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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: 16

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  1. Two people looking at the 1216 Magna Carta at Durham Cathedral Museum

    Add Magna Carta and the North - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Magna Carta and the North - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Durham City

    800 years after the 1225 Magna Carta was issued, this exhibition features all six documents, exploring why Durham Cathedral came to have them, what they meant for life in the north of England, and their continuing importance today.

    Dates

    From:
    11 July 2025to2 Nov 2025Open 10:00 -
    More info for Magna Carta and the North - Durham Cathedral
  2. Exhibition at the Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project

    Add Spanish Gallery - Murillo: Master of the Golden Age Exhibition to your Itinerary

    Spanish Gallery - Murillo: Master of the Golden Age Exhibition

    Type

    Type:

    Exhibition

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into the splendour of Spain’s Golden Age through the work of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - one of the most celebrated and enduring artists of his time.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2025to31 Dec 2025
    More info for Spanish Gallery - Murillo: Master of the Golden Age Exhibition
  3. Durham World Heritage site view from Owengate with the Cathedral's West Towers in the distance

    Add Durham World Heritage Site Tours to your Itinerary

    Durham World Heritage Site Tours

    Type

    Type:

    Guided Walk

    Durham City

    ​​​​Immerse yourself in the history of Durham by taking part into a guided tour around the World Heritage Site.

    Dates

    From:
    26 Sept 2025to27 Sept 2025Open 13:00 -
    More info for Durham World Heritage Site Tours
  4. View of the riverbanks towards Prebends Bridge.

    Add Riverbanks History Walk - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Riverbanks History Walk - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Event

    The College, Durham

    Discover the hidden history of the woods and riverbanks that form the spectacular setting for the cathedral. Explore their historic features and trace their change from defensive site to Victorian pleasure garden on this 1.5-mile-long walk.

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025Open 10:30 -
    More info for Riverbanks History Walk - Durham Cathedral
  5. Portraits of historical women of Raby

    Add Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Staindrop

    This exclusive event at Raby Castle highlights stories of some of the fascinating women who once walked our halls. From the familiar history of Cecily Neville, known as the 'Rose of Raby', to the lesser-known experiences of the women who worked in…

    Dates

    From:
    27 Sept 2025Open 10:00 - 12:00
    More info for Women of Raby Tour - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  6. A woman peering out of one the Cathedral’s secret spaces that are rarely open to the general public.

    Add Magna Carta - Secret Spaces - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Magna Carta - Secret Spaces - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Durham

    Join us on this exclusive tour of the Cathedral’s secret spaces that are rarely open to the general public.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2025Open 13:00 -
    From:
    23 Oct 2025Open 13:00 -
    From:
    28 Oct 2025Open 13:00 -
    From:
    1 Nov 2025Open 13:00 -
    More info for Magna Carta - Secret Spaces - Durham Cathedral
  7. Marie-Thérèse, Exhibitions & Collections Officer, presenting talks about the Magna Carta

    Add Magna Carta Uncovered with Marie-Thérèse, Exhibitions & Collections Officer to your Itinerary

    Magna Carta Uncovered with Marie-Thérèse, Exhibitions & Collections Officer

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    Join us for a series of free talks on the history and legacy of Magna Carta.

    Dates

    From:
    2 Oct 2025Open 18:30 -
    More info for Magna Carta Uncovered with Marie-Thérèse, Exhibitions & Collections Officer
  8. Opulent room at Raby Castle with a chandelier and paintings

    Add Slow Art at Raby Castle to your Itinerary

    Slow Art at Raby Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Staindrop

    Take a moment to slow down and immerse yourself in the captivating world of art at Raby Castle. Our new programme invites you to step away from the hustle and bustle and spend an hour truly connecting with the artworks in our collection. Each month,…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Oct 2025Open 10:00 - 11:00
    More info for Slow Art at Raby Castle
  9. Carriage pass to 'West Door of Westminster Abbey'

    Add Special Tour: Raby and The Royal Family - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Special Tour: Raby and The Royal Family - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historical

    Staindrop

    Raby's hugely popular tour commemorating the castle's historic links with royalty returns for 2025. Beginning with Raby's origins as a manor belonging to King Canute in the early 11th century, we will guide you through almost 1,000 years of Raby's…

    Dates

    From:
    11 Oct 2025Open 10:00 -
    More info for Special Tour: Raby and The Royal Family - Raby Castle, Park and Gardens
  10. Someone reading The Magna Carta

    Add Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral to your Itinerary

    Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral

    Type

    Type:

    Talks

    Durham

    Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in Britain’s legal history. First issued in 1215, it established the principle that everyone, including the King, is subject to the law and it guaranteed new individual rights.

    Dates

    From:
    15 Oct 2025Open 14:00 -
    More info for Magna Carta and its Influence Today: A Durham Cathedral Institute Debate - Durham Cathedral
  11. Two people in military uniforms - Remembrance Sunday

    Add Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Children/Family events

    Beamish

    We will be holding special commemorations at the museum for Remembrance Sunday.

    Dates

    From:
    9 Nov 2025
    More info for Remembrance Sunday 2025 - Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
  12. David Butler sharing the history of Durham Market Hall

    Add Durham Market Hall History Tours to your Itinerary

    Durham Market Hall History Tours

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Event

    Durham City

    Come and enjoy free history tours of Durham Market Hall, hosted by local historian and archivist, David Butler.

    Dates

    From:
    12 Nov 2025Open 10:30 - 11:30
    More info for Durham Market Hall History Tours
  13. The decorated Throne Room at Auckland Palace

    Add Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Immerse yourself in unrivalled festive splendour when you visit Auckland Palace's very special Christmas event.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Christmas at the Palace - The Auckland Project
  14. A visitor to the Faith Museum looking at the Neapolitan Nativity

    Add Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Market Place, Bishop Auckland

    Be dazzled by our monumental 18th-century Neapolitan Nativity scene. This remarkable Baroque créche, known in Italian as a presepe, is a giant Nativity scene staged in a true-life Neapolitan setting.

    Venue

    The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025to31 Dec 2025Various Opening Times
    More info for Neapolitan Nativity - The Auckland Project
  15. Men and women dressed in Elizabethan costume with Lumley Castle in the background

    Add Elizabethan Banquet at Lumley Castle Hotel to your Itinerary

    Elizabethan Banquet at Lumley Castle Hotel

    Type

    Type:

    Food & Drink

    Chester le Street

    Elizabethan Banquets take you back in time. A 5-course feast, with mead & wine, entertainment by Ladies of the court, Court Chamberlain, Herald, Musicians, all in traditional costume.

    Dates

    From:
    21 Nov 2025Open 19:20 - 22:30
    More info for Elizabethan Banquet at Lumley Castle Hotel
  16. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026 to your Itinerary

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026

    Type

    Type:

    Performance

    Bishop Auckland

    Step into Kynren, a live action outdoor theatre spectacular that immerses you in 2000 years of history on an epic scale.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England - 2026
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