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Trains to Darlington
Theatre, green fields, and fascinating heritage await you on a visit to Darlington
Our website offers cheap fares on LNER trains to Darlington - with no booking fees!
Trains to London and Edinburgh go to Darlington along the scenic east coast.
Only 16 minutes by rail to Durham, most LNER train services stop in Darlington on their journey from Edinburgh to Leeds and London.
Darlington station upgrade:
Following a multi-million pound improvement scheme, the new station building will be open from Sunday 17 May. For further information about the new station, including important travel information, please visit our Darlington station page.
Population
92,363
Fact About Darlington
Darlington is home to the world's first steam-powered passenger railway
Popular trains to Darlington
These percentages were calculated using our Carbon Calculator.
Things to do in Darlington
History buffs will love Darlington! Home to Stephenson's 'Locomotion No.1' - the oldest engine of its kind in the world - you can also explore buildings from the 1550s, bridges from the 1820s, and markets proudly in use since Victorian times.
Hidden Darlington
George Stephenson’s tunnelDarlington is known for its bridges but one of its secret gems is George Stephenson’s tunnel in Arnold Road. Built in 1824, its original purpose was to let cows pass under the railway line. Nowadays it’s humans who walk through the tunnel which still supports a major road. Discover for yourself the ingenuity of one of our greatest inventors.
Calling all petrolheads
Croft CircuitIf you fancy some high-speed action, then Croft Circuit, just to the south of Darlington, can provide a day of thrills and spills with races all year round. Situated on an old airfield, the two-mile long circuit sees many events including meetings of the British Touring Car Championship, British Rallycross and Pickup Truck Racing series.
Retail therapy
Cornmill shopping centreThere’s no shortage of great shopping in Darlington town centre. In fact, there are over 500 stores. These include a number of independent retailers selling fresh, local food. There are also excellent clothing shops where you’ll find something a bit different from the usual high street chain. We’d recommend a trip to the Victorian covered market where Saturdays and Mondays are always bustling. Head for the Cornmill shopping centre for big brand names.
Hidden Darlington
George Stephenson’s tunnelDarlington is known for its bridges but one of its secret gems is George Stephenson’s tunnel in Arnold Road. Built in 1824, its original purpose was to let cows pass under the railway line. Nowadays it’s humans who walk through the tunnel which still supports a major road. Discover for yourself the ingenuity of one of our greatest inventors.
Calling all petrolheads
Croft CircuitIf you fancy some high-speed action, then Croft Circuit, just to the south of Darlington, can provide a day of thrills and spills with races all year round. Situated on an old airfield, the two-mile long circuit sees many events including meetings of the British Touring Car Championship, British Rallycross and Pickup Truck Racing series.
Retail therapy
Cornmill shopping centreThere’s no shortage of great shopping in Darlington town centre. In fact, there are over 500 stores. These include a number of independent retailers selling fresh, local food. There are also excellent clothing shops where you’ll find something a bit different from the usual high street chain. We’d recommend a trip to the Victorian covered market where Saturdays and Mondays are always bustling. Head for the Cornmill shopping centre for big brand names.
Places to eat in Darlington
Darlington offers an eclectic mix of local produce and international cuisine. Looking for something unique? Meet the cows that helped make your delicious ice cream, or sample the menu at the only Two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the North East.
Creamy treats
Archer's Jersey Ice Cream ParlourAt Archer's Jersey Ice Cream Parlour, Walworth you’ll get to taste some delicious ice cream in the presence of the Jersey cows that provided it. Take a walk around the farm afterwards if you want to make room for more.
International
EstabuloEstabulo provides the flavours of a Brazilian carnival and is a treat for meat lovers everywhere with prime cuts cooked on open flames and served just as you like them. You can eat as much as you want for a fixed price.
La Vita
La VitaLa Vita (previously Otter & Fish) overlooks the Tees river and the food is as good as the views. This family restaurant provides homemade food and a big welcome to all of its guests. The price isn’t bad either for the amount you’ll be served.
