North East England Station code MBR
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough by train: modern art at MIMA, Captain Cook's birthplace and the North York Moors nearby. One direct LNER train each way on weekdays.
- Around 3 hours from London
- 1 LNER route
- 5 things to do
The Tees Transporter Bridge, the longest surviving transporter bridge in the world, about half a mile from the station.Photo: The joy of all things, CC BY-SA 4.0
About Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough grew almost from nothing in the 19th century, after Joseph Pease chose the site in 1829 for a new port served by the Stockton and Darlington Railway. It quickly became a major centre of iron production, and its Victorian civic buildings and the giant Transporter Bridge over the Tees still speak of that confidence.
Today the town is a lively base for culture and the outdoors. MIMA, its gallery of modern and contemporary art, is hosting the Turner Prize in 2026, and the Dorman Museum and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum cover local history and the navigator born at nearby Marton.
Beyond the town, the distinctive peak of Roseberry Topping marks the edge of the North York Moors, and the Esk Valley line runs from Middlesbrough towards Whitby.
Journey
MBR- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 3 hours
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Middlesbrough stop 7 of 7 | Thornaby | End of route |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
LNER runs one direct train each way on weekdays (King's Cross 18.45, arriving 21.46; Middlesbrough 07.35 to London in the May–December 2026 timetable). At other times change at York for TransPennine Express or at Darlington for Northern.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- December 1877 (current station)
- Architect
- William Peachey, North Eastern Railway
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- TransPennine Express
- Passengers a year
- 1.5 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The station's tall elliptical iron-and-glass roof was wrecked in a daylight air raid on 3 August 1942 and finally taken down in 1954.
- When an LNER Azuma left for King's Cross at 07:08 on 13 December 2021, it was Middlesbrough's first direct train to London since 1988.
- A £125 million redevelopment is under way: a new entrance and rebuilt undercroft were due by the end of 2026, with a third platform planned for 2028.
Photos of Middlesbrough
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The Tees Transporter Bridge, the longest surviving transporter bridge in the world, about half a mile from the station. Photo: The joy of all things, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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Decorated ironwork on the platforms of William Peachey's 1870s station. Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0 -
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The listed gate piers and walls of the station forecourt. Photo: Simon Cobb, CC0
Arriving at Middlesbrough
The main entrance is on Zetland Road, with the ticket office on your left as you go in; the platforms are above the entrance and are reached by stairs or by lifts from the subway. There is level access from Zetland Road and Bridge Street West, a ramp from the car park, and steps at the Exchange Place entrance. The town centre is well under a quarter of a mile away, and MIMA and the Town Hall are both within about a third of a mile. Expect some building work while the station is redeveloped.
The station is on the edge of the town centre – the centre is well under a quarter of a mile away as the crow flies – and MIMA and the Town Hall are both within about a third of a mile. It is staffed and has a café, toilets and lifts.
Getting around
The town centre is walkable. The Dorman Museum is served by several buses from Middlesbrough bus station, and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Stewart Park, Marton, is about three miles away, so take a bus or taxi.
Other train services and connections
- Northern (Tees Valley line to Darlington and Saltburn; Durham Coast line to Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle and Carlisle; Esk Valley line to Nunthorpe and Whitby)
- TransPennine Express (York, Leeds, Manchester Airport; Redcar and Saltburn)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to both platforms via lifts from the subway; use the Zetland Road or Bridge Street West entrances (Exchange Place has steps)
- LiftsLifts to platforms 1 and 2, the ticket office and the concourse
- StaffMon–Sat 05:15–23:15, Sun 08:00–23:15
- Ticket officeOn the left as you enter; Mon–Sat 05:30–19:30, Sun 08:15–19:00
- Ticket machinesAvailable for buying and collecting tickets
- Help pointsOn both platforms and in the booking hall
- ToiletsOn the station concourse
- Accessible toiletUnisex accessible toilet on the concourse
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomsHeated waiting rooms, including one on the main concourse
- Food and drinkCafé and shop on the concourse
- Wi-fiAvailable
- Left luggageNone
- Car park135 spaces (8 accessible), operated by TransPennine Express
- Cycle storage114 spaces: 86 on the concourse and 28 in the Wood Street car park
- TaxisRanks at the north (Bridge Street West) and south (Exchange Place) entrances
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Middlesbrough owes its existence to the railway. The Stockton and Darlington Railway extended its line east to new coal staithes on the Tees in December 1830, and a planned town grew up beside them; a station on Commercial Street followed in 1839, and a larger one by John Middleton on the Redcar line in 1847. By the 1870s the booming iron town had outgrown it, and the North Eastern Railway built the present station, designed by William Peachey with a Gothic stone frontage and a lofty elliptical roof, which opened in December 1877.
