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You are here > Home > What's On > Historic Events

Historic Events

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Durham with our curated guide to historic events.

Explore living history experiences, heritage festivals, and captivating reenactments that bring the past to life. Delve into Durham's historical exhibitions, attend talks and lectures, and celebrate the cultural richness of the region. From interactive history events to commemorations at historic landmarks, discover the charm and significance of Durham's historical happenings. Plan your journey through time and uncover the captivating stories woven into Durham's vibrant historical tapestry.

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Number of results: 23

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  1. Roger Wagner The Seeds of Eternity exhibition.

    Add Roger Wagner: The Seeds of Eternity - Exhibition at Auckland Palace to your Itinerary

    Roger Wagner: The Seeds of Eternity - Exhibition at Auckland Palace

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    The Bishop Trevor Rooms at Auckland Palace will host an exhibition of the works of artist and poet Roger Wagner. Weaving together Biblical narratives and contemporary landscapes, Wagner's visionary paintings explore the mysteries of human existence.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    18 Feb 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Roger Wagner: The Seeds of Eternity - Exhibition at Auckland Palace
  2. Exterior view of Crook Hall Gardens during summertime.

    Add Crook Hall Gardens Tour: History and Literary Links - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Crook Hall Gardens Tour: History and Literary Links - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Join volunteer Chris for a guided tour of Crook Hall Gardens and the medieval hall. Learn about the history of the home, all the way back 1217, when it first appears in written records. Hear about some of the fascinating families who lived here over…

    Dates

    From:
    3 June 2026to28 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Crook Hall Gardens Tour: History and Literary Links - Crook Hall Gardens
  3. Exterior view of Crook Hall Gardens during summertime.

    Add History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham

    A guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens delving into the history of Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    9 June 2026to27 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for History of Durham City Walk - Crook Hall Gardens
  4. Large sculpture of a Velociraptor dinosaur in the lobby of Ushaw.

    Add Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Summer Event

    Bearpark, Durham

    Extinction affects us all and one in ten of our wildlife in the UK is critically endangered. Scientists have identified five periods of mass extinction over the geological record and the question is now being asked: are we in a sixth? The exhibition…

    Dates

    From:
    20 June 2026to8 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Extinction - Ushaw, Historic Houses, Chapels and Gardens
  5. The library at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens - rows of historical books and view of arched window at the rear.

    Add Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Experience the Big Library on the first Friday of every month (July-Dec 2026) as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of one of Britain’s most extraordinary historic libraries.

    Dates

    From:
    3 July 2026to4 Dec 2026
    More info for Discover Big Library - Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  6. An old historic book with ornate illustrations

    Add Light and Fire: 500 Years of Tyndale’s New Testament - The Faith Museum to your Itinerary

    Light and Fire: 500 Years of Tyndale’s New Testament - The Faith Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    A courageous man and his ‘naughtily translated’ book

    Dates

    From:
    15 July 2026to31 Dec 2026Open 10:30 - 16:00
    More info for Light and Fire: 500 Years of Tyndale’s New Testament - The Faith Museum
  7. Altar to Fortuna Redux from Binchester, a stone alter.

    Add Altar to Fortuna Redux from Binchester to your Itinerary

    Altar to Fortuna Redux from Binchester

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    Discover an 1,750 year old Roman altar in Gallery 1 at the Faith Museum. Dedicated around AD 275 to Fortuna Redux, goddess of safe homecomings, by a retired military architect from Binchester Roman Fort, this artifact offers a captivating glimpse…

    Dates

    From:
    23 Sept 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Altar to Fortuna Redux from Binchester
  8. Detail of vase with lion headed handles by Satomi Takeshiro, Hirado, 1872-90 CE

    Add Breaking the Mould: Japanese Ceramics from the Hyatt King Collection to your Itinerary

    Breaking the Mould: Japanese Ceramics from the Hyatt King Collection

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham

    Explore more than 250 years of Japanese ceramic art. Generously donated to the Oriental Museum in 2016 by collectors David and Anne Hyatt King, the Hyatt King collection comprises more than 2,000 ceramics spanning the eighteenth to the twentieth…

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2026to1 June 2027Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Breaking the Mould: Japanese Ceramics from the Hyatt King Collection
  9. A black and white image of a colliery being demolished, with the bold text which reads 'Defiant' in black and yellow font.

    Add Grand Cinema: Defiant to your Itinerary

    Grand Cinema: Defiant

    Type

    Type:

    Film

    Stanley

    Defiant – County Durham, The Miners’ Strike and its Legacy. Focusing on local voices and the testimony of those that were there, Defiant features both the situation within the county, and how wider events (including the Battle of Orgreave) created…

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026Open 13:45 -
    More info for Grand Cinema: Defiant
  10. A historical street view, a tram driver on a vintage tram, smiling at children on the street.

    Add October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    October Half Term

    Stanley

    Step back in time this October. Join us this Autumn for family friendly fun across our museum.

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for October Half-Term - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  11. Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Darkened picture of the castle exterior across the lake.

