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The Auckland Project
Bishop Auckland
County Durham
DL14 7NR
Tel: +44 01388 743750
OnlineBooking
Book Tickets
Prices
Discovery Day Ticket Prices 2026:
• Auckland Palace Day Ticket Including Faith Museum (Adult) : £20
• Spanish Gallery Day Ticket (Adult) : £15
• Mining Art Gallery Day Ticket (Adult): £8
Child Day Tickets (5-15) are £5 for all Venues
Enjoy a full year of seasonal access to Auckland Palace & Gardens, Faith Museum, Galleries and more with Bishop's Key Pass:
• Adult Bishop's Key: £40
• Child Bishop's Key: £15
• Family 1 (x1 Adult and up to 4 children 5-15): £50
• Family 2 (x2 Adults and up to 4 children 5-15): £85
See website for more details.
Gradings
- VAQAS VB Attraction
Awards
- Regional and Miscellaneous
VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2024 - Regional and Miscellaneous
Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025 - Regional and Miscellaneous
TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025
TripAdvisor
- Excellent331
- Very Good143
- Average32
- Poor10
- Terrible7
Recent Reviews:
- SueAlynDurham, United KingdomLovely experience and value for money
Friday, 14th August 2026We bought Bishops Key tickets for the Spanish gallery. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Took the grandchildren later in the week to the Bishops Palace to do the duck hunt in the gardens. The... Read full review - John MVisit to Bishop AuklandWednesday, 19th August 2026Visiting the Palace and gardens is very much recommended. In particular the gardens looked well cared for considering the very warm dry summer also the volunteers are very helpful and friendly. I... Read full review
- Jackie YFantastic story of the building and the Bishops who have lived there.Sunday, 23rd August 2026Auckland palace was a wonderful place to visit. The buildings are very impressive and the gardens beautiful. The story of the Bishops of Durham and the way that each room told a story about one of... Read full review
Access Information
Opening Times
| 2026 (18 Feb 2026 - 24 Dec 2026) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Tuesday | Closed | |
| Wednesday - Sunday | 10:30 | - 16:00 |
| Bank Holiday | 10:30 | - 16:00 |
* General Opening Text
Map & Directions
Road Directions
Nearest major road is A1(M). From the A1(M) take the A689 to Bishop Auckland.
Public Transport Directions
Nearest station is Bishop Auckland Station. Proceed along Newgate Street to the Market Place and palace is through clock tower gate in far corner of the square.
Highlights...
The Auckland Project - No 42 Gallery and Shop, Bishop AucklandNo.42 is home to The Auckland Project’s Art, Social History Collection and Future Plans Exhibition. Here you can see some of the intriguing objects and archives that The Auckland Project holds, as well as hearing some of the fascinating oral history interviews we are collecting.
The Auckland Project - No 42 Gallery and Shop, Bishop AucklandOur shop supports local artists, offering them a place to display and sell their work – some of which has been created upstairs in Pod, the special incubator studios created to help new creative businesses. With almost a 100 artists selling their works, there’s sure to be something to catch your…
Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandWith three permanent rooms and one temporary exhibition space on the ground floor, the gallery explores working life in the coal mines through original artefacts and artworks by prominent mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.
Auckland Tower - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandAuckland Tower is the perfect place to get a feel for The Auckland Project, the stunning setting, and to pick up everything you’ll need for your day of exploration.
Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandPositioned high above the meandering River Wear, Auckland Palace was once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, and was the place where they entertained, hunted and worshipped.
Bishop’s Kitchen at Auckland Palace - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Bishop’s Kitchen sits at the heart of Auckland Palace, offering a warm welcome and a delicious range of tempting treats.
Auckland Palace Shop, Bishop AucklandOur shop, in Auckland Palace will sell a range of quality products and gifts inspired by our collection. Add to the memories of your visit and pick up a special gift or souvenir.
The Way of Life, DarlingtonThe Way of Life is one wondrous route: healing waters, one of England’s oldest churches and a palatial castle where Prince Bishops once resided, plus places where St Cuthbert made miracles occur.
Auckland Palace Deer Park Walk, Bishop AucklandTake your pick from three new walking trails across Auckland Palace Deer Park. From a short walk around the inner park to a 4.6 km trail spanning the wider parkland.
The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Spanish Gallery is unique in Britain, telling the story of the Spanish Golden Age in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandSitting in the historic Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Palace, The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have encountered faith.
Wednesday, 18th February 2026 - Thursday, 24th December 2026
Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness - Mining Art GalleryOur new Tom McGuinness exhibition opens on 18 February 2026. In his centenary year, the Mining Art Gallery celebrates this quiet man who communicated through his art – he did not seek simply to record details of the mining industry but expressed what it really felt like to be a miner.
- more info
Friday, 16th January 2026 - Thursday, 31st December 2026
Archaeology ‘Open Lab’ - an Auckland Project ExhibitionArchaeologists uncovering the hidden history of Auckland Palace are inviting the public behind the scenes as historic finds from eight years of excavations are analysed in a new ‘open laboratory’ in Bishop Auckland town centre. Fridays weekly between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.- more info
Wednesday, 18th February 2026 - Thursday, 31st December 2026
Roger Wagner: The Seeds of Eternity - Exhibition at Auckland PalaceThe 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.- more info
