme – £7 per adult, free for 16-24s (be prepared with ID) and under 5s, £3.50 per child – this is the only RSPB nature reserve in the North East and it’s right here in Teesside. There are lots of walks to explore, bird hides, a fantastic playground, and a lovely cafe and shop. (Seaton Carew Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS2 1TU)
Splash Stockton swimming – £6 per non-member adult, £3.90 per non-member junior, free for under 3s – Splash is known for its brilliant family swimming sessions, where you can enjoy the water slides, wave machine and water features. (Church Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TY)
Annual pass to Wynyard Hall Gardens – £9 per adult, £6 per child up to 13, free for under 3s – the gardens are a dazzling display of roses, trees, shrubs, water features and landscaping, all set within the historical parkland of Wynyard Hall. Explore the rose garden, Italian garden, kitchen garden and woodland walk. (Wynyard, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham, TS22 5NF)
Ice skating at the Billingham Forum – £9.60 per non-member adult, £8.75 per non-member junior, free for under 3s – ice skating is a great idea all year round and you can get your skates on at the Billingham Forum. Skate hire is included with all tickets too! (The Causeway, Billingham, TS23 2LJ)
Hartlepool
Summerhill Country Park – free – an incredible 100 acre site with ponds and viewing platforms, play areas, climbing boulders, BMX park and cafe. It’s perfect for a walk with kids and the dog! (Summerhill Lane, Hartlepool, TS25 4LL)
Ward Jackson Park – free – a Victorian and Edwardian park that offers angling, bowls, putting, band concerts, water fountain and flower gardens. The park is listed in the National Register of Historic Parks & Gardens because of its collection of historic features and has been restored to its original splendor complete with a magnificent lake. (Park Ave, Hartlepool, TS26 0DS)
Seaton Carew beach – free, but parking starts from £1.50 for 2 hours – this traditional seaside backdrop offers everything you would expect… a sandy beach, arcades, ice cream parlours, and plenty of fish and chip shops.
Crimdon Dene beach – free, but parking starts from £1 for 1 hour – this long and peaceful stretch of sandy beach offers stunning views of the North East coastline. Ideal for quiet walks and adventures, Crimdon is a quaint spot with the beach being backed by sand dunes, cliffs and a nature reserve. (Blackhall Colliery, Hartlepool, TS27 4HJ)
Hartlepool Art Gallery – free – an art gallery inside a Grade II Victorian church, that offers exhibitions of international, national and regional artists and a programme of events and learning throughout the year. There’s a gorgeous little shop too! (Church Square, Hartlepool, TS24 7EQ)
Museum of Hartlepool – free – walk through 5000 years of Hartlepool history, from the Bronze Age, to Hartlepool’s oldest known man, to one of the darkest and most significant days in the town’s history, The Bombardment of the Hartlepool’s in 1914. (Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ)
Heugh Battery Museum – pay what you decide – a faithfully restored 19th century coastal defence battery. This North East visitor attraction boasts a unique history, being the only area to have seen ship-to-shore combat during the First World War and through out World War II up until 1956 with the disbanding of the coastal artillery forces. (Moor Terrace, Headland, Hartlepool, TS24 0PS)
Bowling at Larry’s Lanes – £7 off peak or £8 peak per adult, £5.50 per child – this Seaton Carew boutique bowling alley is the perfect place to try and hit a strike. They have state-of-the-art bowling lanes, as well as shuffleboard and augmented darts at an extra cost. (12-14 The Front, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, TS25 1BS)
Redcar & Cleveland
Saltburn beach – free, but parking starts from £3 for 1 hour – this shingle and sandy beach boasts a Victorian Pier that extends 200 metres out to sea, and a unique water powered cliff lift for easy access down the banking to the pier. Don’t miss out on the arcades on the pier! (Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 1AQ)
Redcar beach – free, but parking starts from £1.50 for 1 hour – enjoy a stroll along the esplanade, grab a lemon top ice-cream, chance your luck in the amusement arcades, visit the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat, and venture up the 80ft high Redcar Beacon to enjoy stunning views of Redcar seafront. (Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AA)
Marske beach – free and 2 hours free parking in Stray car park – a gorgeous sandy beach that’s on a quieter part of the Redcar coast. Visit the quaint town after your walk for a bite to eat. (Coast Road, Marske-by-the-Sea, TS11 6AR)
