Entertainment in Darlington

The incredible Darlington Hippodrome recently enjoyed a beautiful restoration project to bring this historic Edwardian theatre back to its former glory. It reopened under the new name of the Darlington Hippodrome, having been formerly known as the Darlington Civic Theatre, and is your No. 1 entertainment option during your stay in Darlington. It can seat a capacity audience of 1,000 theatre-goers and welcomes touring companies from around the country, including West End shows both before and after their London runs.

Take a look at what’s on during your stay and pay a visit to the Darlington Hippodrome. It’s just a five-minute walk away from our Darlington Town Centre hotel.

Football fans can make their way to Blackwell Meadows to see Darlington FC play its home games. The non-league club was founded more than 130 years ago, and while it’s far from the upper echelons of the Football League as it stands, during Darlington FC’s long history, it has reached the last 16 of the FA Cup twice, as well as the quarter-finals of the League Cup. Tickets are reasonably priced, and The Quakers get good attendance at home matches, so catch a game if you can.

If you fancy a flutter on the horses, Sedgefield Racecourse is a 20-minute drive away from our Darlington East hotel. It’s home to the Durham National in October. It’s a left-handed course and used exclusively for jump racing with National Hunt races and televised events.

If you want to catch a gig during your stay in Darlington, your best bet is The Forum on Borough Road. It’s easy enough to find, just a short stroll around the corner from the Hippodrome. It hosts jazz and blues nights, books locals bands and curates an excellent guide of tribute acts and touring bands. Tickets are cheap, and the sound quality is stellar – it should be; The Forum is also a recording studio.

Another popular live music pub is The Quakerhouse, in the shadow of the Darlington Clock Tower. It’s an excellent pub and hosts gigs, jazz and acoustic nights throughout the week. Check what’s on while you’re here.