Went to tonight to see Heather's the musical. Slight issue with the tickets. They hadn't come through. However, when I emailed the venue this morning, they issued the tickets immediately via email, so the customer service was super quick! Parking was easy and signposted. The venue is lovely from the outside, and it looks very modern. Inside is very cosy and just the right size for smaller acts / performances to make it lovely and intimate! Prices weren't sky high, too. They even served coffee inside. They accepted both cash and card payments which is rare!! Staff are very friendly and helpful and plenty of toilet facilities on site. During the interval we were allowed outside.

Attended to watch Kate Rusby and Northern Soul Live on subsequent nights. The theatre is looking great. The drinks are reasonably priced. Probably could do with more bar staff on, 2nd night the pre ordered drinks weren't ready at the interval so i ended up queueing and rushing my drink anyway. They have a crazy rule that you can't stand at all during the performance ( only for standing ovation), which I understand for theatrical productions but for live bands especially those dance related it's frankly ridiculous and for Northern Soul it didn't work, people moved to the side aisles and danced- everyone was fine. It must feel quite surreal for the performers not seeing people dancing away to songs as they do in other venues - makes Darlington seem a bit restrained and miserable. However a great night both nights and I loved the 20 second hand washing song lyrics in the toilet. Great idea.

Got that old school theatre vibe too it. Great for any production, nice acoustics and great visibility where ever you are sat.

Brilliant venue and some brilliant things coming up too! Our grandchildren had a great time today, highly recommended 👌

Beautiful theatre that would not look out of place in London's West end. The Darlington Hippodrome is not only a theatre but a community as well.

This place has had a massive renovation since I was last here. Everything looks so modern but still keeping a lot of the original features. The staff were very friendly in helping us find our seats. There are a lot of seats and space enough so you don't feel too cramped.

Just got back from watching Rock of Ages and this has to be one of the best musicals we have been too. The cast were amazing from the dancers to main characters lots of laughs and brilliant music we will definitely be back for more. Keep up the great work

Strictly Ballroom musical finally curtain lifted after 2019 booking and a great show. The hippodrome was lovely and provided a fab atmosphere. Small bar but plenty of drink options including tea&coffee and various snacks such as crisps. What was a great relief was the space between each row. Amble leg room. Lovely bunch of staff who were so helpful.

Nice bar with better choice of snacks than most theatres. Pleasant staff, clean toilets, comfy seats. Loses a star as they no longer have a central aisle via the stalls, meaning a long shuffle past the feet of others if you're in the middle seats. No on site parking but plenty nearby, and close to the railway station.

Great price and a good show. We'd love to go back. Usually we have been put off by prices which we have thought have been too high (at other venues) but we found this to be very reasonably priced.

Great venue with welcoming staff. Interesting information boards provided a historical context to our visit. Lots of bars in a sympathetic integration of new extension into the original and impressive theatre.

Great show last night Warm and comfortable theatre which feels really traditional and like a part of history

Amazing place, a combination of refurbished victorian splendour, with a contemporary addition of a bar and cafe, the staff were ultra friendly. definitely worth a visit if something good on, we watched the ELO experience, which was almost as good as the real ELO.

Great theatre, it is very old but has been refurbished. The auditorium is very comfortable and has good leg room (at least in the stalls). There is a great exhibition of stage lights in the foyer and a good explanation of how a theatre works with descriptions of theatre terms and technology. The staff were all very friendly.

Absolutely love it here best pantomimes and shows I have seen yet

Lovely theatre, not too far away from home, seats are comfortable with good leg room. Ordered an ice cream for the interval, there's a bar on every floor if you like a drink. Toilets are always lovely and clean. Staff are friendly, very good choice of shows, there's something for everyone,from musicals,plays,comedy and classical music, ballet all at reasonable prices.

The (working) Castle is WOW, just WOW. You can take photos of the outside and show how impressive it is but the inside is so impressive, a camera will never do it justice. The staff are all friendly and helpful and very knowledgeable. Blue Badge holders can park the car very close to the Castle and all footpaths are "accessible friendly". This is a (working) Castle , not a ruin and it is definitely one for the bucket list, there is so much to see. The "Yurt Cafe" is amazing and again lovely staff. We didn't get chance to explore the Deer Park but it looks lovely. Will hopefully visit again.

