Hopetown Darlington
Hopetown Darlington is a must-visit for all families in the north east
Hopetown Darlington has opened with a fantastic 2024 – read on to find out why it’s a must-visit venue for all families.
On 27 September 1825, a railway journey changed the world forever as Locomotion No. 1 completed the first voyage of a passenger-carrying train. On 16 July 2024, Hopetown Darlington marked a milestone in celebrating Darlington’s railway heritage and opened its doors following a £37 million investment, which was heralded by a week of special events including live music and street theatre.
Over 100,000 people have visited already, and with over six awards won in under a year, you don’t want to miss out on the north east’s newest railway-themed visitor attraction.
Visitors to Hopetown Darlington will enter through the restored Goods Shed on McNay Street. Originally constructed in 1833, and believed to be the second-oldest goods shed remaining in the country, this Grade II* listed building now houses a café, shop, and digital media experience.
The historic Carriage Works is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1853 which was renovated as part of Hopetown Darlington’s development. Within this building, the Exhibition Hall was designed to host a variety of world-class events. The opening special exhibition was Brick Journeys, a tour through the world of transport made entirely from LEGO® bricks. This event was phenomenally popular with families and LEGO® enthusiasts alike, attracting crowds from all over the country.
Another Grade II* listed building, North Road Station Museum (formerly the Head of Steam), celebrates the past, present and future of rail travel and engineering brilliance with a £3 million investment into the brand new interactive permanent exhibition Experiment!. Featuring interactive exhibits and selfie stations, this is the perfect place for kids to learn about local history in an engaging and fun way.
Hopetown Darlington celebrates the innovation and experimentation that put Darlington on the map – and that all starts with play. Children’s imaginations can run free in Wagon Woods, the attraction’s railway-themed immersive outdoor adventure play park based on a Georgian feat of engineering – the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s Brusselton Incline. Developed in consultation with local primary schools, the play park includes an accessible incline track with interactive features and a companion slide suitable for wheelchair users. Those who come by car will be able to park in style in a new car park overlooked by none other than the Grade 1 listed Skerne Bridge – which holds the distinction of being the oldest railway bridge in the world still in continuous use. Skerne Bridge Car Park will accommodate more than 200 vehicles, including spaces for disabled parking and electric charging points. A 20-minute walk from the town centre, Hopetown Darlington benefits from frequent bus services and
shares a site with North Road railway station. The station is served hourly, in each direction, by Northern Trains on the Saltburn to Bishop Auckland railway line. From here you can connect to the main Darlington Railway Station (Bank Top) which benefits from mainline connections to the rest of Britain.
Experiment! is the newest addition to the site, and a must-do for all visitors young and old. Located in North Road Station Museum, Experiment! is an immersive railway-themed simulator-style ride which takes you on an extraordinarily vivid journey through the history of passenger railway.
Entry to the site is free of charge. Free site admission will include admission to North Road Station Museum, Darlington Locomotive Works viewing gallery and The Stores, as well as the shop, café and outdoor areas. A free ticket will be required to enter the site. Visitors are advised to pre-book their free ticket. This will reduce queue times and allow visitors to plan their day with certainty – including selecting their arrival time – to avoid disappointment at busy times.
Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge. For these, a separate ticket will be required, in addition to a free site admission ticket. These include Wagon Woods adventure play park and Experiment. Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
