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You are here > Home > Things to Do > Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project

Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project

From £5.00
Market Place
Bishop Auckland
County Durham
DL14 7NR

Tel: +44 01388 743797

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About

Positioned high above the meandering River Wear, Auckland Castle was once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, and was the place where they entertained, hunted and worshipped.

These were incredibly powerful men. They were given exceptional powers by the Norman kings of England, as well as the Church, and governed vast swathes of North East England.

Auckland Castle was built to host lavish medieval celebrations and hunting parties, to entertain royalty and impress visitors with the bishops’ power and wealth. From Bishop Auckland, the Prince Bishops ventured forth to broker royal marriages, lead armies into battle and advise kings.

Over the centuries, the Prince Bishops became increasingly wealthy. They used this money to transform the castle into a palace that showed off their high status. St Peter’s Chapel is the perfect example: Bishop Cosin turned the medieval Great Hall into the largest private chapel in Europe, a beautiful space to inspire people to feel the glory of God.

Art and Architecture
The Castle was transformed once again in the 1790s, when Bishop Barrington commissioned the renowned English architect James Wyatt to create a succession of magnificent state rooms.

These rooms contained delicate plasterwork and sumptuous furnishings in the fashionable Gothic style.
Among the finest surviving examples of Wyatt’s work in the country, they form a grand processional route through the Castle to the Throne Room.

These interiors have been conserved and visitors can marvel at Wyatt’s original scheme as they explore the Castle.
Are you intrigued?

You can find hundreds of years of hidden history within these walls. Come and walk these northern corridors of power and let the Prince Bishops tell you their stories.

The Zurbarans
The Castle is also home to another family of well-known residents. Jacob and his Twelve Sons, an impressive series of paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, have hung in the Long Dining Room since they were purchased by Bishop Trevor in 1756.

Bishop Trevor Gallery
The Bishop Trevor Gallery is named after Richard Trevor, who was Bishop of Durham from 1752 to 1771. Bishop Trevor played an important role in the story of Auckland Castle, having purchased the series of paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán, which have hung in the Long Dining Room at the Castle for over 250 years.  

The gallery is housed in a series of rooms that were once Bishop Trevor’s private apartments. Designed by John Carr (1723 – 1807), who was one of the most renowned architects of the day, they were originally known as the North Apartments and look out across the River Wear in the valley below. It houses a programme of special exhibitions of fine art, with a focus on European painting from the medieval period to the present day. The displays include masterpieces on loan from private collections and institutions.  

Book Tickets

Special Offers

  • Annual Pass - 10% discount

    Our Annual Pass is the best way to discover everything The Auckland Project has to offer. Enjoy 12 months of access to Auckland Castle & Gardens, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the Faith Museum (opening autumn 2023). Save 10% on Our Annual Pass using code TAP10 to redeem the offer; available for a limited time only.

    To purchase the Annual Pass, visit The Auckland Project website

    Attractions and Activities - redeem this special offer between 01/09/2023 and 31/12/2023

    Offer link: Attractions and Activities

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£10.00 per ticket type
Adult Annual Pass£25.00 per ticket type
Child 5-15 Yrs£5.00 per ticket type
Child 5-15 Yrs Annual Pass£12.50 per ticket type
Family 1 Adult£15.00 per ticket type
Family 1 Adult Annual Pass£37.50 per ticket type
Family 2 Adults£25.00 per ticket type
Family 2 Adults Annual Pass£62.50 per ticket type

Annual Pass includes - Castle & Gardens, Spanish Gallery, Mining Art Gallery.
40% discount applies to Local Annual Pass (households with DL4 or DL14 postcode)
Family tickets include up to 4 children.

TripAdvisor

Access Information

Opening Times

2023 (22 Feb 2023 - 31 Dec 2023)
DayTimes
Wednesday - Sunday10:30 - 16:00

Map & Directions

Map Link

View Map

Highlights...

Exterior view of the Mining Art GalleryMining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandWith three permanent rooms and one temporary exhibition space on the ground floor, the gallery explores working life in the coal mines through original artefacts and artworks by prominent mining artists such as Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.

Auckland Tower, blue skiesAuckland Tower - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandAuckland Tower is the perfect place to get a feel for The Auckland Project, the stunning setting, and to pick up everything you’ll need for your day of exploration.

Bishop’s Kitchen: Auckland CastleBishop’s Kitchen at Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Bishop’s Kitchen sits at the heart of Auckland Castle, offering a warm welcome and a delicious range of tempting treats.

Durham CathedralCamino Inglés – the English Way: Walking Route, Durham

Auckland TowerThe Way of Life, DarlingtonThe Way of Life is one wondrous route: healing waters, one of England’s oldest churches and a palatial castle where Prince Bishops once resided, plus places where St Cuthbert made miracles occur.

External view of The Spanish GalleryThe Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project, Bishop AucklandThe Spanish Gallery is unique in Britain, telling the story of the Spanish Golden Age in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Saturday, 17th June 2023 - Sunday, 1st October 2023

Sin, The Art of Transgression exhibition at The Auckland Project. Sin: Exhibition organised by the National Gallery, London with The Auckland ProjectThe exhibition includes eight exceptional paintings from the National Gallery’s collection as well as works on loan by Tracey Emin and Ron Mueck.
more info

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