Durham Castle

About

It is often said there is no finer venue in the North East for wedding receptions, banquets and other special occasions than Durham Castle. Situated in the heart of the city, the Castle, along with Durham's world famous Cathedral, forms part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Should your event require resources and facilities in addition to those at the Castle, then other University venues that can be utilised. These include additional lecture rooms, large halls suitable for exhibitions and additional bedrooms, all situated within the city. 

The present Castle began in 1072 as a simple defensive mound commissioned by William the Conqueror to defend the peninsula formed by the meander in the River Wear. Over the centuries, the Castle has been a residence of the Bishops of Durham who added to the buildings and altered them to suit the needs of the time. 

The University of Durham was founded in 1832 by Bishop Van Mildert and the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. After Van Mildert's death in 1836 the Castle was handed over to the University and became University College in 1837, the oldest of the Durham Colleges. Early generations of students lived either in University House, now Cosin's Hall, or in the Castle Keep which was reconstructed in 1840. 

The College is now an academic community within Durham University of around 700 undergraduate and 150 postgraduate students. 

From May 2023 Durham Castle will be undergoing some essential major restoration works across various parts of the Castle. Restoration works will be taking place on the Black Staircase, Norman Gallery, Great Hall, SCR and Bishop’s Dining Room. These works will impact the ability for Durham Castle to host events and conferences. Timescale for these works is currently up until the December 2023 – however, this may extend into 2024. 

Bed and Breakfast guests are still welcomed at Castle during the University vacation periods – however breakfast will be served in the Undercroft Bar from the summer vacation.

Event Durham is dedicated to providing excellence, hence offers a wide range of services which can be tailored to your specific requirements. Our world-class facilities are complemented by the historic and stunning back drop of Durham city, allowing for a truly memorable experience. With an extensive range of venues Durham can offer the perfect location and facilities for conferences, meetings and workshops, weddings and parties, residential trips and bed and breakfast. Our award winning team will help provide the perfect event and our Event Management Service is available to take care of the administration and execution of the finer details.