North East England Station code DAR
Darlington
Darlington by train: home of the 1825 Stockton and Darlington Railway, with Hopetown's rail heritage site, the Hippodrome and Raby Castle nearby.
- Around 2 hours 20–30 minutes from London
- 3 LNER routes
- 3 things to do
William Bell's 1887 train shed at Darlington Bank Top, with its hanging clock and slender columns.Photo: Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Darlington
Darlington is a large market town on the River Skerne in County Durham, and railway history runs deep here: the Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened in 1825, was the world's first public railway to use steam locomotives.
That heritage is celebrated at Hopetown Darlington, which opened in 2024 on the original 1825 route beside the historic North Road station. In the town you will also find the Hippodrome theatre, and to the west the medieval Raby Castle stands in its deer park.
With two LNER trains an hour to London and good links to Teesside, Darlington is also a practical hub for exploring the Tees Valley and the Durham Dales.
Journey
DAR- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 2 hours 20–30 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 3
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 10 of 18 | Northallerton | Durham |
| London – Aberdeen stop 10 of 26 | Northallerton | Durham |
| London – Inverness stop 6 of 24 | York | Newcastle |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
The quickest northbound trains in LNER's May–December 2026 timetable take about 2 hours 27 minutes; one late southbound train takes 2 hours 20 minutes.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1 July 1887 (current station); first Bank Top station 1841
- Architect
- William Bell (architect) and T. E. Harrison (engineer), North Eastern Railway
- Heritage status
- Grade II* listed (main building)
- Platforms
- 6
- Managed by
- LNER
- Passengers a year
- 2.8 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The first line across the station site was a Stockton and Darlington Railway mineral branch to Croft, opened in 1829, four years after the S&DR's famous opening.
- A £140 million upgrade added a new eastern entrance on Neasham Road and two extra platforms beside the freight lines; the new platforms took their first trains on 17 May 2026.
- Darlington was named Large Station of the Year in 2005.
Photos of Darlington
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(view larger)
William Bell's 1887 train shed at Darlington Bank Top, with its hanging clock and slender columns. Photo: Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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The new platforms on the eastern side, opened in May 2026, with the Victorian train shed beyond. Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Darlington
Most trains stop under William Bell's great train shed, where the customer information point (platform 4), cafés and shops are. The platforms are level with the main entrance, beside the taxi ranks and accessible parking; the approach from Victoria Road involves a steep ramp. Since 17 May 2026 the ticket office has been at the new Neasham Road entrance on the east side, which also leads to the multi-storey car park and platforms 5 and 6. The town centre is about half a mile away as the crow flies; for Hopetown, take a Northern train one stop to North Road.
Darlington station (historically Bank Top) is a Grade II* listed Victorian building about half a mile from the town centre as the crow flies. A £140 million redevelopment, completed in May 2026, added a new entrance on Neasham Road, a multi-storey car park and two new platforms.
Getting around
The town centre is a short walk from the station. For Hopetown, take a Northern train towards Bishop Auckland one stop to North Road, which shares the site. Raby Castle, near Staindrop, is around 11 miles away, so a car or taxi is the practical option.
Other train services and connections
- CrossCountry
- TransPennine Express (Newcastle; York, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool)
- Northern (Tees Valley line to Middlesbrough and Saltburn; Bishop Auckland)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (National Rail category A); the Victoria Road entrance has a steep ramp
- LiftsAvailable
- StaffStaffed 24 hours; customer information point on platform 4 (Mon–Sat 07:00–19:00, Sun 09:00–19:00)
- Ticket officeAt the Neasham Road entrance; Mon–Fri 06:00–19:00, Sat 07:00–19:00, Sun 08:00–18:00
- Ticket machinesAt the Neasham Road entrance
- Help pointsAvailable
- ToiletsOn platforms 1 and 4, and in the Neasham Road building (reached from platforms 5 and 6)
- Accessible toiletsAccessible and Changing Places toilets in the Neasham Road building; RADAR-key toilets by platform 4
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomsHeated waiting rooms on the concourse, the footbridge and platforms 5 and 6; Mon–Sat 06:00–22:45, Sun 09:00–22:45
- First Class loungeLNER lounge on platform 1; Mon–Sat 06:00–20:00, Sun 08:00–20:00
- Wi-fiIn some areas of the station
- Food and drinkCoffee shop, café and WHSmith
- Cash machineAvailable
- Left luggageNone
- Car parking728 spaces, including a 654-space multi-storey reached from Garbutt Square/Neasham Road, run by LNER
- Cycle storage152 sheltered spaces at the station front, with CCTV
- TaxisTaxi ranks at the main entrance, one fully covered
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Railways came to Darlington early. The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in 1825, and in 1829 it laid a mineral branch to Croft across the site of today's station. The Great North of England Railway bought that branch for its main line from York, which reached the town on 30 March 1841, and the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway continued it north in 1844. The first Bank Top station, where the routes met, was modest; it was rebuilt in 1860 and outgrown again within 25 years.
The North Eastern Railway's replacement, designed by its chief engineer T. E. Harrison and architect William Bell, opened on 1 July 1887 at a cost of £81,000, with a broad island platform under a three-span roof and a tall clock tower. Branches to Richmond, Barnard Castle and Penrith closed in the 1960s, but the main line was electrified in 1991. A £140 million upgrade, formally opened in May 2026, has added a new eastern concourse on Neasham Road, a multi-storey car park and two new platforms beside the freight avoiding lines.
A day in Darlington
Railway heritage, a Victorian market hall and a night at the theatre.
-
Morning
Hopetown
Hop one stop on a Northern train to North Road for Hopetown, the railway attraction on the original 1825 Stockton and Darlington route.
-
Lunch
Darlington Market
Head back into town for lunch in the street food hall of the Victorian covered market on West Row.
-
Afternoon
Raby Castle
With a car or taxi, spend the afternoon at the Nevilles' 14th-century castle and its deer park, about 11 miles away; check which parts are open before you go.
-
Evening
The Hippodrome
Round off the day with a show at the Darlington Hippodrome on Parkgate.
Things to do near Darlington
Hopetown Darlington
A railway-themed attraction on the 1825 Stockton and Darlington route, with a museum in the Grade II* listed North Road station, a ride, an adventure play area and the workshop where volunteers are building a new steam locomotive.
Darlington Hippodrome
The town's main theatre, on Parkgate in the town centre; see its website for the current programme of shows.
Raby Castle
A 14th-century castle built by the Nevilles and set in a 200-acre deer park where red and fallow deer roam, with walled gardens, an adventure playground and places to eat.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Market
Darlington Market
The Grade II listed Victorian market hall now houses a street food hall and the Market Tap bar alongside market stalls, with a busy programme of free events.
Day trips from Darlington
-
Durham
The cathedral and castle on their rocky peninsula above the River Wear.
LNER, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express trains take about 16 minutes, several times an hour.
-
Bishop Auckland
Market town of Auckland Castle, the former palace of the bishops of Durham and now a visitor attraction.
Northern trains take about 24 minutes, hourly.
Where to stay in Darlington
Hotels in and around the town centre are within walking distance of the station.
Tips for your visit
- North Road station, next to Hopetown, is one stop from Darlington on Northern's Bishop Auckland line.
- Raby Castle has different opening hours for the castle, gardens and park – check before you go.
Questions about Darlington station
How far is Darlington town centre from the station?
About half a mile as the crow flies; the market hall on West Row is about 0.4 miles.
Is Darlington station step-free?
Yes, National Rail rates it step-free category A. The approach from Victoria Road involves a steep ramp, so use the main entrance or the new Neasham Road entrance if you can.
Where is the ticket office?
Since 17 May 2026 it has been at the new Neasham Road entrance on the east side of the station.
Is there a First Class lounge?
Yes, LNER's lounge is on platform 1, open 06:00–20:00 Monday to Saturday and 08:00–20:00 on Sundays.
Where can I park?
In the 654-space multi-storey car park reached from Garbutt Square/Neasham Road, run by LNER. The daily rate was £12.50 when checked in September 2026.
How do I get to Hopetown?
Take a Northern train towards Bishop Auckland one stop to North Road, which shares the Hopetown site; it is about 1.1 miles from Darlington station as the crow flies.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlington
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton_and_Darlington_Railway
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- hopetowndarlington.co.uk/
- darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/
- raby.co.uk/raby-castle/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopetown_Darlington
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raby_Castle
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/dar/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1310079
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- darlingtonmarket.co.uk/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Town_Hall_and_Market_Hall,_Darlington
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Castle
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Darlington?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.