racetrack
Croft Circuit
A former World War II airfield in North Yorkshire that hosts BTCC and is known for its mix of fast straights and tight chicanes.
16 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Heighington
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Heighington
Heighington works well as a base: 5 minutes from Walworth, 35km from Swaledale.
Heighington is a town located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 1,383, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Heighington sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Heighington to your route.
About Heighington
Heighington ( HYE-ing-tən) is a village in the borough of Darlington and ceremonial county of County Durham, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 2,395. It is situated between Darlington and Shildon, near Newton Aycliffe. One of its most significant features is St Michael's Church, whichRead more
sits in the middle of a large village green. The church is Norman, except for the 13th-century south aisle and the 19th-century north aisle. A rare feature in this church is a pre-Reformation oak pulpit with six traceried linen fold panels, with an inscription bearing prayers for its donor: an Alexander Flettcher and his wife Agnes.
Heighington previously boasted a Methodist Chapel, but this has since been converted into housing. The more recent expansion of the village is in the area around Pinewood Crescent and the area around the Beech Crescent, Manor Court and Orchard Gardens, built in 1997.
A recent, famous resident from Heighington is actor, writer and producer Mark Gatiss. It is often (wrongly) claimed that his father worked at nearby Winterton Hospital, and that this became the inspiration for ideas in The League of Gentlemen, but it was in fact Aycliffe Hospital where his father worked.
The confusion likely arose from the fact that both (now demolished) hospitals lay in the district of Sedgefield and someone assumed it was Winterton. This mistake then led onto the assumption that Gatiss must therefore have been born in the village of Sedgefield (being next to Winterton Hospital), but in actuality, he was born only in the district of Sedgefield, in the village of Heighington, some miles away.
Heighington has a Spar shop and three pubs, The Bay Horse, The George and Dragon, and The Dog Inn, which lies just outside the village.
The village had a Post Office, which included a shop, next to the village green. The shop closed down and the Post Office, along with the postbox, was relocated to the village hall.
Since the turn of the millennium, a field on the outskirts of the village (on the way to Shildon and Bishop Auckland) has been converted into a football field. The site was being developed, including the construction of an adventure playground.
In 2006 Heighington was judged, by Ptolemy Dean, from amongst 11 other villages around the UK to be the BBC's Perfect Village.
Heighington CE Primary School is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary school located in Hopelands. It educates around 260 pupils aged 4–11. It has been assessed by Ofsted as providing an outstanding education.
Heighington was an important stop on the Stockton and Darlington railway built by George Stephenson in the early 19th century, operated by locomotive Locomotion No. 1. The station, which opened in 1827, is the world's oldest, and was in use until the 1970s. The building, Grade II*-listed, was in bad condition, but was restored in 1984 as an inn. The inn closed in 2017; in 2024 there were plans to renovate the derelict historical station in time for the 200th anniversary of the opening of the railway line. There is also a working Heighington station on Station Road, DL5 6PX.
Where to Stay in Heighington
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Heighington?
Heighington offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Heighington?
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Where is Heighington located?
Heighington is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.5959 latitude, -1.6179 longitude.
What is the population of Heighington?
Heighington has a population of approximately 1,383 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,383
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.5959, -1.6179
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Heighington
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Durham Cathedral
UNESCO-listed Romanesque masterpiece perched above the River Wear, widely regarded as the finest Norman building in England.
20 km · about 25 min drive
film location
Durham Cathedral Cloister (Hogwarts)
The Norman cathedral's cloister garth is where Harry releases Hedwig in the snow, and its chapter house was Professor McGonagall's transfiguration classroom.
20 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Richmond Castle
One of the oldest stone-built Norman fortresses in England, its great keep standing above the River Swale and the market town of Richmond.
23 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Roseberry Topping
A distinctive half-cone hill on the edge of the North York Moors, its shape the result of a 1912 landslip caused by mining.
34 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Angel of the North
Striking 20-metre steel sculpture with a 54-metre wingspan standing on a hilltop in Gateshead, England.
35 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Swaledale
The most northerly and arguably wildest of the Yorkshire Dales, lined with drystone walls, stone field barns and lead-mining remains.
35 km · about 40 min drive
waterfall
Low Force, Teesdale
A set of broad falls on the Tees above Bowlees, crossed by the Wynch Bridge, an early chain suspension footbridge.
35 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Heighington
- 34 kmRoseberry ToppingA distinctive half-cone hill on the edge of the North York Moors, its shape the result of a 1912 landslip caused by mining.
- 38 kmB6270 SwaledaleThe narrow dale road from Richmond to Nateby past Gunnerside and Keld, drystone walls and barns the whole way.
- 46 kmButtertubs PassA high, narrow Dales road over the moors, named for deep limestone potholes and ranked among Britain's best drives.
- 48 kmSutton BankA steep escarpment with a 1-in-4 hairpin climb and a view James Herriot called 'the finest in England', looking over the Vale of York.
- 49 kmA689 Alston to Stanhope (Weardale)A remote high Pennine road over Killhope with wide moorland views and almost no traffic; England's highest market town at one end.
- 50 kmA684 Wensleydale (Sedbergh to Leyburn)A flowing dales road along the Ure past Hawes, linking to Buttertubs and the Ribblehead country.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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