Delve Into Durham
Delve into the fascinating City of Durham, a place filled with history and scenery, with many restaurants to choose from and many famous landmarks to visit, Durham is the perfect place for any tourist to visit!
Locations
Whether you’re looking for food or fun, Durham has it all!
From daily guided tours of the city, to adventure parks for the
whole family to enjoy, there’s bound to be something in Durham for you!
While the Odeon itself is a great place for food and cinema, it’s centred right in the middle of some of the best restaurants Durham has to offer, from American, to Italian, to Mediterranean, there’s plenty of choice for food in Durham to satisfy anyones preferences!
Durham is home to a multitude of history ranging from many different centuries, with the historical Castle and Cathedral, many tours are also available, but there’s always the option to discover Durham for yourself, as there’s truly a ton of sights to see.
All of the features of the history tour plus more! Here we explore the wider city and uncover some hidden gems. Learn about the ‘King in the North’ – the legendary St. Oswald – who returned from exile to reclaim his father’s Northumbrian lands and establish a legacy that paved the way for Cuthbert and the Durham story. We also take a look at the dark side of Durham as we explore the prisons, executions and hauntings that add to the mystery and intrigue of the city. Finally, a tour of Durham would not be complete without delving into its rich coal mining heritage and the local people who are at the heart of the Durham story.
Durham Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, is an English cathedral in the city of Durham, England. The Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Durham and is the mother Church of the diocese of Durham. It also contains the shrines of the Anglo-Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede. There are daily Church of England services at the cathedral, and it received 727,367 visitors in 2019.
It is a grade I listed building and forms part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site.
Sitting at the heart of Durham’s World Heritage Site and occupied continuously since the 11th century, the Castle is now home to the students of University College, part of Durham University. Visitors are welcome to join our guided tours and special events.
The Prince Bishop River Cruiser offers cruises with spectacular views of historic Durham City, Cathedral, Castle and Bridges and evening cruises with a difference twelve months of the year. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser was built in 1989 in Hartlepool and shipped by road, then dropped over The New Elvet Bridge into the River Wear. Since then the Prince Bishop has hosted many events, both public and private and catered for hundreds of people over the years including weddings, hen nights and birthday parties.
Durham Markets is definitely more than just a market. The Market Hall is where history and tradition meet contemporary retail. Home to 40 independent traders, it’s a shopping experience. Our traders are knowledgeable and passionate about what they sell. If you can, make time to really enjoy your visit. As well as the Market Hall, our weekly Saturday Outdoor Market transforms Durham’s Market Place into a bustling and busy hub, as do our monthly Food Producers’ and Crafters’ Markets. Keep an eye out also for the events we’re involved with throughout the year in Durham, and other towns in the county.
The museum is situated in an historic Grade I Listed Building, close to the Cathedral, once the parish church of the North Bailey. It was rebuilt in the 17th Century and retains impressive woodwork from that period. The churchyard is now the museum garden and contains two important sculptures by renowned local artist Fenwick Lawson.
From Ancient Egypt to modern China, the Oriental Museum is devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia.
You can see the Museum’s iconic 250-year-old Silver Swan back in action every day at 2pm (and also at 11.30am on bank holidays and during school holidays) following an intensive and intricate restoration and conservation programme. The world famous automaton is wowing audiences once again after more than 1500 hours of work carried out by experts from the Cumbria Clock Company assisted by specialist horologists and clock interns from West Dean College in Sussex and Birmingham School of Jewellery alongside the Museum’s in-house conservation team.
Beamish is a world famous open air museum, telling the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s. Explore the 1900s Town and see how families lived and worked in the years leading up to the First World War. Enjoy traditional tasty treats, delicious snacks, cakes and drinks. Take home a unique reminder of your visit, shop Edwardian-style in The Town, or take a look in our Museum Shop at the Entrance.
Not only is Durham home to history and landmarks, there’s plenty of activities here too! Ranging from toddlers to the elderly, Durham will definitely have a place for you to enjoy and maybe even discover an interesting new hobby.
Discover the thrill of Adventure Valley, Durham’s premier destination for family fun and excitement. As the North East’s BIGGEST & BEST Family Adventure Park, we’re dedicated to providing unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages. Step into our world of farmyard fun, where you can mingle with llamas, pigs, rabbits, and more! Explore six HUGE play zones filled with slides, tunnels, and scramble nets, offering endless opportunities for adventure and discovery.
Durham Climbing Centre is an indoor rock climbing centre specialising in bouldering. At Durham Climbing Centre there’s a challenge for everyone from beginner to advanced climber! Located in Meadowfield, less than 3 miles away from the city centre, we are excited to celebrate our 17th anniversary in 2024. We are a very friendly centre, from the reception staff to the climbers that keep coming back – we’re proud to offer a welcoming climbing community.
With a 25 metre eight lane pool, which is the biggest across all our centres, and a small pool, you’ll be spoilt for choice at Freeman’s Quay. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, go swimming with your toddler or take part in a water based fitness class you can do it all at Freeman’s Quay. You can also relax in the centre’s tepidarium and steam room.
Escape Rooms are taking the world by storm! Escape Rooms Durham is in the heart of the medieval market city of Durham, North East England, with our latest game also taking up residence in a 600 year old castle! You and your team of up to six people will be locked in a room. You have one hour to solve the puzzles and find a way to escape. Think of a cross between ‘The Crystal Maze’ & ‘Cluedo’!
The farm has been in the Gibson family since 1925 and is over 700 acres in size. Hall Hill Farm first opened to visitors in 1981, since then many thousands of people have visited the farm. Over the years the farm has won many awards including Outstanding Educational Experience in the Pride of Northumbria tourist board and has been a finalist in the North East England Tourism awards.
Infinite Air was the first Trampoline park in the North East and opened in Durham 25th July 2015. With over 18,000 sq ft of Trampolines, Foam Pits and a huge Air Bag and 4,000 sq ft of space for tot’s, our facility is one of a kind! Our roof system allows daylight through and at 14 m high, gives an amazing feeling of being outdoors, whilst keeping you protected from the wind and rain.
Rev up the excitement at YuMe World! With epic multiplayer games like Mario Kart, Super Bikes 3, and Daytona Championship, challenge your friends and work colleagues to thrilling races and nail-biting challenges. It’s time to bring out your competitive spirit and race to victory!
Contact
Something on your mind?
Here you can get in touch and tell us if we’ve missed out on any of the City’s hidden gems, or ask any questions that you may have!
Blog
Durham Cathedral
Step into the historical Cathedral of Durham, a sight full of detail and architecture, full of colourful windows and enormous ceilings, it’s hard to feel claustrophobic in such a grand space, with a towering view of the captivating city.
Adventure Valley
With its wide array of activities to choose from, Adventure valley is a great place for families to visit, with zip lines and parks, nature trails, and even a petting zoo where you can meet animals big and small, children will have hours of fun, with perfect outdoor and indoor areas for parents to relax and keep a close view on their children.
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