Festival of Thrift FAQ
It’s the national celebration of sustainable living! A big FREE weekend of activities designed for all the family. Showing you how to save money, be environmentally savvy and live a rich and creative life. Leading and emerging artists, demonstrations, stalls, talks & workshops offering thrifty advice, tips and tricks as well as innovative tasty food and drink. Admission is FREE. Parking is £10 per car.
There are drop-off points directly outside John Whitehead Park on the Causeway, please be aware that these are also used for the park and ride service and could get busy at times. See map for details.
The main car park is a 5 minute walk from the site and has this what3words location: smug.luck.cabin
Directions from Billingham Train station to Festival of Thrift site by foot:
To get to the Festival site by foot bear left up the footpath out of the station onto the main road, Marsh House Avenue. Turn right on Marsh House Avenue until you get to the traffic lights. Cross the road and turn left onto the main road The Causeway, walk down the road for a few minutes until you reach John Whitehead Park main entrance. From here you can enter the park on one side or Billingham Town Square on the other. An easy, flat five-to-ten minute walk.
Festival Park & Ride
For just £2 per person, you can hop on our park & ride coach, which shuttles all weekend between Dunedin House car park in Stockton and The Causeway opposite John Whitehead Park in Billingham.
Pre-booked tickets only, available here. If you do turn up on the day, you can only book via a QR code on the coach (no cash).
Bus times
From Stockton:
The first bus departs from Stockton at 10.45am, then every 30 minutes until 3.15pm. Departures from Stockton resume at 4.15pm and run every 30 minutes until 6.45pm.
From Billingham:
The first bus departs from Billingham at 11.05am, then every 30 minutes until 2.35pm. Departures from Billingham resume at 3.45pm and run every 30 minutes until 7.05pm.
Bus stops
In Stockton:
Dunedin House Car Park, Columbia Drive, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6BJ
In Billingham:
The Causeway, Billingham (outside John Whitehead Park), TS23 2DD
From Redcar
Trains run once-an-hour from Redcar Central to Billingham (change in Thornaby). £6.80 off-peak return, journey time approx. 40 minutes.
From Stockton
The best way to travel from Stockton is to get the Festival park & ride coach from Dunedin House car park to The Causeway in Billingham. See above for details. Trains run once-an-hour direct from Stockton to Billingham. £4.20 off-peak return, journey time approx. seven minutes.
From Hartlepool
Stagecoach bus 36 runs from Grand Hotel in Hartlepool to Billingham Town Centre (Asda), journey time approx. 30 minutes. Trains run once-an-hour direct from Hartlepool to Billingham, £4.20 off-peak return, journey time approx. 12 minutes.
From Middlesbrough
Stagecoach bus 34 runs from Middlesbrough Bus Station to Billingham Town Centre (Asda), journey time approx. 20 minutes. Trains run once-an-hour direct from Middlesbrough to Billingham, £4.30 off-peak return, journey time approx. 18 minutes.
From Darlington
Trains run once-an-hour from Darlington to Billingham (change in Thornaby), £6.80 off-peak return, journey time approx. 55 minutes.
From Yarm
Trains run once-an-hour from Yarm to Billingham (change in Thornaby), £4.40 off-peak return, journey time approx. 30 minutes.
From Sunderland
Trains run once-an-hour direct from Sunderland to Billingham. £9.60 off-peak return, journey time approx. 40 minutes.
From Newcastle
Trains run once-an-hour direct from Newcastle to Billingham, £12.90 off-peak return, journey time approx. one hour.
From the North West and Yorkshire
Trains run regularly from all major cities, with the Manchester train passing through Leeds or York en-route. Trains run approx. once-an-hour from Manchester Victoria (changing in Darlington or Thornaby), £72.40 off-peak return, journey time approx. two and a half hours.
From London
Trains run once an hour from London Kings Cross (changing in York, Northallerton or Thornaby depending on route), £99 off-peak return, journey time approx. three hours and twenty minutes.
Please find below information on access at Festival of Thrift. We are committed to the event is as accessible as possible for everyone.
INFO POINT
The Info Point located in John Whitehead Park is a good point to connect with our friendly staff around any access needs and questions.
