If you travel west from Darlington for a few miles you’ll enter the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and if you travel a few miles east you’ll be in the North York Moors National Park. So it is a fantastic base for walkers, cyclists and anyone who appreciates dramatic landscapes. Darlington will also be known to some people as the birthplace of the railway! It was on the route of the world’s very first passenger railway, and is littered with significant railway sights. Most people looking for the best places to stay in Darlington are visiting for the scenery, or the rail history, and this isn’t a very touristy town, so our list of recommendations in darlington is short.

This is a fantastic spot for exploring both the Dales and the Moors, and there are thousands of wonderful walking trails. Including one along England’s highest public road leading to England’s highest waterfall, High Force Waterfall, which is about 40 minutes drive to the west of Darlington.

If you're here for the railway museum and history, the best places to stay in Darlington will be close to the centre of town. Once you start sightseeing you may also want to visit Darlington’s Norman-era church, off the market square, and Ullnaby, a medieval village which has been semi-excavated just a half a mile from town.

The Best Places to Stay in Darlington

For a Country House Escape

• Rockliffe Hall is more a country house cum resort hotel, converted from a striking red-brick mansion surrounded by acres of parkland. Architecturally, the house started out Georgian, was improved by the Victorians, and then added to, sympathetically, by subsequent generations, until it’s now a 61 room hotel, with a a vast spa complex, four restaurants, a championship golf course, tennis courts and a gym, and a chic bar. For kids there’s an adventure playground, fun menus and plenty of space inside and out, including self-catering apartments and houses.

Best Pubs with Rooms

• Run by award-winning restaurateurs, The Devonport is a carefully renovated and decorated pub with rooms — but one with a very, very highly regarded restaurant. As is usual, the pub and restaurant are on the ground floor, and the guest rooms — there are eight — are on the floors above. The decor is a contemporary take on the cosy pub, with lovely wooden throws, just the right amount of velvet and a lovely, sage/botanical colour scheme. The bathrooms are large and stylish.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Darlington has its own tiny airport, Teeside International Airport, which is just ten minutes away from town by train, or ten minutes by taxi. Newcastle Airport is next closest as the crow flies, and is about three quarters of an hour away by road, or an hour by train. If you’re travelling by train from London, it will take you about two and a half hours from Kings Cross.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Darlington’s weather is nicest during the summer, but if you’re here to walk you might prefer spring. While it’s far from hot usually, the summer months can be quite humid, and there may well be a sprinkling of rain too. September and October are also very pleasant times for exploring the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay in County Durham
• Consider expanding into the spectacular North York Moors National Park or the Yorkshire Dales National Park
• Refine your search by the type of accommodation you’re looking for: the best country house hotels in the Yorkshire Dales for example, or the best B&Bs
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.