Darlington Guidebook
Sightseeing
Darlington Hippodrome (formerly Darlington Civic Theatre) re-opened in November 2017 after a £13.7m restoration. The Hippo Lounge cafe bar and three free gallery and hosts a wide range of theatrical performances
Hippodrome station
Darlington Hippodrome (formerly Darlington Civic Theatre) re-opened in November 2017 after a £13.7m restoration. The Hippo Lounge cafe bar and three free gallery and hosts a wide range of theatrical performances
To celebrate the rich railway heritage of Darlington, this sculpture was commissioned and created in 1997 by David Mach.
Visitors can park at the Morrisons Morton Park shopping area and walk along special footpaths to reach the sculpture. Once there, the adventurous can climb to the platform overlooking the train from above. The sculpture is signposted from surrounding roads.
The Darlington “Brick Train” was modelled on the 1938 record setting, 126mph steam locomotive “Mallard”.
Funded by the National lottery it reputedly cost c £760k to build.
A total of 185,000 bricks were used in its construction along with 170 cubic meters of concrete. The train weighs 15,000 tonnes and covers an area of 600sq meters. It is of hollow construction and measures 23ft high by 130ft long. It took a team of 34 brick layers, labourers and apprentices 21 weeks to build.
In addition, there are even 20 special ‘bat’ bricks built in at various places to encourage the nocturnal creatures to use it as their home.
Darlington Brick Train Sculpture - Car Park
To celebrate the rich railway heritage of Darlington, this sculpture was commissioned and created in 1997 by David Mach.
Visitors can park at the Morrisons Morton Park shopping area and walk along special footpaths to reach the sculpture. Once there, the adventurous can climb to the platform overlooking the train from above. The sculpture is signposted from surrounding roads.
The Darlington “Brick Train” was modelled on the 1938 record setting, 126mph steam locomotive “Mallard”.
Funded by the National lottery it reputedly cost c £760k to build.
A total of 185,000 bricks were used in its construction along with 170 cubic meters of concrete. The train weighs 15,000 tonnes and covers an area of 600sq meters. It is of hollow construction and measures 23ft high by 130ft long. It took a team of 34 brick layers, labourers and apprentices 21 weeks to build.
In addition, there are even 20 special ‘bat’ bricks built in at various places to encourage the nocturnal creatures to use it as their home.
The church dates from the early 12th century. The church became collegiate when Richard Whitton was appointed by the Bishop of Durham Rt Revd Robert Neville as the first Dean of Darlington in 1439. To support the dean, there were four prebendaries, Cockerton, Newton, Blakwell and Darlington. The college survived until 1550 when it was dissolved.
Following a lightning strike on the spire on 17 July 1750,[3] the crossing tower was rebuilt in 1752.
A major restoration took place in 1864-65 by the architects George Gilbert Scott of London and James Pigott Pritchett of Darlington. The estimated costs of the works were £1,590 (equivalent to £153,300 in 2019)[4] and William Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland gave £500 (equivalent to £48,200 in 2019)[4] towards the restoration.[5] The work involved removal of the galleries and ceilings, the opening out of the gable windows in the nave and transepts, the rearranging of the pews, and the replacing of several stalls which had been destroyed. The main work was the restoration of the chancel where the piscina and armoury were restored, the sedilia restored to their original depth, the floor laid with encaustic tiles and eleven stained glass windows inserted. A font was presented by R.H. Allan, of grey polished marble. A lectern by Messrs King and Collie of Durham was presented by Miss Topham. The organ was restored and the bells in the tower were recast. The church was reopened for worship on 14 December 1865.[6]
St Cuthbert's Church
The church dates from the early 12th century. The church became collegiate when Richard Whitton was appointed by the Bishop of Durham Rt Revd Robert Neville as the first Dean of Darlington in 1439. To support the dean, there were four prebendaries, Cockerton, Newton, Blakwell and Darlington. The college survived until 1550 when it was dissolved.
Following a lightning strike on the spire on 17 July 1750,[3] the crossing tower was rebuilt in 1752.
A major restoration took place in 1864-65 by the architects George Gilbert Scott of London and James Pigott Pritchett of Darlington. The estimated costs of the works were £1,590 (equivalent to £153,300 in 2019)[4] and William Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland gave £500 (equivalent to £48,200 in 2019)[4] towards the restoration.[5] The work involved removal of the galleries and ceilings, the opening out of the gable windows in the nave and transepts, the rearranging of the pews, and the replacing of several stalls which had been destroyed. The main work was the restoration of the chancel where the piscina and armoury were restored, the sedilia restored to their original depth, the floor laid with encaustic tiles and eleven stained glass windows inserted. A font was presented by R.H. Allan, of grey polished marble. A lectern by Messrs King and Collie of Durham was presented by Miss Topham. The organ was restored and the bells in the tower were recast. The church was reopened for worship on 14 December 1865.[6]
From boutique shopping, to a round of golf and a spa day, a romantic weekend or that big event, Darlington offers up a wealth of experiences wrapped up in the friendly, North East welcome you’re looking for. All just 2.5 hours from London by train or a 40 minute flight to Teesside International Airport.
Visit Darlington town centre and browse a range of designer and independent outlets in our stylish Imperial Quarter. Discover small, specialist shops in Darlington’s historic yards, each one a surprise, discretely hidden through an access no wider than a doorway on the High Row. Wander through the Victorian Covered Market, set beneath our iconic clock tower, home to the sister bells to London’s Big Ben.
