Hopetown Darlington

Darlington changed the world as a pioneer of the modern railway. Hopetown Darlington will engage and inspire the innovators of the future by connecting them with our pioneering railway heritage.

Hopetown Darlington is a 7.5 acre visitor attraction encompassing a railway museum, exhibitions, festivals, events, café and shop, a railway-themed adventure play park and time travel immersive experience ride, and the chance to view live engineering in action.

The Grade I listed Skerne Bridge holds the distinction of being the oldest railway bridge in the world still in continuous use. It is a lasting symbol of the birth of the railways, connecting towns and cities for the first time and ushering in the Industrial Revolution.

Designed by Ignatius Bonomi and built in 1825 by George Stephenson using local stone, the bridge famously carried Locomotion No.1 with a train of coal and passengers across the River Skerne on 27 September 1825.

Traffic over the bridge increased far beyond the S&DR's expectations, and by 1828 the embankments leading to the bridge were showing serious damage. In 1829 the railway engaged John Falcus Carter of Heighington to repair it. He added curved flanking walls, holding back earth ramparts, that shored up Bonomi's failing embankments.

The bridge is perhaps most famous for appearing on the reverse of the five pound note during the 1990s alongside George Stephenson and Locomotion No.1.

In 1970 the bridge was listed as Scheduled monument number 1002331. In 2021, Historic England gave it a new designation as Grade I listed in recognition of its architectural and historic interest.

The bridge is still used today by local trains services.

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 grown-ups, 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 rail-track 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.