Hopetown wins North East culture award

Hopetown has won the highly prestigious North East Culture Award for best museum or cultural venue.

The award recognised the impact Hopetown has had in both Darlington and the wider region, and is a testament to all of the staff and partners who tell the story of Darlington's pioneering railway heritage.

The North East Culture Awards are an annual celebration of the thriving arts and cultural scene in the North East of England. They are organised by Reach plc, one of Britain's biggest newspaper groups.

Other nominees in the best museum or cultural venue category included Beamish the Living Museum of the North, Laurels and The Story.

This award follows on from Hopetown’s recently awarded Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme accolade and the Welcome accolade, both awarded by VisitEngland.

Leona White-Hannant, Hopetown Darlington’s development director, said: “I am delighted that Hopetown Darlington has won the North East Culture Award for Best Museum 2024. It is fantastic that our new visitor attraction, which only opened in July of this year, has been acknowledged by the panel as the best museum in the region. It is a testament to all the hard work from the whole team to not only give visitors the best experience, but to help celebrate and promote our railway heritage.”  

Libby McCollom, cabinet Member for local services, said: “I am incredibly proud of this fantastic achievement for Hopetown Darlington. This award shows that Hopetown is excelling in its mission to tell Darlington’s pioneering railway heritage to all generations through playful and innovative ways. Hopetown Darlington is special jewel in the crown for tourism in Darlington and the wider region.”

Plan your visit to Hopetown Darlington online at hopetowndarlington.co.uk. Site admission is free. Some exhibitions, events and activities carry a separate charge. Pre-booking online is recommended.