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- 1st Nov 2024
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Darlington’s must-see £37m new attraction: ride the new simulator and explore the railway wonderland
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Psst… guess what? There’s a new railway adventure in town, and it’s not just for train fanatics.
Introducing Hopetown Darlington – the latest family-friendly attraction in the North East. Oh, and did we mention entry is FREE?
Get ready to step back in time and experience the world of steam trains like never before, with interactive exhibits, outdoor adventures and the recent opening of the new railway-themed simulator ride.
Hopetown Darlington is officially your next weekend adventure – a £37 million, 7.5-acre love letter to our local railway history.
We take you on a whistle-stop tour…
NEXT STOP: HOPETOWN
The Goods Shed
You’ll begin your journey by entering the Goods Shed, a beautifully restored building from 1833. This Grade II listed treasure is the oldest surviving railway goods shed in the country. But now, it’s home to so much more. Think artisan café vibes at the Clocktower Café, quirky railway-themed souvenirs at Hopetown Goods & Gifts and even a digital media experience that transports you back in time. Oh, and there’s a working model railway.
North Road Station Museum
For the real train fanatics and curious kids, the North Road Station Museum is your next destination. Housed in a Victorian railway station, this place is a time machine packed with interactive exhibitions that tell Darlington’s world-changing railway story. From how the town helped birth the railways to how it’s shaping the future of travel, you’ll explore the full timeline in engaging, hands-on ways.
FUN FACT: Did you know that the museum is sitting on the very site where the first public steam train journey happened in 1825?
ALL ABOARD THE NEW SIMULATOR RIDE
Experiment!
Price: £6 per person or £20 for a group of four
Let’s talk about the big one – Experiment!. This railway-themed simulator ride is a first of its kind in the North East. Step into the ride and travel through time, starting with the early days of Locomotion No.1 right in Darlington, to the futuristic bullet trains of Japan and beyond.
The ride shakes, tilts and whisks you across continents and through history. And just in time for Christmas, Hopetown Darlington is launching with a Festive-themed show. Stay tuned for for the core show in January, too and a Spooky Halloween show in October 2025.
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Wagon Woods
Price: peak – £5 per child, off-peak – £3.50 per child and adults – free
This exciting outdoor adventure play park is inspired by a real-life heroic story from Darlington’s railway history. From intersecting rail-track walkways to a chimney to climb and a 50-metre boardwalk through the trees, Wagon Woods has been 3.5 years in the making. Wagon Woods is the ultimate outdoor adventure for all ages and abilities.
HLN TOP TIP: The Kiosk has you sorted for sweet treats and drinks.
UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF THE STORES
If you’re a history lover or just nosy, you’re going to love The Stores. Ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes of a museum? This treasure trove is packed with over 30,000 railway artefacts. Think vintage locomotives, signage, crested china and quirky railway knick-knacks galore. Feeling extra curious? You can even get hands-on with the archive collection – perfect for any budding historians.
WATCH STEAM POWER IN ACTION
Ever wanted to see a real steam engine being built? At Darlington Locomotive Works, you’ll witness live engineering in action as the passionate team from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust crafts the UK’s newest steam engine. This is the kind of experience you won’t forget, with plenty of Insta-worthy moments too.
WHAT’S ON AT HOPETOWN THIS CHRISTMAS
Christmas Crafting – Fabric Flower Christmas Wreath
Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Santa at Hopetown Darlington
Friday 6th – Monday 23rd December 2024
VISIT HOPETOWN DARLINGTON’S WEBSITE
Hopetown Darlington, McNay Street, Darlington, DL3 6SW
Rachael Ellis
Creative Solutions Manager
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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