The location of the Tees Valley is close to the hearts of the thousands of Teessiders who live, work and play in the area.
 The natural beauty of the nearby moorland national park and the North Sea coast are just a short drive away. Just minutes from our popular towns are stunning locations which big city dwellers would die to have on their own doorstep. And it's not just the countryside and coast which enraptures Teessiders of all ages, the region's industrial past has produced a landscape of which local people are proud. The Tees Valley's location by the coast and the River Tees provided the economic basis for the growth of industry in our area. And the coastal resorts of Redcar, Saltburn and Seaton Carew all provide a welcome break for hardworking Teesside daytrippers. Readers' response to our call on what they loved about the Tees Valley revealed that the opportunity to visit the seaside or go for a walk across the moors were top of their list. The nearby Cleveland Way offers 110 miles of some of the finest walking in the north of England. Meanwhile few people in the UK are lucky enough to have an area of splendour such as the North York Moors national park so close to hand. The area provides walking, cycling and numerous outdoors activities as well as outstanding wildlife. Closer to home however is Teesmouth, one of Europe's most important wildlife habitats and a haven for rare and protected bird species and, of course, seals. Wild orchids are among the unusual wild flowers recently in bloom at the site. There are countless other reasons which make our quality of life better than the rest of the country. Teessiders enjoy the briefest of rush hours, affordable housing - at least by national standards - and the ease of being able to travel abroad or to north or south of the country. The renaissance of the Tees Valley's towns also provides exciting urban centres to match the area's impressive countryside and coast. Middlesbrough is undergoing rapid redevelopment with a new cafe culture and designer stores sprouting up alongside new art galleries and offices. Meanwhile the transformation of Stockton's born-again riverside and the nearby Teesdale office development has attracted world-renowned companies. Hartlepool has undergone a staggering change with the development of its marina, now a popular tourist and eating out spot. Darlington has some of the best arts venues around with the Civic Theatre attracting top regional productions. Even Teesside's much-maligned industrial landscape is beloved by many - a towering example of this region's massive contribution to the UK's economy both past and present. The sea, the countryside, the towns, our industry combine to provide a unique environment which makes the Tees Valley the greatest place in the UK to live. | 
101 Great Reasons...
Welcome to the 101 Great Reasons