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Heighington

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Heighington

Heighington is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Walworth, 53km from North York Moors National Park.

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, which

Read 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.

Read more on Wikipedia

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?

Plan your road trip to Heighington with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Heighington as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

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

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandTown

Worth the detour from Heighington

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

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

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

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

waterfall

High Force Waterfall

England's largest waterfall by volume, plunging 21 metres over the Whin Sill escarpment in a cloud of spray in Upper Teesdale.

36 km · about 40 min drive

cafe

Tan Hill Inn

Britain's highest pub at 1,732 feet in the Yorkshire Dales, a remote and atmospheric destination for drivers and walkers braving the wild moorland roads.

36 km · about 40 min drive

waterfall

Aysgarth Falls

A triple flight of broad waterfalls stepping through Wensleydale woodland, a tranquil Dales detour.

42 km · about 50 min drive

mountain pass

Buttertubs Pass

A high, narrow Dales road over the moors, named for deep limestone potholes and ranked among Britain's best drives.

47 km · about 55 min drive

national park

North York Moors National Park

Vast expanse of heather moorland turning purple in August, with deep valleys, a dramatic coastline and the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

53 km · about 60 min drive

Driving roads near Heighington

  • 47 kmButtertubs PassA high, narrow Dales road over the moors, named for deep limestone potholes and ranked among Britain's best drives.
  • 55 kmRosedale Chimney BankOne of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.
  • 60 kmHartside PassThe A686's grand sweep over the North Pennines between Penrith and Alston, climbing to 580m through wide hairpins with views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District fells. A celebrated drivers' and bikers' road.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Heighington.

Walworth

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km away

Newton Aycliffe

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 26,415

Shildon

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 9,976

Coatham Mundeville

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km away

Denton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km away

Summerhouse

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 km away

High Coniscliffe

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km away

Coundon

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 3,256

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence