About
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens is set in the beautiful Durham countryside. An arts, heritage and events venue, waiting for you to escape the everyday, stop the world for a while and be surprised.
Established initially as a Catholic Seminary, founded in 1808 from the former English Catholic College at Douai in France, it was purpose-built in its beautiful setting four miles from the City of Durham.
Each corner of Ushaw is a curiosity, waiting to wow. Lose yourself in the grounds, be amazed by beautiful buildings and marvel at centuries of art, history and heritage.
One of Britain’s best places to see Gothic Revival, Georgian and Victorian architecture, much of the splendid design and craftsmanship on show at Ushaw is the work of Augustus Pugin – architect for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, his sons and grandsons.
The main house and associated building is home to exhibitions, art and a world renowned library. You can take a guided tour or wander freely through corridors, chapels and cloisters experiencing unbroken peace and tranquillity. Private group tours can be arranged for those who want to know more about the buildings and the treasures they hold.
Our packed calendar of events is a great reason to keep dropping by, from classic car shows to live music, theatre and family fun; there's always something to capture your imagination at Ushaw.
You can also immerse yourself in Ushaw's history and heritage by staying in their Bed & Breakfast.
Additional Information
Take a tour of Ushaw with one of our expert guides and discover our rich history. Public tours take place Thursday-Sunday and are available to book online. We can also offer private bespoke tours any day of the week.
Our Café offers a simple but tasty selection of food and drink. For larger groups it is advisable that you make the most of our pre-order menu, benefitting from reserved seating in one of our historic rooms or cafe and avoiding queues.
Please contact events@ushaw.org to plan your group visit.
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