Darlington to York drive: Best road trip stops, distance & time
The distance from Darlington to York by car is 48 miles, with a 1h10m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Darlington to York drive are the Sutton Bank National Park Centre, the World of James Herriot and the York Bird of Prey Centre
Darlington to York distance and driving time
The drive from Darlington to York takes you from County Durham to the attraction-packed historic capital of the north.
The historic walled city of York is one of the best places in Britain for visitors. Top York experiences include ghost walks, history-based walking tours, hop-on, hop-off bus tickets and chocolate bar-making workshops. For attractions, try the York Dungeon, York Cocoa Works and the Jorvik Viking Centre,
Visitors planning to cram a lot in may be better off investing in a York City Pass, which covers entry to more than 25 attractions.
Darlington to York distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Darlington to York is 48 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 10 minutes. The shortest route heads down the A167, A168 and A19. This is usually a few minutes faster than going the longer way down the A1, but not always.
The best stops to add to a Darlington to York road trip itinerary are the Sutton Bank National Park Centre, the World of James Herriot and the York Bird of Prey Centre.
Darlington to York drive: Sutton Bank National Park Centre
The Sutton Bank National Park Centre is the gateway to the North York Moors National Park. It’s in a splendid position, with supreme views over the Vale of York and Mowbray.
A series of cycling trails leave from here, from a family-friendly three mile route to a more challenging 17.5 mile mountain biking effort. Bikes can be hired from the neighbouring Sutton Bank Bikes.
The Centre is also part of an International Dark Sky Reserve. An outdoor seating area is set aside for stargazers, but special, bookable stargazing events run throughout the year.
Best stops between Darlington and York: The World of James Herriot
Thirsk is at the heart of North Yorkshire farming country, and it was also where veterinarian Alf Wright practiced. Wright was better known as James Herriot, author of All Creatures Great and Small, which has twice been turned into a hugely popular TV series.
Filming isn’t actually done around Thirsk, which has grown too big to pull off the charming village vibe. But Thirsk is home to the World of James Herriot, a museum with equal doses of nostalgia and interaction. All Creatures Great and Small fans lap it up.
Darlington to York road trip attractions: York Bird of Prey Centre
The York Bird of Prey Centre is in Huby, to the north of York. It offers a chance to get to know aerial predators better, with a range of different experiences. On a daily basis, this might mean bird handling, flying displays and eagle handling.
There are, however, some special extra experiences that can be booked for an extra fee. These include falconry displays, hawk walks and owl experiences.
More Darlington road trips
More York road trips
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