The Castle was really interesting. Guides helpful . Plenty to look at. Note, gardens are being remodeled so none to see. So if not visiting castle you are paying a lot just to wander a large field (with, if you're lucky some deer in the distance.

Lovely day out. We were lucky enough to see the deer. The castle is beautiful and worth a visit. The plotter’s forest is great, just wish it was bigger! Food was delicious in the teepee. Will definitely be visiting again ☺️

We visited for Fireside Stories with Santa and the Enchanted Forest. It was a really lovely experience and well worth the money. Felt magical from start to finish. Plenty of hand sanitiser points. The castle itself is stunning and the deer just add that special something. Plenty of toilet facilties and a good system for the cafe. Only slight issue we encountered was no soap in any of the dispensers in the toilets. Can't wait to visit again throughout next year

Lovely day out with my 2yr old grandson. Plenty parking, picnic tables, seated areas, and a great treasure hunt for the older children. All the walkways were clean and suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Never visited the gift or coffee shop as we took our own picnic, but will be returning to try the Afternoon Teas very soon.

Went for the seasonal market and stayed for the deer park and castle, both of which are simply stunning! Granted it was a perfect May Day, but walking in the grounds is peaceful and restorative. The castle is absolutely worth a visit, with some stunning rooms, beautifully presented and staffed by the most friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guides I've ever had the pleasure to talk to. Just delightful. Add to this, good and easy (free) parking, cafe and shop, and an entrance fee that doesn't leave you feeling violated, this place is HIGHLY recommended.

Very reasonably priced attraction. Nice estate with deer roaming that are pretty tame so you can get close. Castle was also lovely with very knowledgeable staff. Nice cafe. A word of warning: if you have limited mobility the grounds can be quite uneven and you may have to walk 15-20 minutes to get to the deer. There are also no benches outside of the immediate proximity of the castle itself.

Entrance fee including castle is £13. Well worth the price. Lovely walks around the grounds with herds of deers to look at. The castle is very interesting with very knowledgeable staff explaining different aspects of each room. Grounds are dog friendly.

Good day out if a bit on the expensive side. The Plotters Forest was fun but smaller than I'd expected though the kids had a lot of fun. Castle and deer park were beautiful and the staff were lovely and very helpful to my wheelchair using mum.

There is separate parking to the left of the main car park for disabled parking, as you drive in you should see the diversion notice! If you're a wheelchair user and wish to look around the castle, there are a few lower floor sections that you'll be diverted to by the stewards that you can look through! This does take you out of the building and having to enter around the back, there's not many rooms to see, but there are some interesting things, I personally enjoyed the carriage room with the armoury display and the open fire crackling away in the hearth. The grounds are huge and we didn't see the deer on the day we visited, as the weather was a bit damp and dreary the deer had likely found a nice dry spot in amongst the wealth of trees! The gardens were also closed as they were being updated, but from what we could see from the castle grounds, they looked very interesting and would be worth walking around when open! There was a little gift shop to have a poke around as well.

Our first visit & we loved it! Beautiful grounds to walk around (a bit muddy in places) & the deer were stunning. The castle is amazing, such lavish interior, lovely art & ceramic collection. Will definitely return!

I'll start with the good. Lovely grounds and a wonderful, magical castle with knowledgeable and friendly guides positioned in each of the castle's rooms with some great history to tell. The not so good? The new plotters forest was limited. Few places to sit for adults and the kids will almost definitely not use their allotted 2 hours. Will definitely go back to see more of the grounds and revisit the castle.

Superb place to visit. Amazing 13th century ( altered over the years ) castle, fully furnished with a fascinating history. A must see if you are in the area and great day out destination if within travel reach. It’ll occupy a full day if you walk the deer park also Had a quirky, excellent, cafe in a yurt and a lovely craft shop. Guides are very welcoming and Knowledgeable. Other staff also very welcoming. Great little 30 min video that is hugely informative and interesting. Easy parking and thoroughly enjoyed the day there. Would be good if they opened the walled gardens to the general public visitors. Also, really quirky, has a cricket pitch with oak tree and huge lime trees inside the boundary rope - must be som obscure local rules/laws 🤔

Wonderful place to visit. The new Plotters Lodge is a must for the kids. It's a magical woodland adventure for all the family. The castle and grounds are immaculate. Food and drinks are a little on the expensive side, but it's well worth it to round off a great day out, because you will definitely work up an appetite walking around the 200 acres of woodland and deer park.

