Locomotion visual story

This visual story provides images and text to help you prepare for your visit to Locomotion.

You can also explore our museum collection online.

Before you arrive

Opening times and ticket booking

The museum is open every day, except for 24–26 December.

In summer, opening hours are 10.00–17.00 (last entry 16.40).

In winter, opening hours are 10.00–16.00 (last entry 15.40).

You do not need to book a ticket before coming.

Quiet times

The museum tends to be quieter on weekdays and at the end of the day.

There are tannoy announcements through the day, giving visitors information on different activities taking place.

Our workshop is located in the back corner of Main Hall—it can sometimes be noisier in this area.

A locomotive being restored in a workshop

Getting here

Key transport routes

By car

If you're using a satnav, enter DL4 2RE for the main car park. Follow the access road—the car park is the last turn on the left.

To reach the entrance to Main Hall from the car park, please follow the pedestrian signs along the safe walking routes at the bottom of the car park.

Accessible parking is available in the yellow bays. There are two areas available. One is straight ahead as you enter the car park and one is as you turn left after entering the car park. The accessible parking to the left has the shortest safe walking route to our buildings. The shortest walking route to Main Hall is approximately 142 metres/466 feet and the longest is approximately 213 metres/699 feet. The shortest walking route to New Hall is approximately 109 metres/358 feet and the longest is approximately 194 metres/636 feet. The accessible parking is between a 2 and 6 minute walk from our buildings.

Visitors with limited mobility can be dropped off/picked up by the side of Main Hall. To access this area, follow the road straight ahead on entering the car park, into the deliveries only area at the side of Main Hall. Please note there is no parking available in this area as it is for drop off/pick up only.

All our parking is free of charge.

There is work taking place to complete some landscaping and lighting as part of our site development.

Car park entrance:

Car park entrance looking left:

Accessible parking and safe walking route:

Safe walking route:

By train

The museum is a 10–15 minute walk from Shildon railway station, served by Northern Rail trains from Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

By bus

There are regular bus services to Shildon from Bishop Auckland and Darlington. Arriva bus number 1 (from Darlington) and number 5 (from Bishop Auckland) stop on Dale Road, just outside Locomotion.

A road nearby Locomotion with a bus stop

By bicycle

If you cycle to Locomotion, there are cycle racks outside the entrance to Main Hall.

When you arrive

Museum entrance(s)

This is the entrance to Main Hall. There may be a small queue outside.

If you can't wait in the queue, speak to a member of staff and they will be able to support you.

Welcome Desk

There is a Welcome Desk by the entrance door. A member of staff will be able to help answer any questions.

This is the entrance to New Hall.

Around the museum

Key resources

At the Welcome Desk, you can borrow:

Wheelchairs

They can be booked in advance. To do this, please email or call the Contact Centre.

Walk-rest seats

Sensory packs, including ear defenders

Explorer backpacks

You can also pick up:

Site map

Activity trails

Learning areas

There are areas for object handling and craft activities set up around the museum building.

Play areas

The museum has indoor and outdoor play areas.

Taking a break

Bathrooms

Bathrooms for visitors are now available by the café, and near the office at the rear of Main Hall.

This sign shows where the toilets are.

The exit to the toilets.

This sign shows which is the accessible toilet.

There is a Changing Places toilet in Main Hall. This is an accessible toilet with more space and equipment for people who need more help with personal care.

A Changing Places room viewed through a doorway

An accessible bathroom can also be found in New Hall.

Quiet space

If you need to take a break or would like a quiet space in the museum building, please ask a member of staff to help you.

Café

You can buy food and drinks at the café, located near the entrance door of Main Hall.

Picnic tables

If you prefer to bring your own food and drinks, there are indoor picnic tables in Main Hall and outdoor picnic areas for you to use.

Outdoor areas

The museum site is partially open-air and there are outdoor paths up to 1km in length to reach the historic buildings.

Shop

You can buy gifts and souvenirs from the shop, located near the exit door in Main Hall.

The shop also includes a railway modelling section, with some higher value items. For more information on our railway modelling range, please visit Welcome – Locomotion Models.

When you're ready to leave

Exit

The exit of Main Hall is located near the entrance. If you need a quieter route out of the museum, please ask a member of staff.

In New Hall, please leave through the same door that you used to enter.

In an emergency

Announcement

In an emergency, there may be an announcement saying: "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. It has become necessary to evacuate the building."

This means we need to leave the building quickly and calmly through one of the fire exits. A member of staff will direct you.

We wait next to the green sign on the fence opposite the Main Hall entrance. Do not go back inside until a member of staff tells you that it is safe to do so.

First aid

If you need any first aid, please ask a member of staff and they will help you. We also have a defibrillator.