The town

Stockton is where the Tees Valley's railway and maritime traditions come together. Stockton was a major river port in the 1700s, shipping lead from the Pennines to London and overseas. It was also here in 1825 that the first rail in George Stephenson's revolutionary Stockton to Darlington Railway was laid.

Alongside this lively riverside setting, visitors can enjoy the bustling, historic town centre with its wealth of shops, leisure and social activities, including its own contemporary arts venue, the Arc. Festivals and events fill the calendar, culminating in the famous Stockton International Riverside festival every summer.