A great place to walk your dog, and very reasonably priced. £5.50 (over 60s) this doesn't include visiting the castle. Lovely cafe also, lots of new things opening the end of April. I highly recommend if you are in the area.

What a hidden gem I visited in February so it was nice and quiet, castle wasn't open yet but I enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the ground, lots of free roaming deer to see and I enjoyed getting the camera out for some shots with family. I will definitely be back when castle is open Top tip, pay online only, no cash on gate

Absolutely fabulous day out. We often drive past and never been before today. Amazing and informative castle visit and the kids were kept busy with the trail inside the castle and deer park. Got up close with the deer too. Took advantage of a kids go free inside the castle offer as well. Visited the plotters forest and kids had a fab time

Not a good place for us on the day. I had 3 hungry children and all that was available was sausage rolls with no ketchup. There were no indoor tables available and the weather was windy and wild so a picnic was not very pleasant... I am sure if you visit in the summer it would be lovely. On the up side the toilets were very clean.and the baby change was well equipped.

Excellent place for the kids to explore. Staff are really helpful. Could do with better signage though but they are still busy with the place. Very interactive and safe and we definitely will be back

Honestly one of the most amazing castles I’ve ever visited. Still in tact and a lot of rooms open to the public to see. Lovely deer park as well, enjoyed a nice walk round before the house opened.

If you are in the area it's definitely worth a visit anytime of year, see the stunning castle and grounds with herds of deer and longhorn cattle. Nice food in the cafe with lots of new features coming soon!

Fun place, the plotters is a great place. We went Halloween. All lit up and loads to walk around with a cafe at the top. Be prepared, if with young children to do a bit of climbing and lifting. Really well decorated..

Nice little museum, three locos to see and some exhibits. Costs £4.95 entry which is cheap but was not in very long to be fair as there is not that much to see. Not dog friendly either, she had to wait outside.

Its the ugliest waste of public funds that could possibly have been built. The large metal structure is horrible looking from the outside, practically empty on the inside. The ticket price is ridiculous for what is on offer. Truly a vanity project for the old white men in charge who think a train museum is more important than revitalizing the areas of town that people live in an use- and desperately need help.

This is usually my partners ideal place but I really enjoyed the history. The displays are straight forward and interesting slot of information for a smallish site but not too much information (spot on). Only downside is no souvenir book, but that's personal preference.

This place might not have the visual impact of the large locomotive collections at Shildon and York, but it is a fascinating place. I spent two hours reading all about the history of Darlington and how the Stockton/Darlington railway line came into existence. There's so much of interest here. The political process of getting the line approved is revealed. The composition of the train on it's inaugural journey together with details of every section of the route is graphically described. Perhaps this museum is of more interest to adults wanting a detailed insite into the founding of the railway. There are four locomotives linearly displayed along a track in the centre of the museum, including a replica of the engine "Locomotion One" but the original is displayed at Shildon. Some great black & white photos of the engines and workshops on display here, all enlarged to poster size.

Can't believe that I haven't been here before. The exhibits are amazing and being set up in an old railway station gives an even better experience.

Went to the vintage vehicle rally at the weekend, lots of different cars from different eras, well worth a look for a family day out

Small museum about the first passenger trains in history. Entry is 6 pounds. Not much to see in here. Finished after a few minutes.

Great place. My 8 year old likes it as well. We went for the vintage rally and there was some beauty's there.

Its such a great park. Would absolutely recommend it to everyone. A big park with a lake in between.

Rare beautiful park in Darlington with everything which makes it a perfect picnic spot. It has a playground, pond, kids play zone, restaurant, sitting arrangements, restrooms, large trees. There is also a small stream of river flowing along the edge of the park. Very calm and soothing atmosphere always at this park.

This is a really nice park, there are lots of very nice outside areas and plenty of things to do. We can't fault it and visit regularly. Well done Darlington council.

Forces Day at South park, Darlington was an excellent afternoon. Music by the band of the Royal Signals and the REME pipe band was 1st class. Looking forward to next year.

