Middlesbrough’s biggest
Stewart Park
Park or garden
45 ha (112 acres)4.7 km of path
1 hto walk all 4.7 km of path
64 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.8 mi south-eastfrom the centre
3 listedGrove to Stewart Park
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Originally uploaded by MarcusBritish (Transferred by Hogweard ) · CC BY-SA 3.0AOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Middlesbrough · parks, paths & countryside
85% of Middlesbrough’s residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
The North York Moors National Park begins 1.7 mi from the city’s edge. Parks and playing fields in Middlesbrough add up to 2.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. The sea makes up 9% of the area within 5 km. Middlesbrough grades A for the outdoors: #7 of 54 in North Yorkshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.6 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
85%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
289 km
2.9 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
3%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: North York Moors National Park
The sea
9%
of the area within 5 km
Character
What kind of outdoors city is Middlesbrough?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Countryside close byThe North York Moors National Park starts 1.7 mi south-east.Hills with a view9 mapped viewpoints, about 2× as many per resident as the typical city its size.On a National TrailThe King Charles III England Coast Path passes through.Historic parksAlbert Park is a registered historic park (Grade II).
Middlesbrough’s strongest suit is the North York Moors National Park close by, followed by its views.
Outdoors grade
Middlesbrough grades A for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Middlesbrough, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
A
Better than 87% of UK towns#7 of 54 in North Yorkshire · 12th of 48 UK cities its size
Public green space2.6 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
61out of
100
100
A park within a walk85%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
56out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape3%of the land within 5 km
66out of
100
100
Footpaths2.9 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
56out of
100
100
The sea9%of the area within 5 km
86out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Cities its size
Middlesbrough is 12th of 48 UK cities its size for the outdoors
The 48 UK towns and cities of 104,000 to 200,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Middlesbrough2.9
Cities its size4.3
North Yorkshire towns2.0
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Middlesbrough2.6
Cities its size2.5
North Yorkshire towns1.7
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Middlesbrough85%
Cities its size86%
North Yorkshire towns80%
All UK towns83%
Middlesbrough falls furthest behind on path per km², where 43 of the 47 others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swindon Wiltshire | A+ | 3.1 | 96% | 5.9 | 21% |
| 2 | Gloucester Gloucestershire | A | 2.7 | 93% | 6 | 22% |
| 3 | Gillingham Kent | A | 1.6 | 86% | 5.3 | 23% |
| 4 | Poole Dorset | A | 2.5 | 81% | 3.4 | 20% |
| 5 | Crawley West Sussex | A | 2.6 | 85% | 10.5 | 33% |
| 6 | Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire | A | 8 | 99% | 6.3 | 0% |
| 7 | Stockport Greater Manchester | A | 4 | 93% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 8 | Telford Shropshire | A | 3.2 | 96% | 4 | 6% |
| 9 | Basingstoke Hampshire | A | 2.5 | 94% | 5.8 | 6% |
| 10 | Colchester Essex | A | 3.2 | 86% | 5.4 | 10% |
| 11 | Kingswood and Fishponds Gloucestershire | A | 3.1 | 85% | 6.1 | 10% |
| 12 | Middlesbrough North Yorkshire | A | 2.6 | 85% | 2.9 | 3% |
| 13 | Swansea West Glamorgan | A | 3.2 | 86% | 2.1 | 9% |
| 14 | Watford Hertfordshire | A | 2.8 | 88% | 4.5 | 1% |
| 15 | Gateshead Tyne and Wear | A− | 3.3 | 95% | 5.2 | 0% |
| 16 | Basildon Essex | A− | 3 | 95% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 17 | Richmond upon Thames London | A− | 5.7 | 83% | 7.6 | 0% |
| 18 | Bournemouth Dorset | A− | 1.9 | 81% | 3.2 | 1% |
| 19 | Maidstone Kent | A− | 2.9 | 81% | 3.5 | 20% |
| 20 | Cheltenham Gloucestershire | A− | 1.4 | 87% | 4.5 | 44% |
| 21 | Worthing West Sussex | A− | 1.2 | 78% | 2.9 | 38% |
| 22 | Ipswich Suffolk | A− | 2.6 | 79% | 3.9 | 12% |
| 23 | Newport Gwent | A− | 2.8 | 85% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 24 | Peterborough Cambridgeshire | B+ | 3.7 | 96% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 25 | Oldham Greater Manchester | B+ | 1.7 | 87% | 5 | 0% |
| 26 | Warrington Cheshire | B+ | 3.5 | 93% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 27 | Oxford Oxfordshire | B+ | 2.4 | 90% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 28 | Huddersfield West Yorkshire | B+ | 1.4 | 94% | 4.3 | 1% |
| 29 | Birkenhead Merseyside | B+ | 3.1 | 71% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 30 | York North Yorkshire | B | 2.3 | 89% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 31 | Salford Greater Manchester | B | 2 | 91% | 5.1 | 0% |
| 32 | Kensington and Chelsea London | B | 1.5 | 99% | 7.1 | 0% |
| 33 | Chelmsford Essex | B | 2.4 | 87% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 34 | Kingston upon Thames London | B | 3.3 | 71% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 35 | St Helens Merseyside | B | 3.4 | 91% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 36 | Cambridge Cambridgeshire | B | 2.3 | 79% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 37 | Bolton Greater Manchester | B | 2.2 | 85% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 38 | Sunderland Tyne and Wear | B− | 1.5 | 76% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 39 | Hammersmith and Fulham London | B− | 1 | 93% | 5.6 | 0% |
