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    This is Durham Blog

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. Path surrounded by heather in Hedleyhope Fell

    Add Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Tow Law

    One of the largest mid-altitude heathlands remaining in County Durham, Hedleyhope Fell is a mosaic of heather, bilberry, acid grassland, rush pasture, bracken beds, patches of gorse and scattered trees.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve
  2. Apollo Pavilion Peterlee

    Add Apollo Pavilion to your Itinerary

    Apollo Pavilion

    Type

    Type:

    Public Art

    Peterlee

    An iconic example of 1960s public art and designed by Edwin John Victor Pasmore (d. 1998) during his time as consultant Director of urban design for Peterlee Development Corporation.   It was opened in 1969, the same year as the first manned mission…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Apollo Pavilion
  3. 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
  4. North Pennines in Autumn

    Add Picnic Spot: Rookhope to your Itinerary

    Picnic Spot: Rookhope

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Bishop Auckland

    It is always worthwhile turning off any of County Durham’s main roads to discover unexpected delights. None more so than in Weardale where in the village of Eastgate (west of Stanhope) a turning leads to the village of Rookhope and one of Durham’s…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Picnic Spot: Rookhope
  5. 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
  6. Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Add Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 127 reviews127 reviews

    Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring

    Rainton Meadows was created by the restoration of the Rye Hill Opencast coal mine in 1996 by UK Coal in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust and the City of Sunderland.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. Christchurch Durham

    Add Christchurch Durham to your Itinerary

    Christchurch Durham

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Durham City

    Christchurch Durham is an Anglican Evangelical Church in Durham, please see website for more details.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Christchurch Durham
  12. St Edmunds Sedgefield

    Add St Edmund's Church to your Itinerary

    St Edmund's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Sedgefield

    St Edmund's Church is over 750 years old with a 30m high Norman Tower visible for miles, Elizabethan woodwork and many outstanding features.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Edmund's Church
  13. Dalton Moor School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing logo

    Add Dalton Moor Farm - School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing to your Itinerary

    Dalton Moor Farm - School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing

    Type

    Type:

    Art and Craft Activity

    Dalton le Dale, Seaham

    At Dalton Moor Farm, School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing, whether you want to learn how to forage for wild food, weave a willow basket, learn more about the farm on a guided farm tour, find your rhythm at a drum circle, howl at the full moon,…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Dalton Moor Farm - School of Sustainable Living & Wellbeing
  14. Sweet Sally Cinnamon 
 artisan confectionery maker

    Sweet Sally Cinnamon - artisan confectionery maker

    Type

    Type:

    Buy Online

    Waterhouses

    Fresh handmade cinder toffee, fudge, brittle, hot chocolate spoons and baking mixes are produced by Sweet Sally Cinnamon for supply to farm shops, gift shops.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Sweet Sally Cinnamon - artisan confectionery maker
  15. 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
  16. Rock formation and beach

    Add Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve to your Itinerary

    Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve

    Type

    Type:

    Nature Reserve

    Blackhall Colliery

    This coastal site is as important for both its geology and wildlife. The cliffs and coastal area feature natural exposures of reef-limestone, set down 250 million years ago in the waters on the ancient Zechstein Sea, glacial boulder clays and beds…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Blackhall Rocks & Cross Gill Nature Reserve
  17. Garden and exterior of Blackhill and Consett Park

    Add Blackhill and Consett Park to your Itinerary

    Blackhill and Consett Park

    Type

    Type:

    Municipal Park

    Consett

    Blackhill and Consett Park is located in the Blackhill conservation area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Blackhill and Consett Park
  18. St Brandon's Church

    Add St Brandon's Church to your Itinerary

    St Brandon's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Brancepeth

    St Brandon's Church is set in the beautiful village of Brancepeth, having been recently restored after a devastating fire in 1998. As well as being the Parish Church for the Brancepeth area it is also available for use as a concert venue.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Brandon's Church
  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 - 478 reviews478 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. St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton

    Add St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton to your Itinerary

    St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Barnard Castle

    St. Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton is a place of Peace, Worship and Spirituality situated in the Heart of Teesdale.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for St Mary's Barnard Castle with Whorlton
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