Very scenic and peaceful with a large, beautiful lake and an avery in the grounds. Disabled toilets and a small, friendly cafe.

A great community park. Something for everyone. Often some event going on.

A Tranquil Oasis in Darlington Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) South Park in Darlington is a hidden gem that truly deserves a five-star rating. This Grade II listed park is a charming haven for a wide range of activities, making it a perfect spot for everyone, including those seeking solitude for meditation. The park's historical significance adds a unique touch to its ambiance, making it feel like you've stepped back in time while enjoying modern amenities. The lush greenery, well-maintained pathways, and serene atmosphere make it a great place for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing picnic. What sets South Park apart is its ability to cater to all needs. If you're looking for a peaceful moment to meditate or simply be alone with your thoughts, you'll find secluded spots that offer the solitude you seek. The park's expansive grounds ensure that you can usually find quality time for yourself, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The park also offers various recreational activities, including playgrounds for kids, sports facilities, and open spaces for gatherings or events. It's a fantastic place for families, friends, or individuals to unwind and connect with nature. South Park is a true gem in Darlington, offering a diverse range of experiences for all. Whether you seek tranquility or an active day outdoors, this park has it all. I highly recommend visiting this historic park, and I'm sure you'll find yourself returning time and time again to enjoy its many charms.

Lovely park to wander around.

Went there to walk the dogs and someone recognised us from being the matchball sponsors at Darlington FC against Southport two weeks ago.

The south park is a 10 minute walk from the center of Darlington and a very large classic English garden with lawns trees ponds fountains streams, benches, pergolas and birds. It is very pleasant to walk there. Next door a huge Sainsbury's

Lovely park , enjoyed my walk round on what was a beautiful day . Had a cappuccino in the little cafe and it was lovely. A lovely day out .

A lovely park, with nice grounds and a small cafe which is dog friendly. In fact when you pop in midweek, it appears as though a dog mandatory 🐕🦮🐩🐕‍🦺😀

Great outdoor space, can be a nightmare to find a parking spot, but lovely area to take kids for a walk. Play ground needs a bit of tlc as there is a few damaged bits and graffiti

Lovely park! Really beautiful scenery, perfect for a solitary stroll, a walk with a friend or friends, a picnic... There's a lake with beautiful ducks, you can go feed the ducks there. The flowers and trees... I ramble, but that's how nice it is. There's a cafe, a place where you can buy ice cream, and places where one can sit. Toilets include handicap toilets, there's handicap parking and entrances as well.

I don't think it fully deserves a whole, 4 out of 5 but since it is my home town's railway station I do have a soft spot for this building.

In recent months I have needed to use the Passenger Assistance service at Darlington Station several times, both on arrival and departure. The experience has been consistently good and helpful. The staff have been compassionate and efficient, which has been important to me as I try to accept a change in circumstances. Thank you to the LNER staff.

There is nothing especially interesting about Darlington but it has a pleasant atmosphere and is enjoyable to walk around with its combination of big name shops and interesting little side streets. Be warned though. It's a very long walk from the railway station.

Darlington Station is busy but there are a couple of places to get drinks, sandwiches and snacks as well as a W H Smiths. There are toilets- gents on platform 1 and ladies on platform 4 - that are relatively clean with hot water and soap and hand driers that work (in the ladies anyway). Plenty of helpful staff around.

Terrible railway station, poorly lit place . I went to pick someone up at night time never been there before , train was late and I never seen any park & display notices i received a parking penalty of a £100. Pack of Robbing Bandits

A decent train station that does its job. I wouldn’t recommend trainspotting here as most trains worth seeing go down the avoider line.

Mainline station on east coast and station is clean, tidy with helpful staff. Lots of food, drink facilities along with paper / book sales outlets. Parking is however limited and expensive.

Fairly small station with 4-5 platforms. Easy to find yoi train, plenty of coffee places etc

The poor review is for the ticket machines. They need an update badly. Incredibly slow, not user friendly at all. I can imagine Senior Citizens could really struggle with them; I certainly did. Luckily there was an incredibly helpful human at the station who was fantastic.

A very clean and well maintained station. Deserving of the upcoming upgrades to the building and trackwork. Friendly and informative station staff.