6a. Redcar Town and beach, Cleveland, North-East England

re-edit 23/04/2023

A town with a very long and clean beach!

Great for a bracing walk in the fresh North Sea air!

Scenes of Redcar, Cleveland, North East England

* Index of Cleveland Scenes *

* *

The Clock Tower in Redcar

Redcar is a seaside town and local government district located in the north-east of England, in Cleveland. The town rests on the coast of the North Sea and has a beach that has been popular with tourists for over two centuries.

The town was originally called Coatham, derived from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘Cotum’ meaning cottages and ‘Old English’ meaning homestead. The growth of Redcar began when a railway station was opened in 1846, making the town easily accessible to visitors from other parts of the country. This helped the town to become a fashionable seaside resort, attracting wealthy Victorians who were drawn to the town's beach and promenade.

By the turn of the 20th century, the town had become a popular destination for holidaymakers from across the north of England. The town's population increased, and many new buildings and shops were constructed to cater to the tourist trade. During this time, the town saw the construction of the famous Redcar pier, which became a symbol of the town's prosperity and popularity.

During World War II, the town was heavily bombed due to its strategic importance as a port and industrial hub. After the war, the town was rebuilt, and a new era of tourism began. The town's beach and promenade remained popular with visitors, and new attractions such as the Palace Cinema and the Coatham Amusement Park were opened to entertain tourists.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Redcar suffered economic decline due to the closure of local industries and the decline of the traditional seaside holiday. However, in recent years, the town has seen regeneration, with the opening of new businesses and attractions, such as the Redcar Racecourse and the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart.

Today, Redcar remains a popular destination for visitors, both for its historic seaside charms and its modern amenities. The town's beach is still a popular attraction, and visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including watersports, cycling, and walking. The town is also home to numerous restaurants, cafes, and bars, offering a range of dining and drinking options.

The Vertical Pier on Redcar sea front, the 'Redcar Beacon'. It has great views from the top floor 6, a cafe and sheltered viewing lounge.

Looking south-east down the coast from Redcar's Vertical Pier

The view of Redcar Steel Works, viewed from Redcar's Vertical Pier

The off-shore wind farm near Redcar, view from Redcar's Vertical Pier.

Redcar beach, looking down towards Saltburn and Boulby Cliffs in the distance. This is great place to take a bracing walk along a seafront, it was also used as a film set for the 'beach action' in the film 'Atonement'.

The wide main high street of Redcar town.

The main shopping street runs parallel to the sea front road and promenade ...

The main shopping street near the smaller 'Clock Tower' with a variety of shops and cafe's ...

... with market stalls ...

... and street musicians, 'Freedom's Road' I think? - an unusual fusion-mix of Irish and Greek ...

In a street behind the high street the fishing cobble boats and tractors are parked!

All the tractors lined up ready to take the boats to the beach!

Redcar beach-promenade, looking down towards Saltburn and Boulby Cliffs in the distance.

... from which the delightfully painted tractors haul the small fishing boats down to the sea ...

...  and bring em' back up!

... and spend in the shops or buy and icecream!

See also Teesmouth and Redcar Steelworks

It was a pleasure to be a member of the Dalesmen singers, singing in a concert with school choirs ('Tuned in') in Christ Church, Coatham (Dec. 2015). The concert was recorded for Radio Zetland to be broadcast on Christmas Eve. Christ Church was built in 1854 by Coe & Godwin. It is a big church with a west tower and broad spire providing quite a spectacle when illuminated with moving coloured lights. Coatham is effectively the west end of Redcar.

previous page <-> next page  * Cleveland Index

Redcar, Cleveland North East England docspics images pictures photos © Phil Brown Tourist information, Walks, Holidays, Top tourist attractions in Redcar, Cleveland, luxury hotels in Redcar, Cleveland, B&B, holiday cottages in Redcar, Cleveland, pubs, restaurants, walking holidays, touring coach tours, historic English towns, villages, churches, museums, art galleries, property for sale, Redcar, Cleveland Shops tourism destinations in Redcar, Cleveland holidays Redcar, Cleveland tourist information top tourist attractions best luxury hotels in Redcar, Cleveland B&B, cafes in Redcar, Cleveland, eating out in Redcar, Cleveland restaurants, dining in Redcar, Cleveland, historic churches, museums, art galleries, Redcar, Cleveland travel lodges, Redcar, Cleveland's medieval buildings, Redcar, Cleveland's modern shopping centres, Redcar, Cleveland market stalls, properties for sale in Redcar, Cleveland, renting property in Redcar, Cleveland, renting a house/flat in Redcar, Cleveland, estate agents, public transport in Redcar, Cleveland, churches in Redcar, Cleveland, cheap train tickets to Redcar, Cleveland, properties for sale in Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland, renting property in Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland, renting a student house/flat in Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland, estate agents, public transport in Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland, churches in Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland, cheap train tickets to Middlesbrough Teesside Cleveland tourism information for Redcar, top tourist attractions near Redcar, accommodation near Redcar, luxury hotels near Redcar, B&B near Redcar, self-catering holiday cottages near Redcar, YHA Youth Hostels near Redcar, property for sale near Redcar,  friendly pubs near Redcar, great walking walks around Redcar, eating/dining out near Redcar restaurants near Redcar cafes near Redcar pubs bars near Redcar historic towns & cities, churches near Redcar, castles, abbeys, museums near Redcar, art galleries near Redcar, local transport buses trains near Redcar, interesting historic buildings near Redcar, weekend breaks near Redcar, bargain city-breaks