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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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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > Attractions > Hands on History

Get hands on with history

The past comes to life in Durham. Get hands-on with history at the award-winning Beamish, discover the hidden stories of Durham's UNESCO Wrold Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle, or don a hard hat and head down the mine at Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum.

See more ideas below.

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Number of results: 55

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  1. A gold cross pendant with arms inlaid with precious stones.

    Add Durham Cathedral Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 7060 reviews7060 reviews

    Durham Cathedral Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Cathedral / Minister

    Durham City

    Explore 2000 years of the North East’s history, culture and faith at Durham Cathedral Museum. Step into the octagonal Great Kitchen and get up close to iconic symbols of Durham, including the Sanctuary Ring and St Cuthbert’s Pectoral Cross.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Durham Cathedral Museum
  2. Auckland Tower, blue skies

    Add Auckland Tower - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Auckland Tower - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Bishop Auckland

    Auckland 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.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Feb 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Auckland Tower - The Auckland Project
  3. External image of Auckland Castle

    Add The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 436 reviews436 reviews

    The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Bishop Auckland

    The Auckland Project is unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries, gardens and parkland in Bishop Auckland, at the heart of County Durham.

    Dates

    More info for The Auckland Project
  4. Lord Londonderry Statue

    Add Lord Londonderry Statue to your Itinerary

    Lord Londonderry Statue

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Durham City

    Raffaele Monti's statue of Charles William Vane Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Lord Londonderry Statue
  5. view of the exterior of The Faith Museum.

    Add The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Bishop Auckland

    Sitting in the historic Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Castle, The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have…

    Dates

    From:
    7 Oct 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for The Faith Museum - The Auckland Project
  6. 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 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre
  7. A line of tractors at Beamish Museum.

    Add Tractor Gathering to your Itinerary

    Tractor Gathering

    Type

    Type:

    Show / Display

    Beamish

    See a selection of traditional tractors gather at the museum.

    Dates

    From:
    14 Oct 2023to15 Oct 2023Open 10:00 - 17:00
    More info for Tractor Gathering
  8. Finchale Priory

    Add Finchale Priory to your Itinerary

    Finchale Priory

    Type

    Type:

    Abbey / Priory

    Durham City

    The very extensive remains of a 13thC priory, founded on the site of a retired pirate's hermitage.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Finchale Priory
  9. Bowes Castle

    Add Bowes Castle to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 59 reviews59 reviews

    Bowes Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Barnard Castle

    The impressive ruins of Henry II's 12thC tower keep, set within the earthworks of a Roman fort guarding the strategic Stainmore Pass over the Pennines.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Bowes Castle
  10. Steam Engine at Locomotion

    Add Locomotion to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1161 reviews1161 reviews

    Locomotion

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Shildon

    At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze 2014North East England Tourism Awards - Tourism Event of the Year - Bronze
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2018Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for Locomotion
  11. The Witham lit up at night

    Add The Witham to your Itinerary

    The Witham

    Type

    Type:

    Arts Centre

    Barnard Castle

    The Witham is a community venue for theatre, music, art and social events, facilities range from the architecturally award-winning café bar to a fully-renovated Victorian music hall.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    More info for The Witham
  12. Durham Mining Museum

    Add Durham Mining Museum to your Itinerary

    Durham Mining Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Spennymoor

    Spennymoor Town Hall has it’s dedicated memorial to the works and lives lost during the mining period across County Durham. Events cover mining in the Northern part of England i.e. County Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and the…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Durham Mining Museum
  13. Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery

    Add Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery to your Itinerary

    Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery

    Type

    Type:

    Gallery

    Spennymoor

    The Gallery houses a permanent collection of art, including paintings by Norman Cornish, as well as being host to at least six exhibitions a year.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times
    More info for Spennymoor Town Hall Bob Abley Art Gallery
  14. Bowlees

    Add Bowlees Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 317 reviews317 reviews

    Bowlees Visitor Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Newbiggin

    Situated amidst stunning woodland, near to Low and High Force waterfalls and surrounded by rolling fields that boast some of the best hay meadows in England, Bowlees Visitor Centre has all you need to make your visit to the North Pennines Area of…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Gold 2016North East England Tourism Awards - Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Gold
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2019TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
    More info for Bowlees Visitor Centre
  15. Image of an information board showing Durham Cathedral and text describing the World Heritage Site at Palace Green Library.

    Add World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 130 reviews130 reviews

    World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Durham City

    Providing a perfect introduction to the Durham World Heritage Site for all ages, the visitor centre is the gateway to discovering what it is that makes Durham so significant, and what there is to see and do around the peninsula.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Open 10:00 - 17:00

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020 2020TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award 2020
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for World Heritage Site Visitor Centre at Palace Green Library
  16. deer park auckland castle county durham

    Add Auckland Castle Deer House and Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 3 reviews3 reviews

    Auckland Castle Deer House and Park

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Bishop Auckland

    A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023
    More info for Auckland Castle Deer House and Park
  17. Ruins at Binchester Roman Fort

    Add Binchester Roman Fort to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 121 reviews121 reviews

    Binchester Roman Fort

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Bishop Auckland

    Remains of Commandant's house and neighbouring bath-house containing one of the best preserved examples of a hypocaust (underfloor heating system) in the whole of Britain.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2023to31 Oct 2023Open 10:00 - 16:00
    More info for Binchester Roman Fort
  18. Ushaw Historic House and Gardens

    Add Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 179 reviews179 reviews

    Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Historic House / Palace

    Durham

    Ushaw is set in the beautiful Durham countryside and houses architectural gems by Augustus Pugin and his followers. This amazing venue offers a wide variety of activities, events and exhibitions - something for all ages!

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2023to22 Dec 2023Open 11:00 - 16:00

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
  19. external image of Durham Town Hall

    Add Durham Town Hall to your Itinerary

    Durham Town Hall

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Durham City

    The Town Hall has been central to life in Durham city for more than 650 years.  Learn about the powerful Prince Bishops, the evolution of local government and the historic and ongoing roles of the Mayor and Mayor’s Bodyguard.  Since the 14th Century…

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2023to31 Dec 2023Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport

    Indicative Availability

    Book Durham Town Hall Online (opens in a new window)

    More info for Durham Town Hall
  20. Beaurepaire Manor House

    Add Beaurepaire Manor House to your Itinerary

    Beaurepaire Manor House

    Type

    Type:

    Historic Site

    Durham

    Ruins of a medieval manor house used as a medieval country retreat for the Priors of Durham. Dates from mid 13th century. .

    Dates

    From:
    1 Apr 2023to31 Oct 2023

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Beaurepaire Manor House
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