Hopetown Darlington

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Located on the 1825 route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (the world's first steam-worked public railway), Hopetown Darlington is devoted to the area formerly served by the North Eastern Railway, with particular reference to the S&DR, and the railway industry of Darlington. Exhibits include Stephenson's 'Locomotion No. 1', built for the opening of the S&DR, and 'Derwent', the earliest surviving Darlington built locomotive, on loan from The National Railway Museum Collection. A range of smaller items including station and lineside signs, uniforms, furniture, tableware and paintings, complements the larger exhibits. A dedicated research centre, The Ken Hoole Study Centre, has an extensive collection of documentary material, photographs, plans, books and periodicals. We also look after Piercebridge Roman Fort.

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Access (avg.)

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Toilets (avg.)

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stephen

Sept 2017

lovely visit

Large car park, mobility scooter accessible

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Disabled Access Information for Hopetown Darlington

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• The main entrance to Hopetown Darlington is via the Goods Shed with has both a stair and ramp approach. • The entrance to the museum is via 3 natural stone steps. There is also a ramped approach. • The entrance to the Carriage Works building is flat. • The Carriage Works is a one story building with multiple levels. There is a lift between the levels. • There is an open air bridge linking the visitor attraction to Darlington Locomotive Works. The bridge contains a lift. • The Wagon Woods adventure playground has an area for wheelchair users and their companions. There is an interactive raised level accessed by a ramp and there is a slide for wheelchair users and their companions.

Seating at regular intervals

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• Disabled parking is located on McNay Street directly outside the entrance to Hopetown Darlington. There will be approximately 8 disabled parking spaces. • The main car park is located slightly further away and has space for over 200 vehicles. The route between the car park can be flat is visitors bypass the stairs and use the ramped approach. • Visitors can be dropped off up to 10 metres from the entrance. • Coaches can drop off up to 50 metres from the entrance but must park away from the entrance • Coaches cannot park in the main car park (no suitable spaces) or in residential areas. Parking can be located in the disused bus stops on Bonomi Way.

Dedicated parking

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Toilets features at Hopetown Darlington

• There are disabled toilets located in the Goods Shed, Railway Museum and Carriage Works buildings within Hopetown Darlington. All have step-free access and have doorways which are wide enough for powered or manual wheelchairs to access. There are drop down rails, lever operated taps, a disposal bin, and pull cord alarm. • Funding has been granted and approved for a Changing Places toilet that will be located within the Museum building. This will be available from July 2024.

Changing places toilet

Accessible toilet

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