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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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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. elvet methodist church

    Add Elvet Methodist Church to your Itinerary

    Elvet Methodist Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Durham

    Elvet Methodist Church is situated in Old Elvet, three minutes walk east of the market place.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Elvet Methodist Church
  2. Forests for Wellbeing. Image of someone walking through a pleasant, sunlit forest.

    Add Forests for Wellbeing Trail - Hamsterley Forest to your Itinerary

    Forests for Wellbeing Trail - Hamsterley Forest

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Trail

    Hamsterley

    Experience the wellbeing benefits of nature at Hamsterley Forest.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Forests for Wellbeing Trail - Hamsterley Forest
  3. Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Add Horden Colliery Heritage Centre to your Itinerary

    Horden Colliery Heritage Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Horden

    Heritage Centre with themed rooms. Mining Museum going back 100 years with 350 archives, photographs of Horden, lots of history, 1940s rooms.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Mar 2026to31 Oct 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Horden Colliery Heritage Centre
  4. Beamish Museum

    Add A family friendly historic break in Durham to your Itinerary

    A family friendly historic break in Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Driving Route

    Looking for a historic break full of fun, facts and fantasy with the kids? Look no further than a family-friendly historic break in Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for A family friendly historic break in Durham
  5. Blue slide at Broom House Forest Adventure.

    Add Broom House Forest Adventure to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 396 reviews396 reviews

    Broom House Forest Adventure

    Type

    Type:

    Attraction

    Near Witton Gilbert

    The Forest Adventure is an action packed family day out. Explore acres of green, leafy woodland, enjoy some fresh air whilst spending a few hours outdoors with family and friends.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Broom House Forest Adventure
  6. External view of Holy Trinity Church, Wingate
Image of the grounds surrounding the church

    Add Holy Trinity, Wingate to your Itinerary

    Holy Trinity, Wingate

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Wingate

    Holy Trinity Church, Wingate was built in 1841, just 2 years after the first shaft was sunk for Wingate Grange Colliery in 1839.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Holy Trinity, Wingate
  7. Grand Finale all cast of Kynren view from the tribune

    Add Kynren - An Epic Tale of England to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 2393 reviews2393 reviews

    Kynren - An Epic Tale of England

    Type

    Type:

    Event Venue

    Bishop Auckland

    Travel through 2,000 years of history in a single unforgettable evening! Watch as legends come to life – Vikings storm ashore, battles rage, and heroes rise beneath a sky ablaze with magic and fire.

    Dates

    From:
    18 July 2026to12 Sept 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Kynren - An Epic Tale of England
  8. Crowds of people enjoying the Durham Fringe Festival on Palace Green, Durham City.

    Add Durham Fringe Festival to your Itinerary

    Durham Fringe Festival

    Type

    Type:

    Festival & Events Organisers

    Durham

    The 2026 Durham Fringe Festival will return 29th July - 2nd August.  The North East's biggest recognised fringe festival – featuring the best in dance, drama, magic, music, poetry, stand-up comedy and more. 

    Dates

    From:
    29 July 2026to2 Aug 2026
    More info for Durham Fringe Festival
  9. Visitors viewing a locomotive at Hopetown Darlington

    Add Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 534 reviews534 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. Two children playing on wooden sculpture.

    Add Magical Waterfall Woods - High Force to your Itinerary

    Magical Waterfall Woods - High Force

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Trail

    Forest in Teesdale

    A new exploratory trail has been introduced at this local natural landmark to encourage children to engage with nature and see the benefits of outdoor play.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Magical Waterfall Woods - High Force
  11. Girl looking through a magnifying glass into a bug pot

    Add RSPB Saltholme to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 496 reviews496 reviews

    RSPB Saltholme

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Middlesbrough

    RSPB Saltholme is the perfect place if you’re new to birdwatching or want to get out in nature. Our family-friendly wetlands have a helpful visitor's centre and hides which let you get up close to water rail, avocet and terns, plus a cafe, play area…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2026to31 Oct 2026Open 09:30 - 17:00
    From:
    1 Nov 2026to31 Mar 2027Open 09:30 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2023VisitEngland Gold Accolade
    More info for RSPB Saltholme
  12. 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
  13. Waterfall at Gibson's Cave, situated nearby to Bowlees Visitor Centre

    Add Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 332 reviews332 reviews

    Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Routes

    Newbiggin

    Centuries ago Viking invaders and settlers left their mark in the local dialect words of the Durham Dales. The Old Norse word “foss” referred to a waterfall and still it echoes down the ages in the modern word “force”. Close to Bowlees Visitor…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Bowlees Visitor Centre to Gibsons Cave
  14. St Giles Church Durham City

    Add St Giles Church to your Itinerary

    St Giles Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Gilesgate, Durham

    St. Giles’ has been a place for people to meet and worship for over 900 years. See website for further information about the life of our church, from regular services to special events.  

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Giles Church
  15. Singer/guitar player

    Add BACCANALIA to your Itinerary

    BACCANALIA

    Type

    Type:

    Festival & Events Organisers

    Bishop Auckland

    Baccanalia produces festivals and events in South Durham, offering premier experiences in social revelry and creative entertainment. We have loads going on from Cultural Festivals to Cabaret Nights with something for everyone.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for BACCANALIA
  16. Closeup of Ken Bradshaw smiling.
    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 39 reviews39 reviews

    Ken Bradshaw - North East Guided Tours

    Type

    Type:

    Blue Badge Guide

    including Durham City and County Durham,

    I am very excited to be able to show you the city and its surroundings using my Blue Badge qualification.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Ken Bradshaw - North East Guided Tours
  17. Durham Cathedral, trees river

    Add The Northern Saints Trails to your Itinerary

    The Northern Saints Trails

    Type

    Type:

    Walking Route

    The Northern Saints Trails, based on ancient pilgrim routes, position the North East as the ‘Christian Crossroads of the British Isles’, and bring the fascinating stories of the region’s Saints to life. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for The Northern Saints Trails
  18. Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre

    Add Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre to your Itinerary

    Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre is small building of architectural beauty situated in Wheatley Hill cemetery. It houses a permanent exhibition of colliery village life.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre
  19. 'Lily of Lumley' - Escape Rooms Durham at Lumley Castle

    Add Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 476 reviews476 reviews

    Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley

    Type

    Type:

    Attraction

    Chester-le-Street

    Lumley Castle holds a secret. For centuries the halls and passageways have been said to be haunted by Lily Of Lumley. You and your team are here to investigate the haunting and solve the mystery. 

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Escape Rooms Durham - Lily of Lumley
  20. Durham City World Heritage Site
    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 205 reviews205 reviews

    Newcastle Tour Company

    Type

    Type:

    Guiding Company

    including Durham City and County Durham,

    Discover our award-winning tours to North East England - explore Newcastle, Durham, Hadrian's Wall , Alnwick Castle, Holy Island or Northumberland National Park with us!

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Newcastle Tour Company
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