Darlington

Travel Guide
Photo by Ian  Hall
Darlington is a historic market town in the Tees Valley, with the town centre newly pedestrianised allowing you to stroll around at your own leisure.

With so many things to see and do in Darlington, and indeed the wider Durham area, Darlington is a great base to explore what this English county has to offer. From townhouse hotels to cosy country bed & breakfasts and guesthouses, there is a range of accommodation choices to suit all tastes and budgets.

Darlington has become a smart choice for shoppers with a lot independent and boutique designer shops for a town of this size, making it easy to find something different. For a night out, enjoy the relaxed friendly atmosphere of Darlington town centre, with an abundance of restaurants and stylish bars, which offer that friendly north east welcome.

Discover the Famous Railway Heritage

The people of Darlington are immensely proud of the town’s world famous rail heritage, so a visit to the Railway Centre and Museum is a must. The museum explains the history of the railways and the impact they had on the people of Darlington. There are also plenty of interactive exhibits that children will enjoy.

Raby Castle in Darlington is fantastic. Take a tour and learn more about its previous inhabitants. The large gardens are lovely with deer roaming freely, providing a wonderful setting. Take the kids along to witness these animals close up.

Just south of Darlington town is the Croft Circuit, which has a year round programme of car and bike racing. If you are a fan of high speed competition, the highlight of the season is the annual British Touring Car Championship weekend in Darlington.

Get to Know Durham

Venture further into Durham and stop of at Durham Cathedral, a world heritage site. The cathedral is a well preserved with plenty to see and admire throughout. Climb its never-ending spiral staircase and be rewarded with fantastic views over Durham at the top.

Bowes Museum should not be missed either a popular attraction for fashion designers. Each room has lots of outfits, furniture and decorations on show and is well worth a visit.

Hardwick Park in Sedgefield is great for a day trip with the whole family. With a mini assault course, ducks to be fed and a variety of walks to choose from, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained.

Hall Garth Hotel, BW Signature Collection
Hall Garth Hotel, BW Signature Collection
3 out of 5
Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, England
The price is RM219 per night from 16 Jun to 17 Jun
RM219
per night
16 Jun - 17 Jun
Stay at this 3-star golf hotel in Darlington. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8/10 Very Good! (474 reviews)
Another nice stay at Hall Garth Hotel
"Nice overnight stay at Hall Garth hotel, just minutes off the motorway but no sound of traffic !!!!!, Staff are all very friendly and an asset to the business. Evening meal was very tasty as was the breakfast. They have closed the swimming pool but have Spa facilities but at a premium price of £15 ..."

Reviewed on 14 May 2024

Hall Garth Hotel, BW Signature Collection
Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel
Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel
4 out of 5
9-12 Priestgate, Darlington, England
The price is RM249 per night from 9 Jun to 10 Jun
RM249
per night
9 Jun - 10 Jun
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Darlington. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (665 reviews)
Great Location
"Hotel is perfectly located in the middle of the town and the car park whilst small was reasonably priced at £5 for the night. The receptionist was pleasant and checked us in quickly and off we went to our room. The room was a good size with a king bed but was warm due to this being an old building, ..."

Reviewed on 19 May 2024

Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel
The George, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western
The George, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western
3 out of 5
B6275, Darlington, England
The price is RM299 per night from 24 May to 25 May
RM299
per night
24 May - 25 May
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Darlington. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (140 reviews)
"Fantastic service..clean and well presented room. Good value food and drink in bar"

Reviewed on 15 May 2024

The George, Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Durham City Cottages
Durham City Cottages
Brandon Lane, Durham, England
Stay at this cottage in Durham. Enjoy free parking, a garden, and housekeeping. Popular attractions Brancepeth Castle Golf Club and Oriental Museum are located ...
7.6/10 Good! (340 reviews)
"Property needed a deep clean. I sneezed a lot and had black dust come out of my nose. Heating didn’t work sometimes and the room was quite cold. I booked through Expedia and check out said 11 am and I wasn’t told any check out time by the owner. On the morning of check out a cleaner knocked at the ..."

Reviewed on 22 Apr 2024

Durham City Cottages
White House Cottages
White House Cottages
3.5 out of 5
The White House, Brandon Village, Durham, England
Stay at this 3.5-star cottage in Durham. Enjoy free parking and a computer station. Popular attractions Brancepeth Castle Golf Club and Oriental Museum are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (26 reviews)
The lovely, quiet location of Brandon Village
"The Hen House cottage was a great place to stay for our trip in the Durham area. The village of Brandon is a beautiful location for going for walks in the countryside and with a great pub/ restaurant called the Bay Horse Inn on 50m away it’s a perfect place to stay. The village is very close to the ..."

Reviewed on 5 Feb 2024

White House Cottages
Seaview Luxury Apartments
Seaview Luxury Apartments
2 out of 5
Seaview Business Centre, Turner Street, Redcar, England
Book a stay at this beach apartment in Redcar. Enjoy free parking, a beach locale, and a business center. Popular attractions Redcar Esplanade and Zetland Lifeboat ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (13 reviews)
Perfect for solo traveler fed up with hotels.
"Cant not fault the place. Its was clean, easy to gain access with it being unmanned, shops near by for food. Will stay again if in the area."

Reviewed on 3 Nov 2023

Seaview Luxury Apartments
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Darlington

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
22
" "5 - Excellent 33.84615384615385%
4 - Good
30
" "4 - Good 46.15384615384615%
3 - Okay
9
" "3 - Okay 13.846153846153847%
2 - Disappointing
4
" "2 - Disappointing 6.153846153846154%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
3 Dec 2019

A good town for shopping.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
16 Nov 2019

Darlington is a very vibrant and friendly town.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
24 Aug 2019

Area quiet and peaceful.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
16 Aug 2019

Great leisure facilities! Loads of bars, restaurants, shops and cinema close by. I went to meet friends and know immediate area well. Hadn't realised the hotel was so close to centre!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
2 Jul 2019

Great place to live in and visit.

3/5 - Okay

Mr
17 Jun 2019

This Q. is not relevant. The property is in a rural village miles away from Darlington, a busy large town!