Zone locale

A visit to Middlesbrough wouldn't be complete without trying parmo. This local delicacy consists of a battered, deep-fried chicken cutlet covered in bechamel sauce, topped with Cheddar cheese and cooked under a grill. Usually served with chips, parmos are not for the calorie-conscious. Just as well Middlesbrough has plenty of open spaces where you can run or cycle to burn off these sinful snacks.

Middlesbrough is a hotbed of modern and contemporary art. A cutting-edge gallery, MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) houses a collection of fine art and ceramics from 1900 to the present. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Grayson Perry, Jeremy Deller and Tracey Emin. Rotating exhibitions have featured artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Alex Katz and Steve McQueen.

Centre Square, just across the road from the hotel, is the most expansive civic space in Europe. The plaza boasts an impressive water feature, as well as The Bottle of Notes, a modern sculpture inspired by Captain Cook. Home to MIMA and the city library, Centre Square plays a vital role in Middlesbrough's cultural life, hosting events ranging from tea dances to open-air film screenings.

Visitors with children can while away a day in Albert Park, a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Family-friendly amenities here range from a roller-skating rink to play areas, plus swan-boat rentals, tennis courts and bowling greens from April to September. The park, which features a statue of the Middlesbrough-born footballer Brian Clough, also hosts events such as a collective Saturday run.

• Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium
• Dorman Museum
• The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum