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.

Come and celebrate the culmination of the S&DR200 festival at Hopetown Darlington on 27th September 2025. The replica Locomotion No.1 will be returning to the birthplace of passenger railways to reenact that infamous journey from 200 years ago across Skerne Bridge. John Street Car Park will be transformed into the perfect celebratory viewing area for 8000 spectators to watch this spectacular event. Book your free tickets to the Anniversary Journey viewing area as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Once they're gone, they're gone. alternative parking arrangements are being made. Further details will be revealed soon.

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.

Discover our programme of workshops aimed at children aged 1016. From taking an indepth look at a small selection of the 30,000 objects in our collection in The Stores, handling objects like a curator and complete short interastive 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 completement your home educating programme. Workshops are followed by one hours play in Wagon Woods.

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)

Get your free ticket to Hopetown Darlington! Site Admission tickets cover entry to North Road Station Museum, the Goods Shed, The Stores, Clocktower Café, Darlington Locomotive Works Viewing Gallery and our beautiful outdoor spaces. Enjoy your visit!

Come and join us at Hopetown Darlington for afternoons of creativity and relaxation. Learn new techniques and make new friends in a calm and welcoming environment. Make something for yourself, friends or family. Led by local artist Dawn Belshaw. Engaging in creative activities can promote mindfulness, which can help reduce stress. By focusing on the creative process you can help reduce anxiety, relax and promote positivity, giving you a sense of accomplishment and a boost of self esteem. Wellness Wednesdays are held in the Clocktower Café. Here's what's coming up... 9th July NEEDLE FELTED SHEEP In this delightfully woolly workshop you'll create an adorable little sheep using wool roving and felting needles. 16th July BOTANICAL GELLI PRINTING Get inspired by nature and explore the vibrant world of botanical gelli printing. All workshops are standalone sessions. No prior experience necessary!

Darlington Pride is back this summer and there are plenty of activities lined up across the whole weekend! Pride is all about inclusivity and celebration, and for 2025 Pride in the Park is coming to Hopetown Darlington! Come and join the fun, celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and create a party atmosphere! Hopetown’s luscious outdoor spaces are the perfect location for a relaxed, familyfriendly pride picnic with crafts, face painting, live music by Tracks Darlington, bubbles and storytelling. There will be delicious lunches and sweet treats available from the Clocktower Café, or feel free to bring a picnic and join in the fun! The fun starts at 10am until 5pm with the main event running between 12pm until 3pm.

Join Pimms & Needles at Hopetown Darlington, for creative adult crafting workshops. What's On... 1 JUNE CHOCOLATE MAKING Attend an exciting chocolate workshop where you will have the opportunity to make five delicious truffles, while delving into the fascinating history of how chocolate made its way to the UK. This handson experience is perfect for chocolate lovers of all ages, whether you're a beginner or have some experience in chocolate making. 6 JULY TEA BLENDING Join us for an engaging workshop where you will delve into the historical journey of tea and how it became a staple drink in the UK. This workshop is designed not only to educate but also to provide a sensory experience that includes smelling and tasting various loose teas. Participants will have the unique opportunity to create their very own custom tea blend to take home. 7 SEPTEMBER VINTAGE CHINA TEACUP CANDLES A truly unique candlemaking workshop where you will create your very own candle in a vintage china teacup. This handson experience not only allows you to craft a beautiful and functional piece but also provides an opportunity to learn about the fascinating history of porcelain and its journey to the UK.

Join Gareth Dennis, the awardwinning railway engineer and writer, for a programme of talks exploring the history of the railways. Gareth is an awardwinning railway engineer and writer. He hosts the weekly #Railnatter show and is a regular on podcasts, radio, television and in print making the case for railways at the heart of a sustainable future. He is the author of the bestselling book How The Railways Will Fix The Future and is a cofounder of the Campaign for Level Boarding. Wednesday 30 April at 2pm and Wednesday 4 June at 2pm From Ancient Greece to California A Longer History of Railways The #Railway200 festival is celebrating two hundred years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, but railway technology has been around for more than two thousand years. Indeed, in the UK we've had railways since the 1500s but this story is seldom told. Gareth Dennis joins us to describe the development of the railways, taking in Ancient Greece, the Reformation and the transatlantic slave trade, and why it is crucial to understand this story when talking about the role of railways in our future. Railways are humanity's default mass mover. Railways are our greatest open source technology. Railways created the tech industry that has now taken such a grip on today's society. And railways will fix the future. Gareth explains how. Wednesday 10 September at 2pm Keeping Humanity Moving The Railways of the Future Gareth returns to tell us how the railways fit into the future of mobility and civilisation as a whole. He will talk about trains today, what we get right, what we don't, and what lessons we can learn from two hundred years of modern railways. He'll tell us which countries have the best railway systems and why. And he'll tell us what role railways will have in shaping and sustaining our future, as we face down climate change, population and demographic changes and the threats of the rising power of the tech industry. Lastly, he'll paint a picture of what a future with railways at the heart of our transport system can look like, and how it's a better future for us all.

Visit Hopetown Darlington with your four legged friend and meet fellow owners at our Doggy Social Sundays. With our glorious Goods Yard and lush green spaces, Hopetown is the perfect location for getting out and about in the fresh air, so why not make it your weekend dog walking destination? Dogs are welcome to explore everywhere except Wagon Woods play park, and our Exhibition Hall. We ask that dog owners keep their doggos on the lead at all times, and of course pick up after them we have bags and water stations available on site! To make your day all the more memorable, treat your pup to a doggy ice cream from Northern Bloc, or a pupcake from the Clocktower Cafe – human versions are also available!

Introducing Focus On Collection Fridays where you can come and discover some of the fascinating collections in our archives. Our Collections Engagement Manager Alison Grange will talk you through various objects and artefacts not usually on display and you'll be able to handle them yourselves. What's On... Friday 11 July John Mallon Collection A collection of over 6000 photos and 4000 documents from John's time working on the railways. Friday 18 July Tubwell Row Collection A collection of objects and artefacts showcasing Darlington's history. Friday 5September – North Road Works Friday 12September – S&DR 1875 & 1925 Commemorative Collection Friday 19 September – S&DR Collection Friday 26September – S&DR 1975 Commemorative Collection Friday 3October – Steam LineUp Collection These sessions are designed for over16s, and run between 10am12pm. Drop in any time and stay as long as you like!

For the weirdly wonderful, the strange and unusual. A safe place for all Misfits. New place, new time, same vibes, even more weird and wonderful traders and artists with unique curiosities and treasures. Misfits Market comes to Hopetown Darlington! Come and browse the brilliant range of alternative art and handmade goods on offer. Our wonderful traders will be selling clothing, homeware, artwork, jewellery, gifts and curiosities, and so much more!

S&DR200 PRESENTS: STEAM TO THE FUTURE Did you know? STEAM to the Future in Japanese is未来への蒸気 This family friendly exhibition, following Railway Pioneers: Celebrating the Railway Rockstars of the Past, transports you from the present and into the beyond. The exhibition takes a playful look at the near and BlueSky thinking showcasing the design and science behind the rail industry. S&DR200 has commissioned an immersive installation byA.A.MURAKAMI(AKA Studio Swine) inspired by steam as a source of power, and the chance to create a 22nd century inspired locomotive using virtual reality software. All of our railway contributors are looking to the future and this is a glimpse into just some of the work that is underway to ensure the railways continue for another 200 years and how the rail industry is gearing up for a second revolution driven by the growing green technologies sector in the Tees Valley and County Durham. Presented by S&DR200, ‘STEAM to the Future’ is the second of two exciting exhibitions being held in the Exhibition Hall at Hopetown Darlington. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:LNER, Hitachi Rail, Network Rail, Cummins. DELIVERED BY:Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council & Stockton Borough Council. MAJOR FUNDERS:Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority. The Exhibition Hall is sponsored by Darlington Building Society.

A truly unique opportunity for an intimate encounter with some of the most iconic locomotives in the UK today. Visits begin in the Viewing Gallery at Darlington Locomotive Works, accessed from within the Hopetown Darlington site. You will travel the short journey to The 1861 Shed by bus and will be met by a guide to complete a footplate tour BR Standard Class 2 78018 (and other locomotives if available). You will then be taken back to Darlington Locomotive Works to take part in a footplate tour of LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 (Tornado),LNER Class A4 4498 (Sir Nigel Gresley) & LNER Peppercorn Class K1 62005. You will then head back onto the Hopetown Darlington site to view the remaining locomotives (unfortunately footplate tours are not available for NER Class T2 63395 / LNER Q6 or the NER Class E1 69023 / LNER J72) but you can get up close to each locomotive. Please allow 90120 minutes for the tour, and ensure you arrive at Hopetown in plenty of time to cross the site ready for your Footplate Tour experience. Please note that these tours involve lots of walking, climbs into and out of a mini bus, and steep, physical climbs up to the locomotive footplates (driver's cabs) and back down again.

TITANS OF STEAM GALA Legends of the railway As part of this year’s S&DR200 celebrations, Hopetown Darlington will be front and centre of the festival as the home of the modern railway plays host to a freetovisit thunderous reunion of six iconic steam legends. Standing proudly side by side, each locomotive is a roaring monument to Britain’s engineering might. From the nimble 78018 BR Standard Class 2 to the rugged 62005 LNER K1, the lineup is a masterclass in steam power. The elegant 65894 LNER J27 and the stalwart 63395 LNER Q6 bring the charm of the North Eastern Railway, while the mighty 60163 Tornado and the legendary 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley steal the spotlight with their speed and majesty. This is more than a lineup – it’s a living, breathing pageant of steam where history hisses, whistles wail, and the spirit of the rails roars once more. Experience a close up view of the elegant 65894 LNER J27 and mighty 63395 LNER Q6 within our site, where you can also view Sir Nigel Gresley, Tornado and the 62005 LNER K1 inlight steam [https://www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/planyourvisit/sdr200/titansofsteam/#whatsOn]from our purpose built viewing area looking across the railway line. We will also be holding seperatefootplate tours [https://www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/planyourvisit/sdr200/titansofsteam/#whatsOn]where you can step aboard the Sir Nigel Gresley, Tornado, British Standard Class 2, and the LNER K1, as well as benefitting from workshop Tours ofDarlington Locomotive Works [https://www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/planyourvisit/darlingtonlocomotiveworks/](home to The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust) and the1861 Shed [https://www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/planyourvisit/1861shed/](home to Darlington Railway Preservation Society and the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group). Experience a truly unforgettable heritage day out. The iconic gathering takes place daily between Saturday 20 September – Sunday 5 October 2025. Keep checking back to find out the locations of the locomotives, any additional locomotives joining the line up and for news as we reveal exciting accompanying activities and events to take place alongside the Titans of Steam Gala. Hopetown Darlington – the place to be this Autumn. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Darlington Railway Preservation Society North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust DELIVERED BY:Darlington Borough Council WITH THANKS TO: S&DR200

With over 30,000 objects and artefacts in our collection, The Stores is a treasure trove of discovery! Join our Collections and Engagement Manager Alison Grange to discover her personal highlights of our object and archive collection. Learn about their impact on Darlington, the wider region and the world.

This tour showcases the pioneering railway heritage of the area from the 1830s to present day. Explore the area where the railways once thrived in Darlington as part of a walking tour of the Hopetown Darlington site. Discover what buildings and industries were once located here and what the whole area used to look like in the years before it became a popular (and awardwinning) visitor attraction. Please note this is a walking tour which includes some walking over uneven ground.

Take a walking tour to discover Darlington’s locomotive building history. From the early days of Kitching’s foundry through to the 1960s closure of North Road Works, you’ll discover Darlington’s mighty railway engineering past as you step foot on the very land where grand workshops once stood. Learn about the companies and people involved in the building of these steam workhorses and how they helped shape a community. The tour will end at the new Darlington Locomotive Works where you’ll see that Darlington is still leading the way when it comes to building steam locomotives fit for the future. Please note this is a walking tour which includes some walking over uneven ground.

Join our Collections and Engagement Manager Alison Grange to discover more about our collection. The fascinating objects and archives will bring to life stories unique to Darlington’s railway heritage. With a special focus on the Stockton & Darlington Railway, visitors can explore our early railway collection and how our ancestors changed the world from here.

All aboard Experiment! Experience Hopetown Darlington's immersive timetravel ride.

Join us to celebrate our first birthday! I know, we can't believe it either! And what a year it's been. Ok so we're taking a leaf out of the Monarch's book here and having TWO birthdays since our actual birthday is on 16 July. But the real party is on Sunday 20 July! There'll be a cake, a climbing wall, entertainment and our very own performer and Welcome Team member Joe will be show master for the day. More details will be released soon and we hope you can come and celebrate with us.

Join the S&DR 26 Miles Team in enjoying the summer! Families can get really creative whilst celebrating 200 years of the Stockton & Darlington Railway! Here's what's coming up... Saturday 19 July Station Garden Crafts Create and add your own floral creations to our paper station garden, make your own lollipop flowers and pick up some free seeds to grow your own vegetables, flowers or herbs! Monday 28 July S&DR and the Seaside Join the S&DR 26 Miles Team for a day of seaside crafts! Learn about historic ice cream flavours and design your own. Take inspiration from 200 years of rail travel and tourism to make your own postcard! Monday 11 August Station Garden Crafts Create and add your own floral creations to our paper station garden, make your own lollipop flowers and pick up some free seeds to grow your own vegetables, flowers or herbs! Monday 25 August S&DR Community Railway Line Add your own stations and trains to the Darlington Community Railway Line, design your own miniature locomotive and share your railway memories as part of our Memory collecting project. These are free dropin events suitable for children of all ages!

Meraki Connect presents immersive yoga, craft and storytelling for preschool age children. This Autumn join Caroline from Meraki Connect for journeythemed yoga, stories and arts & craft workshops for children aged 2+ and their families. Each workshop will be inspired by an exciting story, designed to stimulate preschoolers' imaginations and creativity.All supplies will be provided. Here's What's On... Friday 5 September The Cat and Mouse and the Runaway Train! by Peter Bently. Explore colour and creative mark making to create traininspired paintings. Friday 12 September Tiddalick the Frog: Dreamtime Aboriginal Story by Nicholas Wu. Walk the dots across the page to produce unique Aboriginal artwork. Friday 19 September The River by Marc Martin. Create a mystical underwater scene using natural and recycled materials. Friday 26 September Blown Away by Rob Bidulph. Craft your very own kite! Friday 3 October Big Blue Train by Julia Jarman. Design and make a traininspired collage. Friday 10 October The Journey of Bee Bea by Marta Lanfranco. Create your own bee art! World Mental Health Day Special. Friday 17 October Emma Jayne's Aeroplane by Katie Howarth. Become an engineer for the morning! Make colourful aeroplanes and rockets using recyclable materials. Friday 24 October Stick Man by Julia Donaldson. Celebrate a favourite tale by creating your own stick art using natural materials.

Free family workshops which celebrate architectural landmarks of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Join Cabinet of Curiosity Studio for exciting handson paper crafting workshops that celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Using specially designed paper model kits, explore the iconic architecture and rich engineering heritage of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. You'll guided through the process of creating your very own paper architecture model to take home. This is a free activity suitable for children aged 5+. Younger children can take part with help from their grownups!

Hopetown Darlington is going wild this summer with Animal Story and their exotic menagerie! Animal Story offers exceptional exotic animal workshops, with gentle handling by trained professionals and exciting displays for everyone to see. These hourlong sessions encourage an interest in wildlife and the natural world around us. The education delivered is linked to the National Curriculum and perfect for children from the age of three upwards. Remember to always listen to the animal handlers and follow their every instruction to make sure the enivronment is safe for yourself and for the animals.

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.

