Hopetown Darlington is pleased to welcome the North Eastern Railway Association with their programme of fascinating talks. These lectures focus on a range of railway topics, and include a Q&A session. March 8th: Repression to Recognition: Walter Hudson and the growth of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants from 1867 to 1897 (Ian Mitchell) June 7th: Getting to Wearhead: The S&DR and the NER in Weardale (John Addyman) September 6th: William Bouch of Shildon Locomotive Engineer (Neil Mackay)

Discover our programme of workshops aimed at children aged 610. From taking an in-depth look at a small selection of the 30,000 objects in our collection in The Stores, handling objects like a curator and complete short interactive activities, to finding out the untold history of Darlington, its association with the railways and how we tell this pioneering history, there's plenty of workshops to complete your home educating programme. Workshops are followed by one hours play in Wagon Woods.

Mrs Claus has stopped by at North Road Station Museum to make some Christmas cookies while the elves are hard at work making presents. You're invited to join her for a very special festive treat. Decorate your own biscuits to take home with you, and immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit by enjoying a session of yuletide storytelling. This heartwarming theatrical activity is sure to get the whole family feeling extra sparkly this December! This activity is suitable for children aged 4+, though younger children may participate with help from their grownups!

Visit Santa in Hopetown’s stunning Grade IIlisted Carriage Works. A visit to Santa’s grotto is the highlight of a twohour event including festive crafts and storytelling, and a wondrous wintry walk in our Enchanted Forest Reindeer Trail. Children can create their own holly crown and join Padraig the Storyteller around a traditional AngloSaxon cart as he regales them with longforgotten Christmas stories. Hear about how the tale of the Holly King links to Father Christmas, and the changing of the seasons. Meet Santa Claus himself and talk about Christmas plans this year. Every child visiting Santa will receive an early Christmas gift. Starting on Friday 6 December, Santa will be at Hopetown every Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and on Monday 23 December – leading up to Christmas.

Journey into a magical world of festive wonder at our elf workshop, where the spirit of the season steams ahead on a truly unforgettable adventure! Set within an immersive streetscape with authentic railway touches, twinkling lights, and the echo of festive tunes, this Christmas trail offers a heart warming experience for families, friends, and festive explorers of all ages. Nestled around the magnificent replica Locomotion No.1, our Christmas trail brings together the charm of a bygone era with the sparkle of Santa’s elves hard at work. Whether you're young or just young at heart, there's magic waiting at every stop! Step into a twinkling world of festive fun as the elves prepare for the busiest time of the year. Peek inside the hustle and bustle of the sorting room, where letters from around the world are magically sorted and sent to Santa. Take a moment to pen your own letter then post it straight into the North Pole mailbox! Who knows, you might just get a response. Take a festive adventure full of merry mischief! There’s hands-on fun for the whole family as you journey through the enchanted workshop to help the elves find the missing letters to Santa in the bustling sorting office. And keep your eyes peeled – hidden throughout the trail are special letters left by the elves! Find them all to reveal a festive mystery word and earn a special reward! Add your own Christmas memory or wish to the shimmering branches of our Memory Tree. Each message becomes part of a growing display of festive memories, hope and joy. Meet Santa’s trusty reindeer as they prepare for their Christmas Eve flight. Discover fun facts, help the elves feed the herd, and even listen out for a jingle or two!

As night falls, HoHoHopetown transforms into a glowing Christmas wonderland - and you’re invited to explore it all! From twinkling lights and glowing streetlamps to the scent of festive food in the air, our magical Christmas evenings are packed with festive cheer, perfect for a family night out or a cosy evening with friends. Wander through our historic railway heritage site brought to life with the sparkle of Christmas. Enjoy live street theatre performances and soak in the sound of roaming carollers singing timeless Christmas classics. Grab a mulled wine or a creamy hot chocolate and indulge in festive treats from Clocktower Café. Children can let off steam in the fully illuminated Wagon Woods play area, while grownups take in the sights and savour the atmosphere. The whole site is buzzing with activity – a perfect blend of history and Christmas magic. Whether you come for the lights, the laughter, or the late-night mince pies, magical Christmas evenings at HoHoHopetown promises to be a night to remember.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work with the pieces that make up a museum collection? Now you can ona special tour of North Road Station Museum and The Stores. Join Alison, our Collections Engagement Manager, on a Curator’s tour to view the highlights of Darlington’s internationally significant railway heritage. Discover why we chose certain stories for the Museum’s displays and the significance of the railway objects in our 30,000 item collection.

Hopetown Darlington presents Comic Con in collaboration with Cute Fox Events. Hopetown comic con promises to be a great value day out for all the family offering attractions such as photo opportunities, walkabout characters, traders and lots more – including celebrity guest appearances. Confirmed guests include Phil Fletcher and Hacker T Dog from CBBC, and Saracen from the original Gladiators TV series. Dene Michael, former singer of the band Black Lace will be joining us at Hopetown Comic Con in February! More names will be confirmed soon! Attractions at Comic Con include walkabout characters, Tyne Tees Ghostbusters, R2D2, Dalek Dominic, Star Warsthemed North East Legion and their green screen photo opportunity, face painting, Ray Philips (sculptor and modeller), local comic artists Dan Walls and Gary Whitlock, L&P Paranormal investigators and a cosplay competition. The star attraction will be the DeLorean DMC car. Made famous by the Back To The Future filmseries, sit in the car for the ultimate photo opportunity. "Great Scott!" Come dressed up! We want to see as many of you in your awesome outfits and costumes as possible.