Creamy treats
Archer's Jersey Ice Cream ParlourAt Archer's Jersey Ice Cream Parlour, Walworth you’ll get to taste some delicious ice cream in the presence of the Jersey cows that provided it. Take a walk around the farm afterwards if you want to make room for more.
International
EstabuloEstabulo provides the flavours of a Brazilian carnival and is a treat for meat lovers everywhere with prime cuts cooked on open flames and served just as you like them. You can eat as much as you want for a fixed price.
La Vita
La VitaLa Vita (previously Otter & Fish) overlooks the Tees river and the food is as good as the views. This family restaurant provides homemade food and a big welcome to all of its guests. The price isn’t bad either for the amount you’ll be served.
How to save on LNER train tickets
Cheap tickets
Book cheap train ticketsWe know you can't always plan ahead but, if you can, booking your travel in advance can save you a lot of money. In fact, booking at least 4 weeks ahead of your travel date can save you an average of up to 47%* on on-the-day train ticket prices!
Join LNER Perks
Join LNER Perks nowDid you know that if you join our loyalty scheme, you can save money on every trip you take with LNER? Yep, that's right. LNER Perks members get £5 credit free on their account to spend on travel as a thank you for signing up. AND all members earn 2% credit back on every single journey. Not bad, eh?
Save 1/3 with a Railcard
RailcardsLooking for travel deals? Enjoy cheap train fares and save up to 1/3 on train ticket prices with a range of Railcards.
From Two Together Railcards, Senior Railcards, and many more, there are Railcard discounts to be had for all!
Cheap tickets
Book cheap train ticketsWe know you can't always plan ahead but, if you can, booking your travel in advance can save you a lot of money. In fact, booking at least 4 weeks ahead of your travel date can save you an average of up to 47%* on on-the-day train ticket prices!
Join LNER Perks
Join LNER Perks nowDid you know that if you join our loyalty scheme, you can save money on every trip you take with LNER? Yep, that's right. LNER Perks members get £5 credit free on their account to spend on travel as a thank you for signing up. AND all members earn 2% credit back on every single journey. Not bad, eh?
Save 1/3 with a Railcard
RailcardsLooking for travel deals? Enjoy cheap train fares and save up to 1/3 on train ticket prices with a range of Railcards.
From Two Together Railcards, Senior Railcards, and many more, there are Railcard discounts to be had for all!
*Saving average based on all Standard Advance tickets bought on the LNER website and App at least four weeks before you travel vs buying any Standard ticket on the day you travel.
Related FAQs
Which rail lines go through Darlington?
Which rail lines go through Darlington?
Darlington station is managed by LNER, with LNER, CrossCountry, Northern Rail and TransPennine Express rail lines running through it.
Do you offer a student discount on train tickets?
Do you offer a student discount on train tickets?
We don't offer a student discount however, you can purchase a 16-25 Railcard and save 1/3 on train tickets.
How can I apply for compensation if my train is delayed or cancelled?
How can I apply for compensation if my train is delayed or cancelled?
Cancelled train
In the rare event that your train is cancelled, we offer full refunds (assuming you don't take an alternative train). Be sure to apply for the refund within 28 days of the cancelled journey date.
If you meet these conditions, follow these steps for your refund:
- Swipe down the page and click on ‘Amend journey’ or ‘Request a refund’
- Notify us of the reason for the refund request by pressing 'My train was cancelled' and then ‘Continue’
- Enter your details and submit your request
Already collected your tickets or had them posted to you?
If you’ve already received your printed tickets, you'll need to fill in our Change of Plans form and follow the instructions included.
Was your train delayed by at least 30 minutes?
On our Delay Repay page, you can learn about compensation if your train is delayed. For future LNER journeys, book through our website or app, then choose One-Click Delay Repay to ensure claiming for a delayed journey is as easy as possible.