It's experimentation and innovation that put Darlington on the map and it all starts with play. The Stockton & Darlington Railway wasn’t the achievement of one person alone – it was the result of working together to make discoveries and solve problems. Not just grownups, but children too! The rope has snapped and the coal wagons are hurtling down the hill. There’s nothing to stop them – until local children derail them with logs and save the day! Sounds exciting? It’s a true story! Those children lived near the Brusselton Incline, a Georgian feat of engineering which was part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Based on the Brusselton Incline, Wagon Woods is Hopetown Darlington’s outdoor adventure play park designed and built by CAP.CO, the experts behind adventure play at Sandringham Estate, Blenheim Palace, and The Plotters’ Forest at Raby Castle. With intersecting railtrack walkways, a chimney to climb, and a 50 metre boardwalk through the trees, Wagon Woods has been 3.5 years in the making. Developed in consultation with local primary schools and childminders, the play park includes an accessible incline track with interactive features and a companion slide suitable for wheelchair users. Including a specially designed toddler area, Wagon Woods is a day out for all the family. Bring friends and make new ones to have fun, solve puzzles and make discoveries together! All tickets are valid for an hour of play, with adults and children under 1 admitted free of charge. All adults attending Wagon Woods must have at least one participating child in their party. Wagon Woods is sponsored by Homes by Esh. [Homes By Esh White Logo]

Join Hopetown Darlington's popular Railway Coffee Morning The coffee morning is a men's group open to former railway employees or those with an association with the railways in Darlington and wider area. It's a chance to reminisce about their time on the railways, talk about what's going on in their lives, and to take part in railwaythemed activities together such as regular visits to the 1861 Shed and Darlington Locomotive Works. The group is aimed at men with a former connection with the railways and who may be experiencing social isolation, depression and anxiety and simply just need someone to talk to and a place to meet their mates and make new friends. Railway Coffee Morning is on the last Thursday of every month. The 2025 dates are: Thursday 31 July, 11am1pm, Darlington Locomotive Works Thursday 28 August, 11am1pm, Darlington Locomotive Works Thursday 25 September, 11am1pm, Clocktower Café (the Goods Shed) Thursday 30 October, 11am1pm, Darlington Locomotive Works Thursday 27 November, 11am1pm, Clocktower Café (the Goods Shed) You can book a site admission ticket if you wish but there’s no need to, you can just turn up. Hope to see you there! p.s. your first drink every week is on the house.

Pop on down to Hopetown Darlington's Dementia Café Our Dementia Café is a safe and welcoming space for those living with dementia, their friends and family, and anybody who has been impacted by dementia to have a cup of tea and chat with others who understand. The café gives the perfect opportunity to chat (even if that's about a dementia diagnosis and what that means for the future), take part in mindful activities, keep active, make new friends and feel more confident. There'll be crafts and games too. The Dementia Café takes place every other Wednesday, 11am12pm in Clocktower Café [/../%7blocalLink:umb:/document/c6752889ef8a44a9a0cf415d2c25ac17%7d] at Hopetown Darlington. Upcoming dates are: Wednesday 23 July Wednesday 6 August Wednesday 20 August Wednesday 3 September Wednesday 17 September Wednesday 1 October Wednesday 29 October Please note there is no café on Wedensday 15 October. You can book a site admission ticket if you wish but there’s no need to, you can just turn up. Hope to see you there! Dementia Café is supported by Dementia Friendly Darlington / Dementia's Got Talent.For further support with dementia please contact the Alzheimer's Society [https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/].

Let's get curious! Curiosity Lab comes to Hopetown, with handson science and nature fun for children. Come along for these immersive, educational and sensory workshops, for children aged 4 11, though littler ones can get involved with help from their grownups! What's On... THURSDAY 14 AUGUST Become bubbleologists for the day! Children can mix up their own bubble mix before making and testing different bubble wands to see how bubbles are made. Children will have the chance to make bubble ropes, giant bubbles, and even a bubble within a bubble! FRIDAY 29 AUGUST There will be rainbows galore in this exciting celebration of colour! Children can investigate different colours in light, make art by separating colours and carry out some colour changing reactions! These are dropin workshops, come along and stay as long as you feel. In partnership with the Stockton and Darlington Railway 26miles Heritage Project and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.