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You are here > Home > Inspire Me > Short Break Ideas > Summer Breaks > Things To Do

Things To Do

A host of exciting attractions, activities and amazing things to do in Durham this summer.

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  1. Replica mine shaft overlooking the sea

    Add Easington Colliery Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Easington Colliery Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Near Easington Colliery

    The site of the former Easington Colliery has been designated as a local nature reserve and has good car parking facilities very close to the coastal footpath.  

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Easington Colliery Nature Reserve
  2. Children in Hamsterley Forest searching for stick characters on The Stickman Man Trail. Credit Forestry England Crown Copyright

    Add The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Family Fun

    Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland

    Families can join a new forest adventure as the much-loved character Stick Man, based on the beautiful picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, returns to Forestry England Hamsterley.

    Dates

    More info for The Stick Man Trail at Hamsterley Forest
  3. Tourific

    Add Tourific to your Itinerary

    Tourific

    Type

    Type:

    Attraction Tours

    Durham City

    Step inside one of the world’s greatest Norman buildings, a fortress-church born from a legendary journey, and unlock its fascinating stories on this self-guided audio tour of Durham Cathedral.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Tourific
  4. Hen & Stag Parties at Adventure Access

    Hen & Stag Parties at Adventure Access

    Type

    Type:

    Stag & Hen Party

    Fancy adding a drop of adventure into your Hen or Stag do? If you're looking for a bit of excitement and competition our Dragon Boat Tournaments are perfect. For those that would like something more relaxing, join us for a journey through Durham…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Hen & Stag Parties at Adventure Access
  5. The Cafe on the Green

    Add Durham City - Churches, Chapels and Cafes Trail to your Itinerary

    Durham City - Churches, Chapels and Cafes Trail

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    DURHAM

    Stay even longer in Durham City to explore a selection of the city’s parish churches and places of worship.   Discover heritage embracing the quirky, the poignant and the charming.  Some are architectural gems.   Many display beautiful, decorative…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Durham City - Churches, Chapels and Cafes Trail
  6. Hen and Stag Parties at Prince Bishop River Cruiser

    Add Hen and Stag Parties at Prince Bishop River Cruiser to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 202 reviews202 reviews

    Hen and Stag Parties at Prince Bishop River Cruiser

    Type

    Type:

    Stag & Hen Party

    Durham City

    For a bespoke party night to remember in Durham's most individual venue, The Prince Bishop is an ideal venue for your stag or hen party

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Hen and Stag Parties at Prince Bishop River Cruiser
  7. Old Durham Gardens

    Add Old Durham Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 17 reviews17 reviews

    Old Durham Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Garden

    Durham

    Old Durham Gardens can be found less than a mile east of Durham City Centre. The gardens can be reached through a number of walks, including a very pleasant route through Pelaw Woods and provide a charming public space for everyone to enjoy.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Old Durham Gardens
  8. Lord Londonderry Statue

    Add Lord Londonderry Statue to your Itinerary

    Lord Londonderry Statue

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Durham City

    Raffaele Monti's statue of Charles William Vane Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Lord Londonderry Statue
  9. Visitors viewing a locomotive at Hopetown Darlington

    Add Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 545 reviews545 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
  10. Down at the Farm overhead site image

    Add Down at the Farm to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 273 reviews273 reviews

    Down at the Farm

    Type

    Type:

    Farm

    Houghton le Spring

    Outdoor Farm park located in between Durham and Sunderland. Lots of outdoor play areas, bouncy pillows and farm animals to see! Cafe and picnic areas available. Open March - October. Buy your saver tickets online!

    Dates

    From:
    25 Mar 2026to29 Oct 2026
    More info for Down at the Farm
  11. Young girl playing indoor mini-golf with help from two adults under colorful lighting.

    Add The Hole in Wand to your Itinerary

    The Hole in Wand

    Type

    Type:

    Adventure / Mini Golf

    Seaham

    Discover the Magic at The Hole In Wand – Dalton Park!

    Step into a world of wonder at The Hole In Wand, County Durham’s most magical mini-golf adventure! Following the spellbinding success of our York, Blackpool, and Chester locations, we’re…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Hole in Wand
  12. Terris Novalis Sculpture

    Add Terris Novalis Sculpture to your Itinerary

    Terris Novalis Sculpture

    Type

    Type:

    Public Art

    Consett

    This sculpture consists of two measuring instruments; a theodolite and an engineer's level, reproduced twenty times life size, standing approximately six metres tall. Made from stainless steel and supported on animal feet, this work is visible for…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Terris Novalis Sculpture
  13. Crimdon beach on sunny day

    Crimdon Dene Beach

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Crimdon

    With its sandy beaches, Crimdon has been a popular place for holiday makers for many years. From the 1920’s miners came to Crimdon for their annual summer holidays.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Crimdon Dene Beach
  14. St Mary the Virgin Church

    Add St Mary the Virgin Church to your Itinerary

    St Mary the Virgin Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Seaham

    St Mary the Virgin is an Anglo-Saxon church listed as being 1 of 20 pre-Viking churches in the country. Founded around 700AD, the chancel was rebuilt in the Norman period and a tower around 1300. It overlooks the cliffs of the Durham coast.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Mary the Virgin Church
  15. Roof of England Walk waymark

    Roof of England Walk

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    New multi-day walking route launches in the North Pennines National Landscape

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Roof of England Walk
  16. Ruth Robson Blue Badge Guide

    Ruth Robson Blue Badge Guide

    Type

    Type:

    Blue Badge Guide

    Durham City and County Durham

    Blue Badge tourist guide with extensive knowledge of Durham Cathedral, Durham City and all the county has to offer. Bespoke guided walks of the Northern Saints Trails, and specialist cultural itineraries.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Ruth Robson Blue Badge Guide
  17. Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric Church

    Add Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric Church to your Itinerary

    Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Durham

    The Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Godric is our Grade II listed church, conveniently located in Durham City Centre.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric Church
  18. Aycliffe Nature Park

    Add Aycliffe Nature Park to your Itinerary

    Aycliffe Nature Park

    Type

    Type:

    Parkland / Woodland Garden

    Newton Aycliffe

    Aycliffe Nature Park is located to the east of Newton Aycliffe, where a disused railway line crosses under the A167 and is accessed either via Groat Drive or from Travellers Green. The site of Aycliffe nature park is wholly owned by Great Aycliffe…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Aycliffe Nature Park
  19. Prince Bishop River Cruiser and Browns Rowing Boats

    Add Prince Bishop River Cruiser and Browns Rowing Boats to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 202 reviews202 reviews

    Prince Bishop River Cruiser and Browns Rowing Boats

    Type

    Type:

    Boat Trip

    Durham City

    The Prince Bishop River Cruiser offers cruises with spectacular views of historic Durham City, Cathedral, Castle and Bridges and evening cruises with a difference twelve months of the year.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026
    More info for Prince Bishop River Cruiser and Browns Rowing Boats
  20. Middleton in Teesdale

    Add Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale) to your Itinerary

    Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale)

    Type

    Type:

    Viewpoint

    Middleton-in-Teesdale

    Easily accessed viewing point with stunning and wide reaching views across Teesdale. Ideal spot to capture the North Pennines National Landscape including drystone walls, scattered settlements and open fell land to the far horizon. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Whistle Crag (Near Middleton-in-Teesdale)
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