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You are here > Home > Explore Durham > Vale of Durham > Things to do in the Vale of Durham

Things to do in the Vale of Durham

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Number of results: 37

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  1. Cuddle the Alpacas at Hall Hill Farm

    Add Hall Hill Farm to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 692 reviews692 reviews

    Hall Hill Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Farm

    Lanchester

    Award-winning farm attraction set in attractive countryside, see and touch the animals at close quarters. Farm trailer ride, gift shop, tearoom, indoor softplay area picnic and play area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous National Farm Attraction of the Year Award 2017National  Farm Attraction of the Year Award
    • Visit England VisitEngland Welcome Award 2024VisitEngland Welcome Award
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Hall Hill Farm
  2. Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre

    Add Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre to your Itinerary

    Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Leisure / Swimming Pool

    Chester-le-Street

    25 Metre swimming pool, learner pool, swimming lessons and aqua fit. Sauna and steam room, exercise classes, adventure play area, Fitness suite and weights room. Please ring to check times as a session system is currently in operation.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre
  3. H2O at Witton Country Park

    Add H2O Riders to your Itinerary

    H2O Riders

    Type

    Type:

    Activity Centre

    Witton-le-Wear

    Embark on an unforgettable outdoors adventure with paddle boarding, kayaking, or a thrilling water bike ride at the premier water sports hire centre at Witton Castle Activity Lake in County Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for H2O Riders
  4. External view of Holy Trinity Church, Wingate
Image of the grounds surrounding the church

    Add Holy Trinity, Wingate to your Itinerary

    Holy Trinity, Wingate

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Wingate

    Holy Trinity Church, Wingate was built in 1841, just 2 years after the first shaft was sunk for Wingate Grange Colliery in 1839.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Holy Trinity, Wingate
  5. West Park

    Add West Park to your Itinerary

    West Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Newton Aycliffe

    West Park is situated next to Ashfield and Oakfield. Apart from a large recreation area it has a large man-made lake which is home during the day to various wild fowl. There are picnic benches situated around the sides of the bottom lake.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for West Park
  6. Blue slide at Broom House Forest Adventure.

    Add Broom House Farm to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 398 reviews398 reviews

    Broom House Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Adventure Park / Playground

    Near Witton Gilbert

    Fun Adventure Farm. Woodland trails and adventure activities for all the family. Farm butchery. Coffee shop.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Broom House Farm
  7. The Retreat Spa Redworth Hall

    Add The Retreat at Redworth Hall to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 472 reviews472 reviews

    The Retreat at Redworth Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Newton Aycliffe

    Set in the heart of County Durham, The Retreat at Redworth Hall Hotel has undergone an incredible refurbishment programme, designed to significantly enhance its facilities and promote an aura of relaxation.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Green Awards Green Tourism - Silver 2024Green Tourism - Silver
    More info for The Retreat at Redworth Hall
  8. St Andrew's Church

    Add St Andrew's Church to your Itinerary

    St Andrew's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Newton Aycliffe

    Ancient ecclesiastical centre. Collection of 2 Saxon crosses dating from the 9thC, Saxon interior and Jacobean pulpit, altar, organ screen and pews.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for St Andrew's Church
  9. Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Add Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 126 reviews126 reviews

    Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring

    Rainton Meadows was created by the restoration of the Rye Hill Opencast coal mine in 1996 by UK Coal in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust and the City of Sunderland.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre
  10. Picnic Spot: Waldridge Fell (cycling not permitted)

    Add Picnic Spot: Waldridge Fell (cycling not permitted) to your Itinerary

    Picnic Spot: Waldridge Fell (cycling not permitted)

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Chester Le Street

    There is no need to travel to the North Pennine hills to enjoy moorland. Waldridge Fell is an unusual landscape to find so close to an urban area but with its mix of rare lowland heath supporting heather and bilberry it makes for a particularly…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Picnic Spot: Waldridge Fell (cycling not permitted)
  11. 'Lily of Lumley' - Escape Rooms Durham at Lumley Castle

    Add Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 477 reviews477 reviews

    Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley

    Type

    Type:

    Attraction

    Chester-le-Street

    Lumley Castle holds a secret. For centuries the halls and passageways have been said to be haunted by Lily Of Lumley. You and your team are here to investigate the haunting and solve the mystery. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley
  12. St Edmunds Sedgefield

    Add St Edmund's Church to your Itinerary

    St Edmund's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Sedgefield

    St Edmund's Church is over 750 years old with a 30m high Norman Tower visible for miles, Elizabethan woodwork and many outstanding features.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Edmund's Church
  13. In Our Image Sculpture by Joseph Hillier

    Add Sculpture: In Our Image to your Itinerary

    Sculpture: In Our Image

    Type

    Type:

    Public Art

    NEWTON AYCLIFFE

     Designed by artist Joseph Hillier, In Our Image is a landmark designed to represent the industrial heritage of the area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Sculpture: In Our Image
  14. Visitors viewing a locomotive at Hopetown Darlington

    Add Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 542 reviews542 reviews

    Hopetown Darlington

    Type

    Type:

    Railway

    Darlington

    Discover Darlington's story of engineering, ideas and invention. Afterall, we changed the world from here.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VisitEngland Welcome Award 2024VisitEngland Welcome Award
    • Visit England VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2024VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Hopetown Darlington
  15. Girl looking through a magnifying glass into a bug pot

    Add RSPB Saltholme to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 497 reviews497 reviews

    RSPB Saltholme

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor and Wildlife Activity

    Middlesbrough

    RSPB Saltholme is the perfect place if you’re new to birdwatching or want to get out in nature. Our family-friendly wetlands have a helpful visitor's centre and hides which let you get up close to water rail, avocet and terns, plus a cafe, play area…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 09:30 - 17:00
    From:
    1 Nov 2026to31 Mar 2027Open 09:30 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2023VisitEngland Gold Accolade
    More info for RSPB Saltholme
  16. Singer/guitar player

    Add BACCANALIA to your Itinerary

    BACCANALIA

    Type

    Type:

    Festival & Events Organisers

    Bishop Auckland

    Baccanalia produces festivals and events in South Durham, offering premier experiences in social revelry and creative entertainment. We have loads going on from Cultural Festivals to Cabaret Nights with something for everyone.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for BACCANALIA
  17. Escomb Saxon Church

    Add Escomb Saxon Church to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 104 reviews104 reviews

    Escomb Saxon Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Bishop Auckland

    One of England's finest Saxon churches, Escomb dates to the 7thC and contains a Roman arch and stonework. If locked keys available from 28 Saxon Green (daily 9-6 during summer and 9-4 during winter).

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Escomb Saxon Church
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