    Add Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Staindrop

    Join us at dusk for a special torchlit tour of Raby Castle. Find out from our guides about the unexplained phenomenon and reported hauntings witnessed over centuries at the castle. From the unfortunate demise of some of the castle's past residents…

    Venue

    Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

    Dates

    From:
    24 Oct 2026to1 Nov 2026Open 18:00 - 19:00
    More info for Haunted Raby: Ghost Walk Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  12. A garden in front of a historic stone house.

    Add Guided Walk: Crook Hall Gardens to the Oriental Museum - Crook Hall Gardens to your Itinerary

    Guided Walk: Crook Hall Gardens to the Oriental Museum - Crook Hall Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham

    Explore Durham on a guided walk to the Oriental Museum. Join walk leaders for a scenic walk from Crook Hall Gardens to Durham University's Oriental Museum, discovering the city's history as you go. Includes a 20 minute visit to the Oriental Museum…

    Dates

    From:
    25 Oct 2026Open 13:00 - 15:15
    From:
    15 Nov 2026Open 13:00 - 15:15
    More info for Guided Walk: Crook Hall Gardens to the Oriental Museum - Crook Hall Gardens
  13. Bayeux Tapestry

    Add Friends Lecture Series - 'The Bayeux Tapestry: Art & Message' by Richard Gameson to your Itinerary

    Friends Lecture Series - 'The Bayeux Tapestry: Art & Message' by Richard Gameson

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    The College, Durham

    Find out more about this wonderful tapestry - its dyes and how they compare to the materials used in contemporary manuscripts and more with Richard Gameson.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Oct 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Friends Lecture Series - 'The Bayeux Tapestry: Art & Message' by Richard Gameson
  14. An Egyptian obelisk on a black background.

    Add Family Activities: Into the Afterlife to your Itinerary

    Family Activities: Into the Afterlife

    Type

    Type:

    Arts & Crafts

    Durham

    Find out about the ancient Egyptian obelisk on display and create your own 3D model to take home.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026Open 13:00 - 15:00
    More info for Family Activities: Into the Afterlife
  15. Spooky scarecrow looking sinisterly at the camera at Beamish, at night.

    Add Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Stanley

    Something spooky is coming… Step back in time and get ready for a night you’ll never forget.
    Join us for a special spine-tingling experience as Beamish is transformed into The Un-living Museum of the North.

    Dates

    From:
    28 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Halloween Evening - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  16. Poster of Durham Halloween Ghost Walk, of the Durham Cathedral, the streets of Durham and Ghosts.

    Add Halloween Ghost Walk - Durham City to your Itinerary

    Halloween Ghost Walk - Durham City

    Type

    Type:

    Halloween

    Durham

    Join Ghost of Durham for a spooky walks around the Durham Streets. Are YOU brave enough? Join us for an hour of spooky tales from the amazing Andrew Ross, aka Walking with the Ghosts of Durham!

    Dates

    From:
    31 Oct 2026Open 21:00 - 22:00
    More info for Halloween Ghost Walk - Durham City
  17. The Flying Scotsman Train pulled in at a station

    Add Legendary Journey with Flying Scotsman - Weardale Railway to your Itinerary

    Legendary Journey with Flying Scotsman - Weardale Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage

    Stanhope, Bishop Auckland

    Travel behind the legendary Flying Scotsman this November from Darlington to Stanhope on the Weardale Railway with Fox & Edwards Events. Step on board at the historic station of Darlington and travel along the branch line to Bishop Auckland, passing…

    Dates

    From:
    13 Nov 2026to15 Nov 2026Open 08:40 - 17:45
    More info for Legendary Journey with Flying Scotsman - Weardale Railway
  18. Three glowing Christmas trees in an elegant room at Raby Castle

    Add Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens to your Itinerary

    Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Darlington

    Raby Castle is opening it’s doors for Christmas for the second time in five decades to showcase the castle decorated for Christmas, designed by custodian and creative director, Lady Barnard.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 11:00 - 16:00
    More info for Raby Castle at Christmas - Raby Castle, Park & Gardens
  19. RAF Stained Glass Window

    Add Friends Lecture Series - All the Heavenly Hosts: Angels in Art by Marie-Therese Mayne to your Itinerary

    Friends Lecture Series - All the Heavenly Hosts: Angels in Art by Marie-Therese Mayne

    Type

    Type:

    Lecture

    The College, Durham

    All the Heavenly Hosts: Angels in Art.

    Dates

    From:
    18 Nov 2026Open 18:30 -
    More info for Friends Lecture Series - All the Heavenly Hosts: Angels in Art by Marie-Therese Mayne
  20. A historic stone room with low curved ceilings and fairy lights

    Add Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle to your Itinerary

    Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Seated on wooden benches, at wooden tables in the Castles Baronial Hall. A 5-course feast is served with mead & wine, whilst being entertained by Ladies of the court, Court Chamberlain & Herald, with musicians, all in traditional costume.

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026Open 18:30 - 00:00
    More info for Medieval Knight Dinner - Lumley Castle
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