Albert Park is a beautiful green oasis just outside the town centre – you can find it on Google Maps here. The park covers almost 30 hectares, and has a visitor centre, roller skating rink, a café, tennis courts, bowling greens, swan and boat hire on the lakes, bandstand, Parkrun routes, plenty of monuments, and play equipment for both younger and older children.
Albert Park is one of seven parks in Middlesbrough to hold the prestigious Green Flag award.
Opening times
Albert Park gates
Open every day from 7:30am to 9.30pm. The park gates are locked at 9.30pm.
Albert Park visitor centre
The visitor centre and toilets are open:
- Monday: 10am to 6pm
- Tuesday to Friday: 9am to 6pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:30am to 6pm
Visitor centre
There’s information, activities, and a café at the visitor centre by the lake near Park Vale Road – find it on Google Maps here. Here you can also hire roller skates, the tennis courts, or the swan boats when the weather allows!
They regularly run bike riding lessons, arts and craft days, activity trails and more – check out the Albert Park Facebook page for updates.
Heart Café CIC
Homemade scones, full English breakfasts, fish and chips, Sunday lunch, sandwiches, ice cream, and excellent coffee is available at the Heart Café, a community café based in the visitor centre of Albert Park.
They also provide catering for the #BringitonBoro holiday and food activities programme, which provides food and activities to children and young people aged 5 to 16 during the school holidays.
Find the Heart Café on Google Maps or check out their Facebook page.
What to do at Albert Park
“The People’s Park” as it was called when it first opened, has wide open spaces and a central tree-lined avenue. It’s the perfect place to walk the dog, meet friends, take the family, or just relax with the ducks and swans.
The lake
A large lake at the east end of the park is overlooked by the visitor centre and has a path with railings running around the whole lake, fishing platforms, duck island, boat house, and nesting swans that come back every year.
Swan boats
When the weather’s nice the swan boats are out! Ask at the visitor centre about prices and availability.
Rollerskating
If you’re looking for something a little more energetic, you can hire a tennis court or take a spin on the rollerskating rink.
Daily, 9am to 4pm (last ticket at 2:55pm)
All skaters must pay to use the rink. The price includes rollerskate hire if needed.
- Under 18s – £3 for 1 hour
Over 18s – £4 for 1 hour
Please come to the visitor centre to pay. You can pay by cash or card (minimum spend of £2 for card payments).
Tennis
Daily, 9am to 4pm (last ticket at 2:30pm)
£4 per court for 1 hour (maximum of 4 people per court)
Please come to the visitor centre to pay. You can pay by cash or card (minimum spend of £2 for card payments).
Middlesbrough Mela
Every year Albert Park hosts Middlesbrough Mela, a free two-day long cultural festival and mela. It brings together diverse communities through a colourful array of music, dance, art, and cuisine.
It’s one of the largest of its kind in the North East with over 50,000 people attending every year! Check out when the next one is on the Middlesbrough Mela website.
Dorman Museum
Located at one of Albert Park’s entrances is the Dorman Museum. It has a wide array of events and activities, permanent and temporary exhibitions, a Victorian-style tea room, designs by Dr Christopher Dresser, and the largest public display of Linthorpe Pottery in the world.
Admission is free. More information like opening hours and event schedules are on the Dorman Museum website.
Parkrun
Why not lace up your running shoes and take part in the weekly Albert Park 5km parkrun? It’s on every Saturday at 9am, and it’s free to enter. If you can’t make it to parkrun on Saturday, the route is marked out around the park so you can run (or walk) it any time you like.
A Junior Parkrun for 4-14 year olds takes place every Sunday morning at 9 am.
Find out more and register on the parkrun website.
Play equipment
There are two main play areas in Albert Park, a teenage play area near the visitor centre, and a junior play area near the central fountain.
Walking trails
Albert Park Huntee trail
Explore the park with this 2.4km digital treasure trail, starting just outside the main park gates near the Dorman Museum. More information on the Huntee website.
Go Orienteering trail
There’s are three orienteering trails around Albert Park, an easy 1.4km trail, a moderate 2.4km trail, and an advanced 4.2km trail. You can find them on the Go Orienteering website.
Other activities
There are loads of other events and activities running at Albert Park, especially around half term and summer holidays.
Check out the Dorman Museum, our holiday activities and food programme, subscribe to the We Are Middlesbrough newsletter, or follow our socials to find out what’s coming up!
History and heritage
The town’s first mayor and MP, Henry Bolckow, first proposed the idea of a “People’s Park” for the residents of Middlesbrough to act as a “green lung” to ease the cramped conditions and poor health of the burgeoning industrial population.
The park was officially opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught on 11 August 1868. It was built on land bought by Henry Bolckow specifically to provide a public park for the people of Middlesbrough as the town expanded.
Postcard of the lake from the early 1900s. The original design was mirrored for some reason, so this is flipped back.
Statue of Brian Clough, Middlesbrough FC striker and best manager England never had.
The restored tower clock and a cannon captured from the Siege of Sevastopol by British forces.
Parking
There is plenty of free parking at Albert Park car park and further up along Clairville Common. This drops you near the lake, just in front of the visitor centre.
How to get here
- By car: Albert Park is right in the heart of Middlesbrough, sandwiched between Linthorpe Road and Marton Road. It’s accessible by almost every main road that runs through the town.
- By bus: The Dorman Museum bus stop on Linthorpe Road drops you at the main entrance of the park by the Cenotaph.
