Address
Dorman Museum
Linthorpe Road
Middlesbrough
TS5 6LA
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday
10am to 4pm
Last entry 3.30pm
Admission
Entry to the museum is free.
Charges may apply for additional activities like temporary exhibitions, VR experiences, or family activities.
Where we are
Additional information
How to get here
By foot
We are on on Linthorpe Road right by Albert Park and the Cenotaph. It is well signposted traveling from the town centre and the route is mostly level.
Bus and coach
Most town centre buses stop at the side of the Dorman Museum on Linthorpe Road. The main bus station is in Middlesbrough Town Centre on Newport Road, we suggest bus lines 11, 12, 27 and 63 that travel along Linthorpe Road.
The nearest drop off point for coaches is on Linthorpe Road to the side of the museum, coaches can temporarily use bus stops area to unload and pick up passengers before departing or parking away from the site
For further local transport travel advice visit Traveline North East
Train
Middlesbrough Train Station is 1.2 miles away and can take approximately 25 minutes to walk.
Leave the station through the Bridge Street entrance and turn right to Linthorpe Road. Continue down Linthorpe Road on foot or take a short bus or taxi ride.
Car
The museum has its own free car park, though spaces are limited, this can be accessed via Park Road South, TS5 6LD.
Accessible and free parking is available on the street to the front of the museum, Park Road (limited to 2 hours) TS5 6LA.
Additional on-street free parking is available on Park Road South, this road includes limited stay marked bays and all-day parking TS5 6LD.
More parking information is available on the Middlesbrough Council website.
Access and facilities
Getting inside
The most accessible entrance to the Dorman Museum for wheelchair users, people in mobility scooters and push chairs is via Linthorpe Road, here you will find a long gently sloped ramp leading to our entrance doorway.
We have two sets of entry doors at the Dorman Museum, on approach to the museum building the doors on the left hand side is fully automatic and will open on approach. Upon exiting through these doors they can be opened by an accessible push pad.
There are two blue badge parking bays are available in front of the museum on Linthorpe Road. Small vehicles, including minibuses, can also use the parking area to drop passengers.
We also have access from our carpark and street parking on Park Road South, this route will take you up a short set of steps to the museum entrance. The steps have handrails and tactile warning paving.
Inside the museum
Wheelchair and mobility access
There is one lift within the museum that can accommodate up to 3 wheelchairs at any one time.
There is level access on each floor with a gentle ramp between the Linthorpe and Dresser galleries, each gallery has ample space to manoeuvre between displays.
We have one wheelchair and a walker that are free to use during your visit, please ask at our welcome desk upon arrival.
Visually impaired visitors may like to know that the ground floor has parquet flooring in several galleries with floor set grills for the under floor heating system. Seating can be found throughout the galleries.
Map of the museum
A map of the museum is located in the entrance foyer of the museum and by the entrance of the lift on both floors. The map provides a simple floorplan of the museum to help you navigate during your visit.
We encourage visitors to take a picture of this on arrival to help them navigate around the museum.
Accessible toilets
There are accessible toilets within the museum and offer right and left hand transfer options, they are also fitted with emergency alarms that alert our welcome desk if emergency assistance is needed.
The closest accessible changing place toilet is located in Albert Park Visitor Centre located next to the Dorman Museum.
Hearing loop
There are hearing loops available at our welcome desk, gift shop and learning activity room.
Baby changing and feeding
There are baby change facilities located within the accessible toilets within the museum.
We welcome our visitors breastfeeding and bottle feeding their babies, there are a few areas that you may feel more comfortable feeding your baby, such as the tea room and Dresser Gallery. In some cases, our temporary exhibitions prohibit food and drink in the area, so please check with a member of our team if you are unsure.
Assistance dogs
Trained assistance dogs are welcome at the museum, our team will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog if needed.
Quieter times and areas
The museum is often quieter after 3pm during term time. If you would prefer to visit during a quieter period please get in touch with your visit dates and we check to see if we have any groups during the time you are hoping to visit.
We also schedule run relaxed sessions for our temporary exhibitions, please see our What’s On page for our upcoming events.
VR experience
Our VR ride has stepped access up to the seats, visitors with mobility impairments can sit to the side of the ride and wear a headset if they can’t negotiate the steps.
Dresser’s Tea Room
The tea room is located to the right of the entrance foyer, this has level entry through a single leaf door.
Personal assistant tickets
If a visitor requires an accompanying personal assistant, the personal assistant will be admitted to paying exhibitions and events free of charge.
Please contact our welcome desk team to arrange a personal assistant ticket.
Albert Park
The Dorman Museum is located right next to Albert Park.
Covering 30 hectares of space, the park is an award-winning Green Flag space in the very centre of Middlesbrough. The park is often used for large scale events which incorporate the beautiful bandstand, avenue of trees, and wide open urban space.
It’s the perfect place to walk the dog, meet friends, take the family, or just relax!
Information on opening times and facilities are on the Middlesbrough Council website.
What to do
If you’re looking for something a little more energetic, you can hire a tennis court or take a spin on the roller skating rink during the spring and summer months the park also offers pedal boats on the boating lake. You can find out more about times and prices by following the link below.
Each week Albert Park also hosts a popular parkrun which offers a great opportunity to run the grounds of the park with likeminded people. Find out more and register on the parkrun website.
History of Albert Park
The town’s first mayor and MP, Henry Bolckow, first proposed the idea of a public park for the residents of Middlesbrough, dubbed the “People’s Park” in its conception. Bolckow was particularly conscious of the need to provide a “green lung” to ease the plight of the burgeoning industrial population of a town which was granted its charter of incorporation in 1853.
In 1864, Bolckow bought land off Linthorpe Roadand presented it to Middlesbrough Borough Council for use as a public park. An agreement drawn up between Bolckow and the Council in 1865 specified that the park be called Albert Park and that £3,000 be spent on laying it out. Work commenced in 1865 to a design by William Barratt, using trees and shrubs from his nursery in Wakefield. The park was completed at a cost of £30,000
In 1868 the park was officially opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught and Stathearn, who was Queen Victoria’s seventh child and third son. It was the prince’s first public engagement and the park commemorates the name of his father, Albert, the Queen’s Consort, who died in 1861.
When Middlesbrough Football Club were formed in 1875 they played their first two years at Albert Park before later moving to an alternative site within the town.
Gift shop
Located at the entrance of the museum, our gift shop is fully stocked with an exciting range of products for all tastes and budgets.
We have gifts to suit all tastes and ages, souvenirs, collectables, homewares, bespoke items and pocket money items. Take a look and be inspired!
The gift shop is open within museum visiting hours: 10am to 4pm.
Dresser’s Tea Room
Dresser’s Tea Room produces delicious home-made cakes, scones, sandwiches, and plenty of tea! The perfect place for a delicious lunch as you explore the museum.
The museum houses the largest public collections worldwide of locally made Linthorpe Art Pottery. It has designs by the renowned Dr Christopher Dresser, and it’s from Dr Dresser where the popular tea room gets its name.
Enjoy a freshly made selection of savoury meals, sweet treats, snacks, and hot and cold drinks.
A children’s menu is also available.
Opening times
Tuesday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm
Saturday, 10:30am to 3:30pm
Sunday, 11:00am to 3:00pm
More information on the Dresser’s Tea Room Facebook page.
