Spend a weekend in Darlington
The end of summer and the later months are the perfect time to enjoy a weekend in Darlington. From free town centre events to the bicentenary celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, there’s so much to do. And that’s before you’ve even discovered the beautiful accommodation options, gorgeous restaurants and cafes, and fantastic leisure spots.
Take a look at our recommendations to get started on planning your perfect weekend stay in the Darlington borough.
Places to stay
If you’re looking to stay close to the town centre, it doesn’t get much closer than the Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel, located right in the heart of the centre. This spot is home to 83 rooms, a cocktail bar and restaurant, and the magnificent Kings Ballroom. There’s also the beautiful Houndgate Townhouse. This Georgian hotel boasts eight boutique rooms for a truly relaxing stay, plus enjoy fresh, mouth-watering seafood and organic wines in the hotel restaurant, Saltfish.
If you want something a little slower paced, maybe you’d like a countryside option instead? For a self-catering stay, look no further than Kip & Nook, a gorgeous glamping experience with containers, a loft and a barn that takes guests completely off-grid. Or if you like your home comforts, take a look at Walworth Castle. This 1150 castle offers modern and stylish rooms with vistas over the Walworth countryside. It’s ideal for something a bit more unique and with lots of character.
For the height of sumptuous staycation, why not book a room at Rockliffe Hall? This 5 star hotel sits on a 375 acre site, complete with a spa, golf course and incredible restaurant, making it a fabulously refined destination. You can either choose to spend your whole weekend on the estate or venture out into the surrounding area for walks and shopping.
Things to do
You aren’t short of fun things to do in Darlington, whether you’re travelling as a couple, solo or with kids. If it’s green spaces you want, you’ll love Darlington’s many parks, like South Park and West Park, or a walk by Broken Scar with stunning river views. You could team up a walk in the area with one of the many free town centre events, which include the popular Rhythm & Tunes Festival, Pride or Fairy Tales & Legends Day for families.
If you’re looking for total relaxation, indulge at Rockliffe Hall spa. This is the ultimate destination for unwinding with a sumptuous spa garden, thermal rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, an indulgent treatment menu and so much more. There’s also Bannatyne Spa, that could be teamed up with a stay at the nearby Bannatyne Hotel Darlington, where and grandeur and warmth of a historic past meet contemporary style.
For weekend stays with kids, you’re totally spoiled for choice. There’s Create & Paint on Grange Road where your family can get creative with pottery painting, decopatch or foam clay. There’s Cluedini on Crown Street that offers three different escape rooms that older children and teenagers will love to try breaking out of. The Dolphin Centre has swimming, bowling and a soft play, so it’s a great place to spend a couple of hours, and Sim King Gaming on King Street is a gamer’s paradise with consoles and driving simulators. Or if you’re a family of food lovers, you could try your hand at a pasta making workshop at The Pasta Shop on Bondgate.
One thing that Darlington isn’t short of is history, playing a central role in the Stockton and Darlington Railway. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first steam passenger railway journey, the borough is playing host to lots of events, like the STEAM to the Future exhibition at Hopetown Darlington (from Friday 11 July – Sunday 5 October), the North East’s newest railway attraction. There’s also the Ghost Train event on Saturday 20 September, that will see a cavalcade of great inventions parade through the town, and the Anniversary Journey, a stunning recreation of that very first 26 mile journey on Saturday 27 September, exactly 200 years to the day. Find out more about the celebrations at www.sdr200.co.uk
Darlington prides itself on its retail, especially the independent business scene in the town centre, so you can expect a vibrant and bustling shopping experience, with lots of variety. From artisan bakers, like Bakerman and Number Eight Bakehouse, to jewellery designers, like Renne and AD Designs, there’s so much to discover. You can visit Origins for beautiful homewares, Leggs for designer fashion or Bliss Gifts for the most perfect trinkets. There’s even a whole community of independents in the Indoor Market Hall! But if you like shopping with high street names, there’s plenty of those in the Cornmill Centre, including Primark, Next and Warren James, to name just a few.
Places to eat
Darlington town centre is home to a huge range of restaurants that serve cuisine from all around the world, so there’s endless options available. There are a fantastic variety of Indian restaurants to choose from, like Abu’s on Duke Street, Café Spice which is tucked away on Clarks Yard, and award-winning Bangladeshi street food eatery Babul’s on Skinnergate. If it’s Italian food you like, try out Uno Momento on Blackwellgate, Al Forno on Skinnergate or Neapolitan pizzeria, Stable Hearth, on Duke Street.
For something a bit different, try out Casa Del Alma for Mexican food cooked by MasterChef’s Matei Baran. Or if you like to try a bit of all sorts, you’ll love Old Yard Tapas Bar, where you can have Greek meze and Spanish tapas at the same time. Or if it’s something more indulgent and elegant you’re after, you’ll love The Bay Horse in Hurworth. This multi award-winning venue has been featured in the Michelin guide and for very good reason!
Street food is always a really popular choice and it doesn’t get much more laidback than with the street vendors in the Indoor Market, like Haus Der Bratwurste and Masala Magic. Their food is great to enjoy while at the market’s weekly quiz night! Or if you want street food in more of a restaurant setting, look no further than Salt. This spot serves up the most delicious smash burgers, loaded fries, bao buns and so much more. It’s a total hidden gem on Grange Road and is definitely worth a look for some casual dining.
How to get here
Darlington is incredibly well connected, so no matter where you are, it’s simple to get there. There are regular trains from major cities like Durham, Newcastle and York that run directly to the town with plenty of hotels within walking distance. It’s also very easy to reach by road, with the entire borough being accessible on the A1, A66 or A19.