BSL INTERPRETED EVENTS
Saturday
Commoners Choir 13.15, Town Centre, The Bandstand
Charity Shop Bop LIVE, 14.30, Town Centre, Slow Fashion Alley, The Catwalk
BOXVILLE 16.00, John Whitehead Park, Camp Thrift
Sunday
Talk: Identity, Fashion, Sustainability Talk, 11.00, John Whitehead Park, The Shindig
Talk: Collaborating with Nature Talk, 12.00, John Whitehead Park, The Shindig
Family Catwalk Extravaganza, 15.30, Town Centre, Slow Fashion Alley, The Catwalk
NON-VERBAL SHOWS:
Saturday
Animal Paradise, 11.30 & 14.30, John Whitehead Park, The Allotment Patch
Full Circle, 12.30 & 15.30, Town Centre, The Bandstand
Sunday
The Great Fiasco, 11.30, Town Centre, The Bandstand
The Elephant and the Drummer, 11.30 & 14.30 John Whitehead Park, Allotment Patch
Full Circle, 12.30 & 15.30, Town Centre, The Bandstand
AUDIO DESCRIBED SHOW
Saturday
TRUTH!
Arrival Time for Audio Description: 12.10 for 12.30 show start and
14.40 for 15.00 show start.
Location: Meet at John Whitehead Park at the Imagined Meadow Performance Area to pick up a headset for audio description.
ACCESSIBLE VIEWING AT SHOWS
Performance areas include an area reserved for accessible viewing, a space for mobility aids (including wheelchairs) and seats.
BLUE BADGE PARKING
Designated Festival blue badge parking is located within Billingham Town Centre Car Park, behind The Forum and in front of B&M. There will be signage on site to direct drivers, access is via Moreland Avenue.
CHANGING PLACES TOILET
There is a Changing Places Toilet at Tesco Billingham Superstore, Leeholme Rd, TS23 3TA.
Saturday, open all day from 6:00 & Sunday 10.00-16.00
ACCESSIBLE TOILETS
Accessible toilets can be found in the town centre library, public toilets near, Costa Coffee, Café in the Park & accessible portaloo unit in John Whitehead Park.
BABY CHANGE FACILITIES
Baby change facilities are in the Billingham Library & the Café in the Park in John Whitehead Park.
EAR DEFENDERS
You can borrow Ear Defenders at the Info Point in John Whitehead Park.
RELAXED HOUR
The interactive installations 100 miles of String and Actual Reality Arcade will run a relaxed hour on Sunday 11.00-12.00 with reduced capacity.
QUIET SPACE
There are some areas that offer a quieter space or activity:
- Billingham Library, town centre
- The Sensory Garden, John Whitehead Park
There is accessible parking on site for blue badge holders, there is no charge and it will be signposted.
The site is very accessible for buggies, pushchairs and wheelchairs although some of the activities are on grass. Most pathways will be wide enough for access. Please note the site does get busy! For specific access needs please contact a member of the FOT team and we can arrange assistance.
Work to the lift at Billingham train station means that unfortunately it is out of order during the Festival weekend. Northern Railway will provide alternative transport, at no extra charge, to or from the nearest or most convenient station to enable the customer to continue/complete their journey.
Please contact the Passenger Assist Team in advance, to discuss your needs in order to arrange appropriate assistance via any of the following methods:
Phone: 0800 138 5560 (Freephone, including from mobiles)
Text Relay: 18001 0800 138 5560
Email: assistance@northernrailway.co.uk
Online: Assisted Travel (site.com)
App: Passenger Assistance by Transreport (available in app stores)
BSL signers will accompany some performances and talks please refer to the website what’s on pages to find out more.
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Please ensure they are on a lead and be aware that the site can get very busy.
The programme will be displayed across the site and there will be an online downloadable programme.
Alternatively check out our Whats On page here
We will have a large number of food stalls that cater for a broad range of dietary requirements, please check the food & drink page for specific details.
Yes! There is some seating around the site, please feel free to bring your own picnic blanket or camping chairs to make yourselves a base.
There are cash points in and around Billingham town centre. Most traders will take card payments but we do recommend bringing some cash too, just in case there are any issues with the wifi when the site gets busy.
