Museums & Galleries · County Durham
Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon
📍 DL4 2RE
Photo: Hugh Mortimer (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Get close to a 200-year-old locomotive legend
- Explore biggest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe
- See icons such as Sans Pareil, APT-E and Deltic prototype
- Enjoy festive activities including a Christmas Market
- View a delightful model railway
Locomotion is a free railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, home to more than 70 historic rail vehicles from the national collection, including Sans Pareil, APT-E and the Deltic prototype. Since 2024 it has housed a new collections building, making it the biggest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe. You can explore engineering history in the 'Cradle of the Railways', watch a model railway, and enjoy seasonal events such as Christmas activities or science festivals. It suits families, railway enthusiasts and history lovers alike. Open daily 10.00–17.00 with free entry, it's a short walk from Shildon station, and with 25 places to stay within 5 miles, it makes an easy addition to a nearby stay.
Practical details
- Open
- Daily 10.00–17.00
- Booking
- Free entry, donations welcome
From the attraction's own website on 25 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Bar
- ✓ Disabled Access
- ✓ Gift Shop
- ✓ Guided Tours
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
1 mi
1 mi
1.1 mi
1.4 mi
1.7 mi
2.1 mi
🎪 What's on near Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon
Events from
Skiddle
Sat 14 Nov · 22:00
Mode - Empire Closing Party
The Middlesbrough Empire, Middlesbrough · 16.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 16:00
Christmas Market Lumley Community Centre
Great Lumley Community Centre, County Durham · 15.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
Tess Tickle & the Dragettes Xmas Show Extravaganza
Club Louis, Catterick Garrison · 17.7 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
The Smyths
The Middlesbrough Empire, Middlesbrough · 16.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Locomotion - The National Railway Museum at Shildon into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in County Durham: an accessible itinerary →
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🗺️ Plan the drive to Locomotion - The Nationa...
🚆 Or come by train
- Shildon 0.3 miles
- Newton Aycliffe 1.8 miles
- Heighington 2.7 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page