Locomotion

The railway museum at Locomotion sits right on Shildon's doorstep, and it's a proper treat if you're into trains or just fancy something different on a Durham holiday. The collection is housed in what used to be the railway workshops - a working heritage site where they've got locos from different eras, some still being restored by volunteers. You'll see everything from Victorian steam engines to more modern stock, and the scale of it all is genuinely impressive.

Walking around takes a good couple of hours if you're thorough, though families with younger kids might spend less time unless they're properly train-mad. The indoor exhibition spaces are well-organised, and there's usually something actually happening on site - restoration work, test runs, that sort of thing - which beats staring at static displays. It's free to wander round most areas, though check ahead as details can change.

If you're staying at Eden Grange Glamping just down the road, or any of the other parks dotted around the area, this makes an easy morning or afternoon out. The Shildon setting isn't glamorous - it's a proper working town - but that's actually part of the appeal. You get the sense this place matters to people locally, not just tourists. Pair it with a walk along the Stockton-Darlington Railway Path if you want to lean into the railway heritage properly. Worth a visit, especially if you've got a rainy day to fill.