Go to the top of the Redcar Beacon – free – the Beacon is a vertical pier offering 360 views of the coast and town. It’s free to go up with a lift for ease and there’s a lounge with pizzas, paninis and drinks to enjoy too. (Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AA)
Kirkleatham Museum – £2 per adult, £1.50 per child, free for under 4s – a local heritage museum for the borough of Redcar and Cleveland. There’s a range of exhibitions and displays covering local industrial, maritime and social history. Kirkleatham Museum also plays host to an annual programme of exciting exhibitions, family events, musical performances and seasonal activities. (Kirkleatham, Redcar, TS10 5NW)
Kirkleatham Owl Centre – £3.50 per adult, £2.50 per child and £3.00 per senior citizen – this is the UK’s oldest established owl centre! Over the years the collection has grown to include a wide range of creatures, ranging from vultures and meerkats, to rabbits and emus and so much more. (Kirkleatham, Redcar, TS10 5NW)
Zetland Lifeboat Museum & Redcar Heritage Centre – free, donations welcome – come and discover the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat, The Zetland. Built in 1802, The Zetland has saved over 500 lives. Placed on Redcar’s seafront, this unique museum also holds a host of interesting exhibits, models, old photographs and local maritime history. (60 Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AH)
Frosty Penguin’s Putting Adventure – £8 per adult and £6 for under 14s – a brand new 18-hole adventure golf course located by Majuba beach, Redcar. The course features all things Arctic and under the sea, including a giant octopus, iconic Redcar penguins and real water to cross. (Majuba Road, Redcar, TS10 5BJ)
Land Of Iron Museum – £10 per adult, £5 per child, free for under 3s – standing on the site of the first ironstone mine in Cleveland, Land of Iron allows you to get up close and explore a rich and fascinating history. This hands-on journey takes you back 150 years to a time of industrial revolution when the area and its people supplied over a third of the world’s iron and steel. (Mill Lane, Skinningrove, TS13 4AP)
Flatts Lane Country Park – free – the perfect place to explore, play and relax in the countryside packed with woodland walks, panoramic views, sculpture trail, adventure play area, arboretum, and more! (Normanby, TS6 0NN)
Guisborough Forest – free, but parking starts from £2 for 2 hours – discover the most breath-taking views as you take a walk through stunning natural scenery at Guisborough Forest. This spot is home to a superb walking trails, a steady cycling trail, play areas and picnic areas for relaxing, connecting to nature and getting lost in the trees.
Guisborough Museum – free – opened in 1989, Guisborough Museum is a charming Olde Worlde Town Museum packed with memorabilia and exhibitions of past times. Housed in three adjoining rooms within the old stable block behind Sunnyfield House, Guisborough Museum tells the story of this ancient market town. (Sunnyfield House, 36 Westgate Road, Guisborough, TS14 6BA)
Redcar Palace – free – a community arts venue based in Redcar, ran by Tees Valley Arts. It’s home to an ongoing exciting exhibition programme and the lovely Honestly Made, Honestly Sold shop. (28-29 Esplanade, Redcar, TS10 3AE)
Locke Park – free – Locke Park is situated off Corporation Road, Redcar. It is home to a boating lake, tennis courts, childrens play area, and gardens. (Corporation Road, Redcar, TS10 1HA)
Darlington
Hopetown Darlington – free entry, extra cost for some activities – a visitor attraction dedicated to the steam passenger railway. Admission includes entry to the site, museum, cafe and shop, and you can pay a little extra for access to the Wagon Woods playground and Experiment! simulator ride. (McNay Street, Darlington, DL3 6SW)
South Park – free – a huge park just outside of the town centre with a lake, playground, aviaries, bandstand, cafe and large grassy space. It’s a must visit in the summer! (Darlington, DL1 5TD)
West Park – free – this park covers 30 acres and includes tree plantations, wildflower meadows and wetlands. And there’s more than just beautiful surroundings: artworks and poetry on every corner, a large play area and a cycle track, so there’s something for everyone. (Darlington, DL2 2FW)
Hullabaloo Creative Play – free – The Hullabaloo run regular creative play sessions, each with a different theme. These sessions are free for 0-7 year olds to enjoy! Children can dress up, play and let their imaginations run wild. (Borough Road, Darlington, DL1 1SG)
