Summary
A historic port town on the North Sea, Hartlepool boasts over 1,400 years of heritage, originating around a 7th-century monastery.
By the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hartlepool emerged as a significant hub for the shipbuilding sector, gaining notoriety as a target during an unprecedented bombardment by the Imperial German Navy in 1914. With the decline of heavy industry, Hartlepool’s harbor has undergone revitalization, featuring an outdoor quayside museum where visitors can explore HMS Trincomalee, the oldest British warship currently afloat.
Further historical significance can be found at Hartlepool’s Headland, the original site of the 7th-century monastery, which remains partially protected by 14th-century town walls and features a Victorian battery.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Hartlepool:
1. National Museum of the Royal Navy
Formerly known as “Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience,” this attraction located in Hartlepool’s Marina serves as a meticulous replication of a naval seaport from the year 1800. Remarkably, until the 1990s, this area consisted solely of abandoned docks from Hartlepool’s former shipbuilding operations.
Visitors can explore rows of period-style houses, a Guard Room, and Marine Barracks.
Traditional shops illustrate the trades of printers and tailors.
The standout feature here is HMS Trincomalee, an authentic frigate launched in Bombay, India in 1817. The venue offers diverse activities suitable for all ages, encompassing historical gaming experiences and interactive sea battle simulations, with a dedicated space for children known as the Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre.
2. HMS Trincomalee
HMS Trincomalee, the oldest warship still in service in Britain, is stationed at the Historic Quay within the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
This Leda-class sailing frigate, although 52 years younger than HMS Victory in Portsmouth, remains afloat, contrasting with Lord Nelson’s flagship now residing in dry dock.
In 1987, the ship was towed to Hartlepool in a severely deteriorated condition and has since become a symbol of the town following a comprehensive restoration completed in 2001. Guided tours allow visitors to view various parts of the ship, from the captain’s quarters to the hold, narrated by knowledgeable guides in period costume, recounting tales from the ship’s anti-slavery patrol during the mid-19th century.
Prior to boarding, patrons can visit the HMS Trincomalee Exhibition, which highlights the coercive recruitment practices used to fill the ranks of the Royal Navy.
3. The Headland
Protruding into the North Sea on the eastern side of the town is Hartlepool’s Headland, which comprises magnesian limestone.
This site hosted one of the UK’s earliest Christian communities, exemplified by the 7th-century Monastery of St Hilda.
The monastery endured destruction by the Danes around 800, leading to the subsequent establishment of the Medieval Church of Hilda.
Due to its elevated coastal position, the Headland has historically served a defensive purpose, as evidenced by the 14th-century town wall and the Victorian Heugh Battery.
Adjacent to this is the Town Moor, famous for the Headland Carnival, which features over 100 fairground rides and amusements at the beginning of August each year.
4. Heugh Battery Museum
Established in 1860 as one of three batteries designed to prepare Hartlepool for potential attack from France, the Heugh Battery is positioned at the eastern tip of the Headland.
During this period, Hartlepool was developing rapidly as a port with an expanding shipbuilding industry.
Notably, the Heugh Battery is recognized as the only British gun battery to have been activated during the First World War, responding to a German Navy raid on the North East coast.
Since its closure in 1956, the Heugh Battery has been preserved as a museum, welcoming visitors Thursday through Sunday. It showcases an impressive collection of weaponry and uniforms, alongside exhibits detailing coastal defense mechanisms.
Visitors can explore underground magazines and ascend to the observation point tower for views of the North Sea.
5. Museum of Hartlepool
Situated within the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Museum of Hartlepool serves as a complimentary attraction, chronicling the town’s history from multiple perspectives.
The museum dissects the tale of Hartlepool’s “monkey hanger” legend, distinguishing fact from fiction, while providing a wealth of maritime artifacts.
Visitors can examine the first-ever gas-illuminated lighthouse light, board a regional coble fishing vessel, and explore a rather unsettling fabricated merman skeleton from the Victorian era.
Additions include a replica of an Iron Age roundhouse and numerous models and interactive displays; outside, at Jackson Dock, lies the Hartlepool-built PS Wingfield Castle.
6. Fighting Ships Experience
A more recent installation at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Fighting Ships Experience immerses participants in daily life aboard a warship in the year 1800. Guided by the ghost of a Powder Monkey (a character portrayed by a costumed staff member), visitors gain insight into the harsh realities faced during the Napoleonic Wars.
Various tableaux depict life aboard the recreated HMS Prosperity, detailing everything from gun ports to the officers’ wardroom, capturing the somber realities of injury treatment and burial at sea.
7. Town Wall
Protecting the southern perimeter of the Headland is a wall that has stood since the 14th century.
This structure was erected during the reign of Edward I as a precaution against conflict with Robert the Bruce of Scotland.
Before its completion, Hartlepool suffered an attack and pillaging by the Scottish knight Sir James Douglas.
Leading to the beach at the southeast end of the wall is the late-14th-century Sandwell Gate, which features robust buttresses facing the sea.
Close to the Heugh Battery, a 19th-century cannon from the Russian Army, surrendered during the Siege of Sebastopol (1845-46), faces out towards the North Sea.
8. St Hilda’s Church
Functioning as both a church and a visitor center for the Headland, St Hilda’s is located on the site of the original 7th-century monastery.