When it comes to mealtimes, we hope you’ve packed your appetite. Darlington’s cafes, bars and restaurants offer up oodles of tasty options to tantalise your taste buds, whatever the time of day.
As the lights go down, catch a show at the wonderful Darlington Hippodrome or Majestic Theatre, a gig at The Forum music venue or enjoy a film at one of nine screens at Vue Darlington. We’re proud to be the first town in the North East to be awarded Purple Flag status – so whether it’s cocktails and a night out, a meal or a show you are planning, you are guaranteed a safe and enjoyable time.
9 helybéli ajánlásával
Darlington
From boutique shopping, to a round of golf and a spa day, a romantic weekend or that big event, Darlington offers up a wealth of experiences wrapped up in the friendly, North East welcome you’re looking for. All just 2.5 hours from London by train or a 40 minute flight to Teesside International Airport.
Visit Darlington town centre and browse a range of designer and independent outlets in our stylish Imperial Quarter. Discover small, specialist shops in Darlington’s historic yards, each one a surprise, discretely hidden through an access no wider than a doorway on the High Row. Wander through the Victorian Covered Market, set beneath our iconic clock tower, home to the sister bells to London’s Big Ben.
When it comes to mealtimes, we hope you’ve packed your appetite. Darlington’s cafes, bars and restaurants offer up oodles of tasty options to tantalise your taste buds, whatever the time of day.
As the lights go down, catch a show at the wonderful Darlington Hippodrome or Majestic Theatre, a gig at The Forum music venue or enjoy a film at one of nine screens at Vue Darlington. We’re proud to be the first town in the North East to be awarded Purple Flag status – so whether it’s cocktails and a night out, a meal or a show you are planning, you are guaranteed a safe and enjoyable time.
If you love a round of golf then Darlington is definitely the place to check out, then T off; as there is something for all levels of golfing enthusiasm
Golf Course Road
Golf Course RoadIf you love a round of golf then Darlington is definitely the place to check out, then T off; as there is something for all levels of golfing enthusiasm
The Darlington Arena is a multi use complex that has a capacity to seat up to 25,000.
Home of Darlington’s Rugby , temporary home to Darlington Football, and the place where you can catch live concerts during the summer months
Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club
Neasham RoadThe Darlington Arena is a multi use complex that has a capacity to seat up to 25,000.
Home of Darlington’s Rugby , temporary home to Darlington Football, and the place where you can catch live concerts during the summer months
Head of Steam, formerly known as the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, is a railway museum located on the 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was the world's first steam-powered passenger railway.
Based inside the station building at the North Road railway station. Its exhibits are devoted to the area formerly served by the North Eastern Railway with a particular focus on the Stockton & Darlington Railway and the railway industry of Darlington
13 helybéli ajánlásával
Head of Steam Darlington Railway Museum
Station RoadHead of Steam, formerly known as the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, is a railway museum located on the 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was the world's first steam-powered passenger railway.
Based inside the station building at the North Road railway station. Its exhibits are devoted to the area formerly served by the North Eastern Railway with a particular focus on the Stockton & Darlington Railway and the railway industry of Darlington
Darlington takes pride in its municipal park, straddling the River Skerne just south of the town centre.
South Park was landscaped in 1853, and as with a few projects in Darlington at this time, funding was provided by a Quaker family, the Backhouses.
When complete South Park was South East England’s first Victorian Park, and has just been given a multimillion pound Heritage Lottery Fund renovation.
The park has an aviary with parrots, a bandstand hosting performances all summer, a lake, cafe, updated play areas and a skate park.
The formal flowerbeds have also been enlarged with new rose, rock and sensory gardens.
The castle-like Park Lodge is a delight, and close by is a cannon from the Siege of Sebastopol (1854-55) in the Crimean War.
It’s simply a beautiful place to visit either alone as part of a group
Each year there are a few events held in the park and has a great outdoor bowling green
South Park
Darlington takes pride in its municipal park, straddling the River Skerne just south of the town centre.
South Park was landscaped in 1853, and as with a few projects in Darlington at this time, funding was provided by a Quaker family, the Backhouses.
When complete South Park was South East England’s first Victorian Park, and has just been given a multimillion pound Heritage Lottery Fund renovation.
The park has an aviary with parrots, a bandstand hosting performances all summer, a lake, cafe, updated play areas and a skate park.
The formal flowerbeds have also been enlarged with new rose, rock and sensory gardens.
The castle-like Park Lodge is a delight, and close by is a cannon from the Siege of Sebastopol (1854-55) in the Crimean War.
It’s simply a beautiful place to visit either alone as part of a group
Each year there are a few events held in the park and has a great outdoor bowling green
The Dolphin Centre is an award winning multi-million pound, flagship leisure centre in the town centre of Darlington. That hosted everything from professional events to scuba diving , swimming , health club, soft play, badminton, bistro, and a whole lot more . Check out their website for more information
Dolphin Centre
Horse MarketThe Dolphin Centre is an award winning multi-million pound, flagship leisure centre in the town centre of Darlington. That hosted everything from professional events to scuba diving , swimming , health club, soft play, badminton, bistro, and a whole lot more . Check out their website for more information