Discover Darlington: Railway History, Parks and Holiday Apartments

More local pages: Darlington, Walworth, Piercebridge.

Railway and Town History

The 26-mile journey of the Stockton & Darlington Railway between Shildon and Stockton via Darlington took place on 27 September 1825 and changed the way the world conducted trade, travelled and communicated. The Skerne Bridge is another structure associated with this railway: it is considered the oldest railway bridge in the world still in operation.

The Darlington Heritage Trail begins at the Friends Meetinghouse on Skinnergate, passes 17 railway-themed landmarks and ends at the museum. A heritage trail through Darlington town centre brings the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway to life.

Nature, Parks and Trails

West Park is a 12-hectare local nature reserve with woodland, wildflower meadows, wetlands, poetry and sculptures. The park also has a natural-style play area, four cycle tracks, an orienteering course and an orchard.

The Denes consists of six green spaces that form a long, linear park in Darlington. The site follows the course of Cocker Beck and provides a habitat for wildlife such as kingfishers, otters and bats. Broken Scar complements this landscape with a riverside path through a grassy meadow, a picnic area and a playground.

South Park is the oldest park in the region, registered as a Grade II park and has held the Green Flag Award since 2006. Its facilities include play areas for toddlers and older children, a multi-use games area, a bandstand, a skate park, a bowling green, an outdoor gym, an aviary and a café.

Cycle paths connect Darlington town centre with South Park via Polam Lane. Darlington can be explored by bicycle through the countryside, town centre and surrounding villages. Darlington South Park parkrun is a free weekly 5-kilometre community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.

Culture in the Town Centre

The library on Crown Street in Darlington originally opened in 1885. It remains free, houses the Centre for Local Studies and has exhibition spaces as well as regular events. Behind the Friends Meeting House on Skinnergate is a Quaker burial ground that has been used for Quaker burials since the 17th century. St. Cuthbert's Church dates from the early 12th century.

Darlington Town Hall has an exhibition area where visitors can view displayed works. Darlington Hippodrome is a historic theatre that hosts national and international shows, including theatre productions, musicals and dance performances.

Family, Music and Stage

The Hullabaloo was created specifically for children and families and offers creative play areas. The Dolphin Centre has family swimming with diving boards, slides and a toddler pool.

The Forum Music Centre hosts the monthly Live and Local gig night, showcasing artists and bands of all ages from the North East of England. The centre also has four fully equipped band rehearsal rooms available for hire.

Market and Regional History

Darlington Market has been successfully trading in a wide variety of food and non-food items since 1863. The market includes market stalls, bars, cafés and a street-food hall.

Tees Cottage Pumping Station was built in 1849 to supply Darlington and the surrounding region with drinking water. Tours are offered there for groups of at least 10 people at a cost of £10 per person.

At Piercebridge, the remains of a large bridge that carried a Roman road across the River Tees have been preserved. A large Roman fort was built there around 260 AD to house auxiliary cavalry and was used until the end of the Roman era.

Getting There

Most long-distance trains from Edinburgh, Newcastle and Durham stop in Darlington. Regional trains run from Bishop Auckland via Shildon.

To the higher-level travel overview: North East England.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

South Tyneside, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, North Tyneside, Durham.