Piercebridge Roman Fort and Bridge – free – did you know that there used to be a Roman fort and bridge in Darlington? These ruins show where the river used to be back in the Roman era! (Darlington, DL2 3SW)
Under The Sea soft play – £5.25 for parent and toddler, £2.50 for under 1s, free for 0-6 month babies – this soft play is a nautical adventure for the whole family to enjoy with lots of interactive features and fun characters! (Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Darlington, DL1 5RP)
Dolphin Centre swimming – £2.75 per child and £5.40 per adult (£2.45 and £4.85 with card) – enjoy some family swim time at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington. (Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Darlington, DL1 5RP)
DC Bowl – £7.95 per adult, £6.30 per child – this is a small bowling alley inside the Dolphin Centre with five lanes. It’s a great choice for families with different themes to choose from and food served to the lanes. (Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Darlington, DL1 5RP)
Tees Cottage Pumping Station open days – £5 per adult, free for under 16s – take the opportunity to visit the Victorian pumping station on one of their open days! You’ll see the station in motion, learn more about why it was needed and even have a go on the mini railway for a small extra cost. (Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 8TF)
Options over £10pp
National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool – from £12 per adult, from £9 per child, free for under 3s – tickets for this museum are valid for 12 months, so it’s a great option for visits all year round. The museum is dedicated to all things naval, including the opportunity to step on board Europe’s oldest floating warship, HMS Trincomalee. (Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ)
Take a trip to the theatre – our biggest theatres are Stockton Globe and Darlington Hippodrome, each showing a variety of performances. Middlesbrough Town Hall also often has family-friendly shows on!
Head to the cinema – there are LOADS of cinemas in Teesside. The larger cinemas include Odeon Luxe Middlesbrough, Showcase Cinema De Lux Stockton, Vue Darlington and Vue Hartlepool. If you like a smaller feel, try The Regent Redcar.
Ninja Warrior UK at Teesside Park – £13.95 per person for 1 hour entry – test your Ninja skills while climbing, balancing and swinging across obstacles or bouncing across the inflatables. And don’t forget to take on the famous Warped Wall! (Teesside Park Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 7BU)
Tackle a climbing wall – if you’ve got active little ones, why not let them have a go at a climbing wall? There’s Clip n Climb just off Portrack Lane in Stockton or Go Climb at Billingham Forum. If you’re looking for an option in Middlesbrough, try Rock Antics!
Teesside Air Trail – £14 per person – head to new heights on the Air Trail at the Tees Barrage. There’s something for everyone on this aerial course, with an exciting assortment of wobbly rope bridges, troublesome tight ropes, crazy cargo nets and swinging stepping stones, all floating high above the River Tees. (Tees Barrage Way, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QW)
Pottery painting – no matter your age, pottery painting is always a lot of fun and can be as affordable as you like, depending on the pots you pick. There’s Pixie Pots in Eagelscliffe, The Pottery Loft in Billingham, Create & Paint in Darlington, and Hartlepotz in Hartlepool.
Jump 360 Trampoline Park on Portrack Lane – £14.50pp during peak times and £12.50pp during off peak, £3 per grip socks – bounce into action at Jump 360! This trampoline park is the ideal place for kids to burn off some energy with oodles of trampolines, challenges and foam pits. (5-6 Mandale Retail Park, Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2LX)
Tweddle Farm in Hartlepool – £11.95 per adult, £10.95 per child and free for under 1s – there’s nothing quite like a visit to the farm and Tweddle Farm in Hartlepool is always a popular choice. Of course, there are animals to see, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas, tractor rides and more. (Fillpoke Lane, Blackhall Colliery, TS27 4BT)
Play Factory Thornaby – £11.95 for 3 years+, £8.50 for under 3s, £3.50 for under 1s (or free with paying sibling) – at the heart of The Play Factory is the multi-level play frame, which is three levels high and as tall as a house, crammed full of activities and events that keep the kids amused for hours. (38A Dukesway, Teesside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, TS17 9LT)
There’s so much to do across the whole of Teesside if want free or affordable options. Which of these will you be adding to your list?
