Shildon: Discover Railway History and Trails

Shildon is a destination for anyone who wants to discover railway history not only in exhibitions, but also through preserved traces, monuments and trails. Locomotion, Hackworth Park and the historic Brusselton Inclines offer different ways to explore the history of the town. There are also car-free routes for walking and cycling, as well as activities in Hackworth Park. When searching for a holiday rental in Shildon, it is therefore worth deciding first what you want to focus on during your stay.

Experience Shildon's Railway History

Locomotion is the main attraction. The Main Hall houses more than 50 historic railway vehicles. The collection interpretation explains Shildon's role in the development of Britain's railways. Hackworth House is now part of Locomotion; contemporary exhibitions there explain Timothy Hackworth's role in the development of the railways and Shildon. Guided tours at Locomotion explore the stories behind the objects on display.

Timothy Hackworth moved to Shildon in 1825 to work as the resident engineer for the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which was then shortly before opening. In Hackworth Park, the Hackworth Monument, erected in 1925, commemorates him. The present-day statue is a modern replacement for the original. His grave is beside the path in the churchyard of St John's Church. The Drinking Fountain, 30 Metres South-east of Entrance to Recreation Ground, is also part of the local history as a Grade II listed building.

At the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Brusselton Inclines, exposed sleeper stones preserved in situ can be seen over a length of more than 100 metres. The Inclines also include preserved above-ground, earthwork and buried remains of the summit and of the eastern and western inclines. They formed part of George Stephenson's main line of 1825. The eastern Brusselton Incline led to what is now Hackworth Industrial Park, an industrial estate that developed from Shildon's railway works in the late 19th century.

Sightseeing and Outdoor Activities

When planning your visit, you should take the different forms of sightseeing into account. The historic buildings of Locomotion, Nos. 3–9, can currently only be viewed from the outside. Shildon railway station was rebuilt as part of the museum's construction and is located within the museum. In Shildon, museum history, structural evidence and the stories surrounding the railway therefore come together, without all the impressions originating from the same exhibition area.

Those who would like to include some exercise in between visits will find numerous car-free routes for walking and cycling in Shildon. Hackworth parkrun was established in 2015 and now has a large group of regular participants. Parkletics is a free fitness and health initiative in Hackworth Park. It combines the park's natural outdoor fitness equipment with an app. This allows cultural sightseeing and outdoor activities to be included in the travel plan as different areas of focus.

Choose the Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

If your travel group mainly wants to explore historical connections, Locomotion, Hackworth House, the guided tours and the traces of the Brusselton Inclines can provide a common thread. For a stay with a stronger focus on physical activity, the car-free routes, cycling and the activities in Hackworth Park take centre stage. A holiday rental in Shildon is a particularly suitable search option if you want to include these different themes in your plans and divide your days according to your interests.

When choosing your accommodation, therefore, consider the desired mix of museums, monument history, trails and park activities. In a travel group with different preferences, it can be helpful to view cultural discoveries and exercise not as competing options, but as alternative ideas for different days. This keeps your travel plans open to the Main Hall, historic outdoor areas, guided explanations or an activity in Hackworth Park.

More Destinations for Your Travel Plans

For further research, you can also visit the pages for West Auckland, Haswell, Bowburn, Hutton Magna, Tow Law, Barnard Castle, Staindrop and Witton-Le-Wear.

For the higher-level travel overview: Durham.