Best rated first · Darlington

Best rated care homes in Darlington (2026)

25 of the 29 care homes in Darlington with a CQC rating are rated Good or Outstanding. Here they are, best first: Outstanding, then Good, with the most recently inspected ahead. Nobody pays to be on this list.

Data: the regulator's register · Updated 27 October 2026

At a glance

  • Darlington has 32, and 86% of the inspected ones reach Good or above.
  • 2 rated Outstanding; 4 rated Requires improvement or Inadequate.
  • Inspected within 24 months: 21%.
  • Private payers: about £1,230 a week (our model).

To cite: "Best rated care homes in Darlington (2026)" (Oct 2026), thecarepanel.co.uk.

The 24 highest rated care homes in Darlington

Sorted by overall verdict, recent ones ahead. Our method. The first 24 of 25 are shown.

  1. Clervaux Trust Darlington · Residential · 3 beds Good
  2. Riverside View Care Home Darlington · Residential · 59 beds · Dementia Good
  3. Springfield Care Home Limited Darlington · Residential · 45 beds · Dementia Good
  4. Elderwood Residential Home Darlington · Residential · 40 beds · Dementia Good
  5. Grosvenor Park Care Home Darlington · Residential · 61 beds · Dementia Good
  6. Hollyhurst Darlington · Nursing · 22 beds Good
  7. Middleton Lodge Darlington · Residential · 10 beds Good
  8. North Park Darlington · Residential · 60 beds · Dementia Good
  9. Oak Lodge Darlington · Residential · 28 beds · Dementia Good
  10. St John of God Care Services Lindisfarne Darlington · Residential · 13 beds Good
  11. Station Road Darlington · Residential · 3 beds Good
  12. The Lawns Care Home Darlington · Residential · 62 beds · Dementia Good
  13. Ventress Hall Care Home Darlington · Nursing · 106 beds · Dementia Good
  14. Willow Green Care Home Darlington · Nursing · 63 beds · Dementia Good
  15. Wilton House Nursing Home Darlington · Nursing · 37 beds · Dementia Good
  16. Bewick House Darlington · Residential · 6 beds Outstanding
  17. Darlington Manor Darlington · Residential · 60 beds · Dementia Good
  18. Eden Cottage Care Home Darlington · Residential · 26 beds · Dementia Good
  19. Holicote Darlington · Residential · 5 beds Good
  20. Hundens Park Darlington · Nursing · 49 beds · Dementia Good
  21. Middleton Hall Retirement Village Darlington · Residential · 90 beds Good
  22. Moorlands Residential Care Home Darlington · Residential · 19 beds Good
  23. The Avenue Darlington · Residential · 3 beds Outstanding
  24. The Grange Darlington · Residential · 74 beds · Dementia Good

By town

Care in Darlington: the local figures

In Darlington, 21% of rated care homes have a rating from the past two years, and the median rating dates from 45 months ago (England: 47). By CQC registrations, Cygnet (OE) Limited is the biggest operator in Darlington (3 services: 3 care homes). After that comes Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited, with 2.

1,306 care home beds are registered across 32 homes in Darlington, a median of 41 beds per home. In Darlington, CQC has published 5 ratings in the past 12 months; of those, 1 was first-ever ratings; the newest is from 8 October 2026.

3 of 29 care homes are rated Outstanding for Responsive, a higher share than for any other area. Outstanding: 2. Requires improvement or Inadequate: 4, or 14% of rated care homes in Darlington; England: 17%.

Figures: CQC register, Oct 2026.

Checks before choosing

Grades never tell the whole story. Check when the inspection happened, read what it found on safety and management, then compare at least a couple of providers question by question. Questions to ask: printable list.

Darlington Borough Council will assess needs at no charge, no matter what savings you have, and may share the cost if capital is less than £23,250. Who pays for care in Darlington · The cost of care in Darlington

Free download

A 40-point checklist for comparing care homes

Forty questions on staffing, daily life, rooms, fees and the contract, laid out so you can compare three homes.

So providers can call you back with prices and availability, often the same day.

Your questions

Which care homes in Darlington are rated Outstanding?

The regulator gives its top grade to 2 local care homes: Bewick House, The Avenue.

How well rated are care homes in Darlington?

Good or Outstanding: 25 of 29 (86%). Not yet inspected: 3.

How much do care homes cost in Darlington?

Around £1,230 a week for private payers, on our model; treat it as a guide rather than a quote, and get written prices. With capital below £23,250, the council may contribute once it has assessed finances.

Can providers pay to be listed higher?

First by the regulator's overall grade, then by inspection date, with Outstanding grades over five years old placed alongside Good. Payment plays no part.

More for Darlington

Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.

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