A German air raid on 3 August 1942 badly damaged the roof, which was removed in 1954 and replaced by the platform canopies you see today. The station was refurbished in 2017–18, and platform 2 was lengthened so that LNER could start a direct weekday London service in December 2021. A much larger redevelopment, adding a new entrance, rebuilt shops under the tracks and eventually a third platform, is now in progress.
A day in Middlesbrough
Modern art, Victorian design and the town's great steel bridge.
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Morning
MIMA
Start at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, a short walk from the station (closed on Mondays).
-
Late morning
The Transporter Bridge
Walk down to the Tees, about half a mile from the station, to see the Transporter Bridge, the longest surviving bridge of its kind in the world.
-
Afternoon
Dorman Museum and Albert Park
Take a bus to the Dorman Museum for Linthorpe Art Pottery and Christopher Dresser designs, then stroll in Albert Park next door.
-
Evening
A show at the Town Hall
End with a concert or comedy night in the Grade II* listed Victorian Town Hall.
Things to do near Middlesbrough
MIMA
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art opened in 2007 and has been part of Teesside University since 2014. It is hosting the Turner Prize in 2026 and shows the Middlesbrough Collection; it is closed on Mondays.
Dorman Museum
A local and natural history museum beside Albert Park, with eight permanent galleries including Linthorpe Art Pottery and the work of the Victorian designer Christopher Dresser. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Opened in 1978, 250 years after James Cook was born on this spot in Stewart Park, Marton. Displays follow his life from rural Yorkshire to his Pacific voyages.
Middlesbrough Town Hall
A Grade II* listed Victorian town hall that doubles as the town's main venue for concerts, comedy and touring shows.
Roseberry Topping
A half-cone hill near Great Ayton with a jagged summit and fine views across North Yorkshire and Cleveland; the countryside is open all day. The car park at Newton under Roseberry is run by the national park authority.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Day trips from Middlesbrough
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Whitby
The harbour town at the mouth of the Esk, with the ruins of Whitby Abbey on the East Cliff.
Northern's Esk Valley line takes about 1 hour 32 minutes, but only a handful of trains run each day.
-
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
A seaside town laid out by Henry Pease in Victorian times, with a pier and a cliff tramway.
Northern and TransPennine Express trains take 25–27 minutes, twice an hour.
Where to stay in Middlesbrough
The town centre, close to the station, has the widest choice of hotels.
Tips for your visit
- The Transporter Bridge is an impressive sight but has not carried traffic since 2019; admire it from the riverside.
- For Whitby, change at Middlesbrough for the Esk Valley line – only a few trains a day run the whole way, so plan ahead.
Questions about Middlesbrough station
How far is Middlesbrough town centre from the station?
Very close: the centre is well under a quarter of a mile away, and MIMA and the Town Hall are within about a third of a mile.
Is Middlesbrough station step-free?
Yes, via lifts from the subway to both platforms. Use the Zetland Road or Bridge Street West entrances, as the Exchange Place entrance has steps.
Are there direct LNER trains to London?
One each way on weekdays only. At other times change at York for TransPennine Express or at Darlington for Northern.
Is there parking at Middlesbrough station?
Yes, a 135-space car park run by TransPennine Express. The daily rate was £2.40 when checked in September 2026.
Is the station being rebuilt?
Yes. A £125 million redevelopment is adding a new entrance and, by 2028, a third platform, so expect some works around the station.
Can I get to Whitby by train from here?
Yes, on Northern's Esk Valley line. The journey takes about 1 hour 32 minutes, but there are only a few trains a day, so plan ahead.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- mima.art/
- teesvalleymuseums.org/visit/dorman-museum/
- teesvalleymuseums.org/visit/captain-cook-museum/
- boxoffice.middlesbrough.gov.uk/
- nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/roseberry-topping
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough_Institute_of_Modern_Art
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorman_Museum
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Cook_Birthplace_Museum
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough_Town_Hall
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseberry_Topping
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tees_Transporter_Bridge
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/mbr/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1139840
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltburn-by-the-Sea
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby_Abbey
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esk_Valley_line
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Middlesbrough?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.