Activities in Darlington

Stockton & Darlington Railway was the first steam-powered passenger railway in the world. You can learn about the rich locomotive history of the town with a visit to Head of Steam. Formerly known as the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, it’s based inside Darlington’s North Road railway station and has a total of four historic locomotives on display as a part of its fascinating exhibits. It’s interesting for kids and train enthusiasts alike.

While you’re tracing the history of trains back to Darlington Railway, you’ll also want to pay a visit to Darlington’s Brick Train sculpture, which was created in the ’90s to celebrate the locomotive heritage of the town. It’s 130 feet long, 23 feet high, made from a total of 185,000 bricks and weighs a whopping 15,000 tonnes.

The 14th-century Raby Castle and its beautiful moated grounds are one of the most popular days out in Darlington. The castle is a 30-minute drive from our Darlington East hotel, but worth the mileage for the opportunity to explore the enormous castle and its pristine grounds. Raby Castle is famous for its world-class collection of art, with notable pieces from old masters such as Sir Anthony van Dyck, Jacopo Amigoni and Sir Joshua Reynolds. You’ll also find sculptures from the likes of Hiram Powers among the castle’s collection.

When the sun is shining and the weather’s warm, make your way to Darlington’s historic South Park and enjoy a wander around this 17th-century parkland while soaking up the views of the River Skerne. It’s a lovely place to visit if you’re coming to Darlington with a young family. Although, you may want to cover their ears if you’re paying a visit to South Park’s aviary, as it’s home to a famous parrot that goes by the name of Max, who amuses visitors with his ability to swear.