The oldest surviving architecture here dates back to the early 1100s, which has been integrated into a newer structure completed in the early 13th century.
Exploration reveals numerous medieval details, such as the mid-12th-century vegetal capitals adorning the western doorway and the 13th-century Galilee Chapel adjacent to the western side of the tower, both originating from the same era.
On the southern side of the nave, a 12th-century round doorway features two distinct orders of Norman ornamentation.
The visitor center inside the church includes interactive displays and short films detailing the rich history of the Headland, encapsulating stories about the monastery and the de Brus family, known to have used the church as a funerary chapel.
9. Camerons Brewery
Camerons Brewery, the largest independent brewery in North East England, has operated in Hartlepool since 1865. The Lion Brewery, predominantly established in the 1890s, boasts a capacity of 1.5 million hectoliters, ranking among the top ten in the UK. Its celebrated flagship red bitter, Strongarm, is served in pubs nationwide.
Behind-the-scenes tours of the Lion Brewery are available from Monday to Thursday.
Remarkable sights include the brewhouse adorned with Italian marble and a well that extends 76 meters below ground.
Informational boards elucidate every step of the ale-brewing process, while queries are addressed by knowledgeable brewery staff.
Afterward, guests can visit the Brewery Tap, offering a selection of ales including the renowned Strongarm.
10. RSPB Saltholme
Located approximately 15 minutes south of Hartlepool on the way to Middlesbrough, RSPB Saltholme serves as a wetland nature reserve along the north bank of the River Tees.
The site encompasses a variety of habitats, including wet grasslands, meadows, and open water pools.
RSPB Saltholme’s true value lies in its reedbeds, which provide habitat for bird species such as reed buntings and reed warblers.
The natural landscape changes with the seasons, particularly in autumn when green sandpipers and black-tailed godwits rest during migration, while large flocks of lapwings and golden plovers arrive for the winter months.
The reserve features a welcoming visitor center along with a family discovery center aimed at educating beginner birdwatchers.
Additionally, visitors can observe the “Seal Cam,” which broadcasts live footage of seals swimming up Greatham Creek at the reserve’s northern end.
11. Ward Jackson Park
Established in 1883 to honor Ralph Ward Jackson, the founder of West Hartlepool, Ward Jackson Park contains original Victorian and Edwardian elements.
The arcaded Lodge House has been part of the park since its inception.
The bandstand and fountain were introduced in the early 20th century, with most of the recently restored landscaping reflecting Victorian aesthetics.
This park offers a charming setting for leisurely activities, such as strolls by the model boat pond, playground outings for children, and relaxed moments over a cup of tea at the café.
12. Summerhill Country Park
Occupying 100 acres on the western outskirts of Hartlepool, Summerhill Country Park serves as a hub for outdoor activities while also functioning as a Local Nature Reserve.
The visitor center organizes various activity sessions, including high ropes adventures, archery, rock climbing, orienteering, team-building exercises, and nature explorations.
Cyclists benefit from the Hartlepool Cycle Clinic, which provides free repair services and bike maintenance workshops, alongside a BMX track available for public use.
Climbers can tackle eight unique boulders, while those visiting for a more relaxed experience will discover outdoor art installations and an authentic replica of an Iron Age roundhouse.
The nature reserve features two ponds with observation platforms, and the café in the visitor center, open seven days a week, offers a warm refuge on chilly days.
13. Seaton Carew
Located three miles by road or one train stop away, the quaint seaside resort of Seaton Carew features an expansive North Sea beach.
Originating in the 1700s, Seaton Carew transformed into a favored retreat for Quaker families from the North East.
The seafront is characterized by stuccoed townhouses and an Edwardian promenade, reminiscent of its historic past.
Typical seaside amenities such as amusement arcades, ice cream shops, and fish and chip restaurants are readily available in Seaton Carew.
Among the unforgiving and windswept dunes lies the 22-hole Seaton Carew Golf Club (founded in 1874), which ranks as the tenth oldest golf club in England—providing a memorable challenge for golfers.
14. PS Wingfield Castle
Situated at Jackson Dock, another museum ship awaits exploration.
The PS Wingfield Castle, constructed in Hartlepool by William Gray & Company in 1934, originally served as a Humber Ferry, transporting passengers across the River Humber between Hull and New Holland in Lincolnshire until 1974, shortly before the completion of the Humber Bridge.
The vessel enjoyed a diverse career over the following decade, even appearing in the film The Elephant Man (1980), before returning to Hartlepool for restoration.
A café is available on board, and visitors may observe the boiler, engine, and stoke holders through expansive viewing panels.
15. Tweddle Children’s Animal Farm
Offering an alternative experience from Hartlepool’s maritime attractions, Tweddle Children’s Animal Farm provides a few hours of rural entertainment suited for younger visitors.
Children can engage directly with a variety of domestic animals by hand-feeding goats, Shetland ponies, llamas, and others.
A “Baby Barn” petting center features a rotating selection of young animals, including pigs, ponies, alpacas, and goats, varying with the seasons.
Additional facilities include an indoor play area featuring a ball pit, go-karts, and mini golf, alongside tractor-pulled barrel rides offered three times daily.
