Throston Grange Library

Throston Grange Library sits in Hartlepool as a proper working community library - the sort of place locals actually use rather than somewhere tourists photograph and move on from. It's a functioning public library with the usual stock of books, computers, and reading spaces. Nothing flashy, nothing designed to make your Instagram feed sing. What you get is a genuine slice of how people spend their weekdays in County Durham.

You'll find it useful mainly if you're after somewhere quiet to read, grab research materials, or let the kids loose in a children's section - the kind of facility that justifies a rainy afternoon when you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby. Hartlepool's got Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene Holiday Park just 2.6 miles away, and whilst that site's not top-rated, it gives you a base for exploring the actual attractions - the headland, the maritime heritage, the seafront. The library fits into a day as a shelter stop rather than a destination in itself.

Admission should be free - that's how public libraries work - though you might need to register if you want to borrow anything. There's no set time limit; stay as long as you need. Opening hours will be standard local authority times, likely mornings through late afternoon on weekdays, reduced weekends. If you're near Castledene Holiday Park instead, 6.0 miles south, you'd still pop over if weather turns poor. But honest advice: plan your days around Hartlepool's coastal walks and the museum. The library's a backup, not a highlight.