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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. 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
  2. An historic steam train on Tanfield Railway in County Durham.

    Add Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 504 reviews504 reviews

    Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Railway

    Tanfield

    Oldest existing railway in the world, opened 1725. Steam-hauled passenger trains, vintage carriages, 61 locomotives and steam-driven vintage workshop. Please see website for dates and operating times.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 2023Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023
    More info for Tanfield Railway
  3. Chapman's Well Local Nature Reserve

    Chapman's Well Local Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Stanley

    Chapman’s Well is one of our best bird-watching sites. The vast areas of marshy grassland and ponds provide fabulous places for birds to feed and breed throughout the year. We have heron, stonechat, skylark, linnet and reed bunting. Many birds of…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Chapman's Well Local Nature Reserve
  4. Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church














 


   
Product Details

    Add Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 35 reviews35 reviews

    Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Chester-le-Street

    The cathedral church and shrine of St Cuthbert from AD883 to 995 with attached anchorage containing displays on Roman, Saxon and medieval times.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. st mary the less

    Add St Mary The Less Church to your Itinerary

    St Mary The Less Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Durham City

    The Chapel for St John's College, serving part of the small parishes of the Peninsula. Largely rebuilt in 1847, the church incorporates good examples of 17th century woodwork and a rare 13th century sculpture.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Mary The Less Church
  8. East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Add East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 115 reviews115 reviews

    East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Seaham

    The East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre displays the historic lifeboat The George Elmy and gives and insight into the rich heritage of the area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre
  9. Countryside Service Durham County Council

    Add Countryside Service Durham County Council to your Itinerary

    Countryside Service Durham County Council

    Type

    Type:

    Outdoor and Wildlife Activity

    Durham

    Durham County Council Countryside Service
    Landscapes shaped by industry, now home to nature reserves and reclaimed railway paths. Guided walks bring the past to life, events and volunteering.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Countryside Service Durham County Council
  10. Tom Keating Blue Badge Guide

    Add Tom Keating Personalised Touring Services to your Itinerary

    Tom Keating Personalised Touring Services

    Type

    Type:

    Blue Badge Guide

    Durham City

    Welcome to the Durham website. No matter how long or short your stay, please let me enhance your tours in North East England with friendly, local professional Blue Badge Guiding Services, which include Durham City and County Durham. By sharing my…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2026to31 Mar 2027

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Tom Keating Personalised Touring Services
  11. Tommy statue at sunset

    Add Eleven-O-One to your Itinerary

    Eleven-O-One

    Type

    Type:

    Public Art

    Seaham

    Tommy is a statue of a Great War soldier by artist Ray Lonsdale. Displayed close to Seaham war memorial, on Terrace Green by the seafront in Seaham, County Durham.  It depicts a First World War soldier, wearing boots, puttees, greatcoat and tin hat,…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Eleven-O-One
  12. 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 - 201 reviews201 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
  13. St Helen Auckland Parish Church

    Add St Helen Auckland Parish Church to your Itinerary

    St Helen Auckland Parish Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Bishop Auckland

    The 12thC church of St Helen. Daily Mass times: Sunday and Wednesday, Thursday 10:00, Monday 19:00, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 09:30.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Helen Auckland Parish Church
  14. Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Add Causey Arch and Picnic Area to your Itinerary

    Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Stanley

    Picnic site which is home to the world’s oldest surviving single arch railway bridge.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Causey Arch and Picnic Area
  15. REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland

    Add REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland to your Itinerary

    REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland

    Type

    Type:

    Cinema

    Bishop Auckland

    REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland is officially open, bringing back the magic of the big screen to the town for the first time in over four decades. Located at Bishop Auckland Retail & Leisure Park, this brand-new cinema offers a modern, welcoming space…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for REEL Cinema Bishop Auckland
  16. The Garage Spa

    Add The Garage Spa to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 300 reviews300 reviews

    The Garage Spa

    Type

    Type:

    Spa and Relaxation

    Barnard Castle

    The newly opened destination Garage Spa is set in an historic building, with all the luxury of a first class modern spa and situated in a beautiful area of Teesdale.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Guide 5 Bubble Spa 2018Good Spa Guide 5 Bubble Spa
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Good Spa Award 2019Good Spa Award
    More info for The Garage Spa
  17. Castle Bank Butchers Stanhope

    Add Castle Bank Butchers Stanhope to your Itinerary

    Castle Bank Butchers Stanhope

    Type

    Type:

    Food/Drink Producer

    Stanhope

    Offering: A Delivery Service

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Castle Bank Butchers Stanhope
  18. Crux Fitness

    Add Crux Fitness to your Itinerary

    Crux Fitness

    Type

    Type:

    Wellness Retreat

    Stanley

    Crux Fitness provides bespoke personal training programs created to guarantee you reach your goals.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Crux Fitness
  19. 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
  20. From left, Bryan Harris, Jack Fahey, Studio; Reuben Kench; Niccy Hallifax; Sarah Price; Paul Shail; Richie Starrs; and Jazmine Vassie.

    Trail of Discovery

    S&DR200 festival has announced the official opening of the Trail of Discovery, a new public walking and cycling route that follows sections of the original 26-mile journey of the world’s first passenger railway—the Stockton & Darlington Railway…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Trail of Discovery
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