Step into the story of Christmas past with this familyfriendly interactive tour of North Road Station Museum – where history, mystery, and festive cheer come together for a truly unique experience. Join the brilliant Histrionics theatre company, as none other than Charles Dickens himself leads you through the station’s historic rooms, revealing what a traditional 19thcentury Christmas was really like. But beware… there may still be a Christmas spirit or two lingering in the shadows! This is more than just a show – it’s an experience full of atmosphere and activity. Once your tour ends, stay and soak up the festive buzz across HoHoHopetown. Explore our beautifully lit heritage railway site by night. Indulge in delicious festive food and drink from our popup stalls – think hot chocolate, mince pies, and winter warmers as you enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. A Hopetown Christmas Carol is the perfect way to get into the ‘spirit’ of the season.

An Interactive Climate Adventure for Curious Young Minds Inspired by Aesop’s classic fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, this playful reimagining asks: what happens after the story ends? There’s big trouble in a little anthill... Winter hasn’t left, the anthill is in crisis, and the ants need your help. As climate change disrupts the natural order of things, the ants must learn to work together. Not just with each other, but with an unexpected friend: the grasshopper. Don your ant antennae, enter the anthill in the Carriage Works and journey deep into a sculpted anthill made entirely of recycled material. Crawling with creativity and buzzing with brilliant ideas, BrilliANT! is packed with handson activities, storytelling, and inspiring insect encounters that show how even the smallest changes can make a huge difference. Meet a dung beetle with recycling tips, a bumblebee who knows the power of community, and a host of largerthanlife meadowdwellers – each with their own story of adaptation and resilience in a changing climate. These wise bugs don’t just survive – they thrive. Discover how much we can learn from nature’s tiniest heroes in a hopeful, heartwarming, and interactive experience designed especially for young ‘twolegs’ and their families – with real, practical ideas for taking action, without the weight of the world. Step into the extraordinary world of BrilliANT! – a brandnew immersive exhibition where tiny creatures take on a giant mission. BECAUSE LITTLE ACTIONS MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. This exhibition is aimed for 1 to 10 year olds and their families.

Venture into the haunted corners of the site for Halloweenthemed bushcraft activities. Expect sheltermaking, firestriking, and other survival skills in this handson immersive workshop, where children will discover just how tough and resourceful they really are! Hopetown are excited to welcome Outdoor Ambition, an adventure company specialising in open air activities guaranteed to excite, challenge and energise children from ages 711. Younger children can join in with help from their grownups!

We are excited to our first Steampunk Weekend for you to all come and explore! Come along and experience a reimagining of the past, where steam power is the primary energy source, and fantastical inventions await! The Goods Shed is home to the Clocktower Café with delicious cakes, tea and coffee, Hopetown Goods & Gifts and a digital media experience. Explore the North Road Station Museum filled with a variety of Steampunk stalls selling Victoriana, jewellery, clothes, hats and assorted crafts. Table top games Live entertainment and activities Classic vehicle display Tea duelling and Umbrella duelling Photo opportunities throughout the site with onsite photographer Best dressed costume prizes Reallife Marionette Daily promenades along the museum platform and through the Station Garden Engage with the museum’s collections and archive and delve into the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Discover objects and artefacts relating to the development and operation of railways in North East England. Enjoy live music, including Alice Strange (Saturday),Captain of the Lost Waves (Sunday) and the Cogkneys (Sunday).

Join Richard Barber for a talk detailing the Darlington section of the the East Coast Mainline through Country Durham. More details to follow.

Hopetown is excited (and a bit nervous!) to welcome Bugs N Stuff this February half term! Come along and meet some amazing insects, amphibians and reptiles. Learn about these weird and wonderful creatures, their habits and habitats, and maybe even hold one - if you dare! Guy Tansley of Bugs N Stuff has been an expert in his field for more than 40 years, and has worked with CBBC, London Zoo, Northumberland College Zoo and the Hancock Museum, to name a few. His aim is to dispel the many myths surround creepycrawlies, and get children curious not nervous! about his fascinating animals. These workshops are aimed at children age 5+, though smaller children can take part with close supervision from their grownups! We ask for gentle hands and inside voices!

Buzz on down to North Road Station Museum to take part in a wooden insect making workshop. Choose your minibeast kit, decorate its components, and construct your model with all the guidance you may need! Whether you make a smiling snail or an intricate arachnid, this workshop will test your creativity and modelmaking skills! Take your model home to hang in your room or adorn your garden. Suitable for children aged 5+, though younger children can take part with help from their grownups!

Big Science returns to Hopetown with crazy chemistry and fascinating physics! There are experiments galore to partake in during these immersive scientific sessions from making and enjoying your very own sherbet to crafting hovercrafts and making them fly plus much more! Children will learn all about the science involved and have so much fun while doing so! Suitable for children aged 4+, though younger children can participate with help from their grownups.

Try your hand at an exciting new skill for 2026! Join animation artist Robin Webb for an introduction to stopmotion animation. Animation is an extraordinary tool for learning and creativity, as well as an exciting activity for parents and children to discover together! In this funfilled family workshop, you will learn the basics of stopmotion animation, the technique behind productions like Wallace and Gromit, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Nightmare Before Christmas. You'll learn to create your own plasticine figure, and how to bring it to life in film under Robin’s expert guidance. You'll go away with the knowhow for how to produce your own animation at home! Each computerbased animation station is suitable for up to four people. We advise ages 7+ will benefit the most, although younger children can join in with help from their grownups! YOUR TICKET IS VALID FOR UP TO FOUR PARTICIPANTS. That could be anything from four Children to two adults and two children. Your group will be allocated one of the nine workstations available in your timeslot.