Newton Aycliffe

Newton Aycliffe (pop. 26,000 in 2021) is one of the largest settlements in County Durham. It offers fewer activities and sights than other towns in the region, but it is easy to reach and worth a stop.

The Welfare State was introduced across Britain in 1948. An area of moorland which lay between Aycliffe and Middridge was chosen to be developed into what would become a flagship “new-town”. Newton Aycliffe was intended to be the very embodiment of the vision for postwar Britain.

The town is 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north of Darlington and 10 miles (16 km) to the south of Durham.

The A167, formerly the A1, is the main road to the town, it runs to Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne (30 miles) in the north and Darlington (8 miles) and Northallerton in the south. The A1(M) is near to the town and runs to Edinburgh in the north and London to the south, it provides as an alternative route to Durham and Newcastle in the north. The A689 is also near the town and it runs to Bishop Auckland in the west and Hartlepool and Teesside in the east.

By bus, the town has bus services provided by Arriva North East to Bishop Auckland, Durham, Darlington, Spennymoor, Ferryhill, Peterlee and Sedgefield. Town services are provided by Hodgsons service 17.

The Newton Aycliffe railway station, which is on the Tees Valley Line, has train services provided by Northern to Bishop Auckland and Saltburn. There are connections to East Coast services to Edinburgh and London at Darlington, connections to Grand Central services to Northallerton, York and London at Eaglescliffe, and connections to Northern Rail services to Hartlepool, Sunderland and Newcastle at Thornaby.

• The town centre is walkable and showcases the features of a "new-town".
• Hardwick park, in Sedgefield is just a short drive from the town.

• Great Aycliffe Way. A pleasant walk in the countryside. The Northern route is 5½ miles and the southern route is just over 4 miles. If you walk the two routes together as a ring around the town, it is 8 miles. Most of the routes are accessible to pushchairs & wheelchairs with only a few gentle slopes, although some areas can become muddy after heavy rain. (updated Aug 2024)