| 40 | Blackburn Lancashire | B− | 2.2 | 71% | 3.1 | 1% |
| 41 | Exeter Devon | B− | 1.8 | 81% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 42 | Lincoln Lincolnshire | B− | 2.5 | 72% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 43 | Rochdale Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.7 | 88% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 44 | Blackpool Lancashire | C+ | 1.6 | 75% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 45 | Southend-on-Sea Essex | C+ | 1.5 | 62% | 3 | 0% |
| 46 | Worcester Worcestershire | C | 1.5 | 77% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 47 | Solihull West Midlands | C | 2.9 | 54% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 48 | Slough Berkshire | C | 1.9 | 82% | 2.8 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Middlesbrough’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Middlesbrough
The biggest is Stewart Park, 45 ha (112 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 14 named parks by size: 216 ha (533 acres) and 25 km of path
Parks & gardens 161 haPlaying fields 54 ha
The biggest is Stewart Park, 45 ha (112 acres); no single park dominates.
Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park
Park or garden
41 ha (101 acres)5.8 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 5.8 km of path
57 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2.5 mi eastfrom the centre
Viewpoint Picnic site
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade II
Albert Park
Park or garden
28 ha (70 acres)6.0 km of path
1 h 20 minto walk all 6 km of path
40 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi northfrom the centre
6 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Fairy Dell Park
Park or garden
16 ha (38 acres)1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
22 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.3 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Pallister Park
Park or garden
11 ha (28 acres)1.7 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
16 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Acklam Rugby Club
Playing field
23 ha (57 acres)
32 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Kader Football Club
Playing field
13 ha (33 acres)0.4 km of path
19 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.8 mi south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Bonnygrove Park
Park or garden
5.5 ha (13 acres)0.8 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.8 km of path
8 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2.2 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 14 named parks and green spaces
Stewart ParkPark or garden · 45 ha · 4.7 km of path
DirectionsFlatts Lane Woodland Country ParkPark or garden · 41 ha · 5.8 km of path
DirectionsAlbert ParkPark or garden · 28 ha · 6.0 km of path
DirectionsFairy Dell ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsPallister ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsAcklam Rugby ClubPlaying field · 23 ha
DirectionsKader Football ClubPlaying field · 13 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsBonnygrove ParkPark or garden · 5.5 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsSmith's Dock ParkPlaying field · 10 ha · just outside town
DirectionsCentre SquarePark or garden · 3.8 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsAyresome GardensPark or garden · 3.0 ha · 1.1 km of path
DirectionsRiverside ParkPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 1.2 km of path
DirectionsThorntree ParkPark or garden · 4.9 ha
DirectionsMill Hill Recreation GroundPlaying field · 7.4 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsClose to home
How close Middlesbrough’s homes are to a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (85%)Further (15%)
Middlesbrough85%
Cities its size86%
North Yorkshire towns80%
All UK towns83%
About 23,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 62 playgrounds are mapped in and around the city, about one for every 2,391 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The North York Moors National Park is 1.7 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Park
North York Moors
1.7 mi south-east1,441 km²since 19523% of the land within 5 km
Official site3% of the land within 5 km of Middlesbrough is National Park or National Landscape, more than 65% of UK towns. North York Moors National Park covers 1,441 km² and has been a National Park since 1952.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Middlesbrough is on the King Charles III England Coast Path
289 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Middlesbrough and the kilometre around it, 2.9 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the city.
NationalRegionalLocal
King Charles III England Coast Path: Newport Bridge to North Gare14.2 km
Tees Link11.0 km
King Charles III England Coast Path: Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge11.0 km
Marton West Beck9.5 km
Teesdale Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough)8.9 km
Thornaby Trail Loop8.6 km
Thornaby Trail Connections6.1 km
Teesdale Way (Middlesbrough to Warrenby)4.8 km
Three Ridings on Foot3.6 km
The King Charles III England Coast Path, a national route, passes Middlesbrough. Close to home, the Tees Link has 11 km of local walk within 2 km of the city. 3 regional routes pass through, including the Teesdale Way (Middleton in Teesdale to Middlesbrough), Teesdale Way (Middlesbrough to Warrenby) and Three Ridings on Foot.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
A historic park in the middle of Middlesbrough
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Middlesbrough’s named parks.
