And if Shildon is cradle to the railways, then Darlington is definitely its birthplace. The world’s first passenger rail journey was on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, and later became an important centre for railway manufacturing. To commemorate the town’s contribution to the railways, David Mach’s 1997 work “Train”, a life-size brick sculpture of a steaming locomotive emerging from a tunnel, is located alongside the A66, close to the original Stockton-Darlington railway.
Darlington is not just about railways. The town was home to Arthur Wharton, the world’s first Black Professional Footballer, and also the world’s first 100 yard record holder (10 seconds in 1886!) who is viewed as a local hero.
If you’re a theatre lover you have Darlington Hippodrome, the Majestic Theatre and for the little ones, Darlington is home of Theatre Hullabaloo – the only purpose-built theatre for children and young people north of London.
Darlington market has been undergoing a major redevelopment and is now a bustling street food hall with independent food vendors. It also boasts a bar and an event stage which hosts quizzes and music events.
Darlington is home to 2 libraries – Crown Street Library which has undergone a huge renovation, and Cockerton Library, both of which host amazing public events. Find out what’s on at the Darlington Libraries Facebook page.
And if you’re looking to get active, The Dolphin Centre is the place to head to. You’ll find a fantastic Swimming Pool, plus bowling, a gym, soft play and a great cafe.
To find out what’s on in Darlington all year round visit Enjoy Darlington‘s website.
For more information on the facilities at Darlington Station visit the National Rail website.
