FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hopetown Darlington opens on Tuesday 16 July 2024. Sign up to our mailing list and keep up to date with all of the latest news by entering your details into the form in the footer.

The former Head of Steam Darlington Railway Museum is now named North Road Station Museum and is one of a number of attractions within Hopetown Darlington. 

Hopetown Darlington is free to enter. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge. We recommend pre-booking for your comfort and convenience. You can obtain your tickets for all events, activities and exhibitions at the welcome desk on the day, subject to availability. 

Our busy periods are weekends and school holidays. We anticipate that the site may reach capacity at busy times and encourage you to plan your visit in advance. 

If you require an essential companion or carer, they can visit the paid-for elements at Hopetown Darlington free of charge. Choose 'essential companion' from the drop-down menu when booking your tickets.

Hopetown Darlington is free to enter. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge. Discounts are available for Art Pass holders and Museum Association members. You can select these tickets from the drop down menu when you book.

People who require an essential companion to accompany them due to their disability, illness or other condition, will receive a free essential companion ticket for the paid-for elements at Hopetown Darlington.

Hopetown Darlington is free to enter. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge.

Tickets to Hopetown Darlington are non-refundable once purchased, however, you can login to your account and amend your booking within 24 hours of your booked event subject to availability.

If you have booked a free site admission ticket and can no longer use it we would appreciate it if you could let us know by emailing hopetown@darlington.gov.uk. This helps us by freeing up space for someone else to attend. 

Tickets are timed for your comfort and convenience, and to help us control capacity. We will do our best to admit latecomers, however we cannot guarantee admittance in the case of late arrival.

We encourage visitors to take pictures and videos of their visit for personal use. We love to see content of you enjoying your time with us.

Why not share your content with us on Facebook, Instagram or X.

Please note, the use of tripods, monopods, supplementary lighting or drones is not permitted, and please be mindful of others and where you're standing when taking your photographs and videos.

We ask that you do not take photos within Wagon Woods.

For commercial photography or videography enquiries please get in touch. 

Good news, dogs are more than welcome to Hopetown Darlington!

Dogs are welcome anywhere on the Hopetown Darlington site except inside the following venues:

• North Road Station Museum
• Wagon Woods
• Carriage Works

They are welcome at most festivals and events, although exceptions do apply and will be stated on the individual events pages.

Dog stations will be provided across the site providing drinking water and poo bags. 

All dogs must be on a lead and accompanied at all time.

Assistance dogs are welcome at Hopetown Darlington, including within the museum building. Sorry, other assistance animals are not permitted.

Children under five are welcome to bring balance bikes and bikes with stabilisers to help them get around Hopetown Darlington. Larger bikes and e-scooters are not permitted within the attraction.

A facility for parking your bike or scooter can be found at the Goods Shed entrance.

Bikes and scooters are left at the owners risk. 

Ball games are permitted on Foundry Green. Foundry Green will open in Spring 2025. No team sports or adult ball games are permitted. Ball games of any kind are not permitted near to any historic buildings or in the Goods Yard.

We reserve the right to conduct bag searches upon entry to Hopetown Darlington.

We do not have a facility for the storage of bags, coats or other large items.

Smoking, including the use e-cigarettes and vapes, is not permitted anywhere within Hopetown Darlington.

We serve a range of wines and locally produced beers and sprits in Clocktower Café. You may be asked for ID. 

You are more than welcome to bring your own food and drinks to consume in the picnic areas. The picnic areas are located within North Road Station Museum and at Wagon Woods.

Picnics can be enjoyed on Foundry Green from Spring 2025.

We ask visitors to not consume food and drink within North Road Station Museum (outside of the picnic area) and the Carriage Works. This is due to to the conservation of artefacts.

Please use the bins provided or take your rubbish and recycling home with you.

We also serve a range of hot and cold food and drinks in Clocktower Café or The Kiosk.

If you would like to speak to the team about menus, allergies or special dietary requirements, please get in touch.

Hopetown Darlington is free to enter. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge.

For Wagon Woods children aged one and over require their own ticket. 

For Brick Journeys in the Exhibition Hall children aged one and over require their own ticket.

There is a minimum height requirement for Experiment!. Children aged three and over require their own ticket. Children aged three and under are not permitted to ride Experiment!.

Children may require a ticket for other events, festivals and activities. Check the event page for further details.

Yes, baby changing facilities can be found within North Road Station Museum, the Carriage Works, the Goods Shed and the outdoor toilets facility.

You are welcome to breastfeed anywhere within Hopetown Darlington. We are part of the BfN Breastfeeding Friendly scheme. There is a baby feeding room located within North Road Station Museum if you wish to breastfeed in private.

Clocktower Café in the Goods Shed welcomes breastfeeding. Baby bottles can be heated in Clocktower Café. 

Hopetown Darlington is fully accessible. There is plenty of space for prams and pushchairs. 

There is limited space in the bike shed to store your pram or pushchair. Items are left at the owner's risk.