Registered park · Grade II
Albert Park
28 ha. A registered historic park (Grade II). 6 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge.
IICoffin in Grounds of Dorman Memorial MuseumIIGates, Gatepiers and Flanking Walls at Entrance to Nazareth HouseIIMemorial Clock, In Albert ParkIISouth African War Memorial, In Albert ParkIISundial, In Albert ParkIIWest Lodge and Attached Screen Wall and Memorial in Albert Park
Listed buildings insideStewart ParkArmstrong/Ingledew Fenison Tombstone, C10M East of Church of St. Cuthbert Armstrong/Ingledew Fenison Tombstone, Circa 10 Metres East of Church of St Cuthbert, Bolckow Tombstones, Grave Cover and Kerb, Circa 24 Metres East of Chancel of Church of St Cuthbert and Stewart Park Depot
Listed buildings insideCentre SquareCentral Public Library, Monument to John Vaughan and Monument to Sir Samuel Sadler
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Middlesbrough: May to July and September
The city’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 7.8 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 14.0 | 16.0 | 17.2 | 16.7 | 14.9 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.3 | 7.3 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 46 | 38 | 40 | 45 | 42 | 64 | 57 | 66 | 54 | 58 | 67 | 56 |
February is the driest month (38 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 21 °C). Winter days are short, about 7 hours of daylight in December, and 67 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 36 nights a year. The climate in Middlesbrough →
The coast
Middlesbrough is near the sea
9% of the area within 5 km of Middlesbrough is sea. 5 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 1 with a name.
Coatham Sands2.0 mi from town
DirectionsThe King Charles III England Coast Path passes the town.
Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.
Things to do
9 viewpoints and 62 playgrounds
Mapped within 2 km of the city in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK city its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
9Viewpoints2.3× cities its size1Waterfalls10Nature reserves1.6× cities its size1Picnic sites62Playgrounds0.5× cities its size4Slipways2.5× cities its size
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 9
High Godfalter Hill0.2 mi from town
DirectionsMound0.5 mi from town
DirectionsHaverton viewpoint0.8 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 6 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Acid Drop0.4 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 10
Berwick Hills Nature Reserve8.0 ha · in town
DirectionsMiddle Marsh2.8 ha · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsStainton Quarry Nature Reserve3.0 ha · 0.1 mi from town
DirectionsMaze Park12 ha · 0.2 mi from town
DirectionsPortrack Marsh, Nature Reserve26 ha · 0.4 mi from town
DirectionsSaltholme Wildlife Reserve and Discovery Park216 ha · 0.8 mi from town
DirectionsCharlton's Pond9.0 ha · 1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 3 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 1
Flatts Lane Country Park0.1 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 62
Pavillion Pines Parkin town
DirectionsTrimdon Avenue Play Areain town
DirectionsPlus 60 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 4
Plus 4 slipways without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
StaintonEstonThornaby-on-TeesIngleby BarwickStockton-on-TeesBillinghamMiddlesbrough
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesbrough | A | 2.6 | 85% | 3% |
| Stainton 2.4 mi | D | 0.5 | 0% | 0% |
| Eston 2.9 mi | B+ | 2.9 | 93% | 2% |
| Thornaby-on-Tees 3.0 mi | A | 5.4 | 92% | 0% |
| Ingleby Barwick 4.3 mi | B+ | 2.9 | 87% | 0% |
| Stockton-on-Tees 4.8 mi | C+ | 2.0 | 83% | 0% |
| Billingham 5.0 mi | B | 4.7 | 86% | 0% |
Thornaby-on-Tees, 3 miles away, grades A, the best next door: 92% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Thornaby-on-Tees has at least twice Middlesbrough’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Middlesbrough
What is the biggest park in Middlesbrough?
Stewart Park, 45 ha (112 acres), with 4.7 km of path. Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park (41 ha) is second. 14 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the city or within 400 m of it.
Is Middlesbrough near a National Park?
Yes. North York Moors National Park begins 1.7 mi south-east of the city’s edge. It covers 1,441 km² and has been a National Park since 1952.
What are the best walks near Middlesbrough?
9 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the city, including the King Charles III England Coast Path: Newport Bridge to North Gare, Tees Link and King Charles III England Coast Path: Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge. Stewart Park alone has 4.7 km of path.
How many people in Middlesbrough live near a park?
85% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Middlesbrough?
May to July and September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Middlesbrough are historic?
Albert Park (Grade II) is on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Middlesbrough good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.9 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 56% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 61% (2.6 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Middlesbrough’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Middlesbrough’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.