[1] The main road through the town is the A68, which starts in Darlington and goes on north, ending near Dalkeith, just south-east of Edinburgh.

The town is mentioned in Mark Knopfler's song "Hill Farmer's Blues" from his album The Ragpicker's Dream.

The name "Tow Law" is from the Old English tot hlaw meaning "lookout mound," the name of a house which stood there before the iron works and the village were built.

[4] There was rapid growth in the mid 19th century after the Weardale Iron and Coal Company was established here in 1845.

During the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, MAFF buried diseased animals at the former Inkerman Pit site.