Attractions Nearby Hartlepool, Day Trips and Excursions

(Hartlepool, County Durham, England, UK)

There is much to see in the Tees Valley and beyond, and Hartlepool is fortunate to be close to some very appealing attractions, towns and cities. Day trips to the coastline are commonplace in the summer, with the regenerated beaches and traditional seaside attractions of Seaham being a mere 30-minute drive away from Hartlepool and to the north-west, along with its multi-million pound shopping centre.

To the south-west of Hartlepool is the charming Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn by the Sea, which lies within the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, and boasts a stunning coastal location. Apart from its sweeping beachfront, the main attractions of Saltburn by the Sea include a renovated pier, the Marine Parade promenade, the historic water-balanced Inclined Tramway and its fascinating Smugglers Heritage Centre.

General Information

Just a short distance to the north-west is the modern city of Sunderland, which is home to numerous sights to see and attractions to enjoy. These include the Bowes Railway, the English Heritage-owned hyltoncastle, the Minster Church of St. Michaels and All Angels, the Silksworth Sports Complex and Ski Slope, the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, and the adjacent Roker and Seaburn Beaches.

Slightly further to the north-west of Hartlepool and still easily under an hour away is the Geordie city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Excursions to Newcastle are incredibly popular, although there are just so many quality tourist attractions in this Tyne and Wear city that it really does deserve more time than a relatively brief day trip.

Visitors heading to Newcastle should certainly look out for the frequent Shields ferry cruises, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the Grey's Monument and the renovated Blackfriars monastery. Nearby, prominent landmarks include the Angel of the North and Hadrian's Wall, while shoppers may like to pop next door to the gigantic Metro Centre in Gateshead, which is actually the biggest shopping centre in the UK and is home to almost 350 shops.

Further reliable day trip destinations from Hartlepool include the cities of Durham and the market towns of Guisborough, Middlesborough, Stockton on Tees and Whitby. To the south of Hartlepool, both the cities of Leeds and York are approximately one and a half hours away and home to some truly world-class attractions. In Leeds, the Victoria Quarter and Millennium Square are especially vibrant areas of the city. Visitors to York will discover an ancient medieval wall, which surrounds much of the city centre and comes with its own elevated pathway. The Gothic-style York Minster is the crowing jewel in this city and dates back around 1,000 years.