The park is open 24 hours a day all year round. Staff are based in the clock tower lodge from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Toilets (including accessible toilets) are open from 8:00am until 6.00pm.

Yes dogs are very welcome at South Park. Dog owners are expected to keep their dogs on lead on the paved areas, pick up after them, and be respectful of other visitors to the park.

• Road – due to limited car parking around South Park we recommend you use the town centre car parks and access the park by foot through Victoria Embankment.
• Train – it’s easy to get to South Park from Darlington railway station; walk from the station, down Parkgate towards the town centre and follow the signs.
• Bus – South Park is accessible by bus – for more information please visit Traveline North East 
• Cycling – there are cycle paths linking from the town centre through Polam Lane on to South Park. Cyclists can access most areas of the park. We ask cyclists not to cycle in the play area or the main bowling green.

Due to limited car parking around South Park we recommend you use the town centre car parks and access the park by foot through Victoria Embankment.

Yes – there is a cafe in South Park that is open Monday – Friday (9am – 4pm) and Saturday (8am – 4pm) – Sunday (9am – 4pm) serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and children’s picnic boxes.

The park boasts:

• Toddler and a junior play park
• Multi-use games area
• Bandstand
• Skate park
• Bowling green
• Green gym
• Aviary 

See our  Darlington South Park Map for more details of all areas of interest.

The park is mostly flat and has paved pathways that are well maintained and ensures it is accessible to most levels of mobility.

Yes – picnics are welcome in South Park as long as the following rules are adhered to:

• No Cooking or barbecuing in the park – as well as being a fire hazard, abandoned barbecues can be a hazard to wildlife and other visitors.
• Using glassware – we ask that you use plastic cups and bottles where possible. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and very difficult to remove from the park.
• Playing ball games – ball games are only permitted in the Showfield. Please also be respectful of other visitors.
• Please do not play music audible to other visitors.
• Fixing anything to trees or driving anything into the ground is not permitted
• Erecting tents, marquees or other structures is not permitted.
• Releasing balloons in the parks – please remember to be careful when bringing balloons into the park, as when released they get caught up in the trees and are hard to remove. They can also be a hazard to the wildlife in the park. Mass balloon releases are not permitted in the parks for these reasons.