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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, or discover the hidden stories of Durham's UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle.

See more ideas below.

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Number of results: 53

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  1. The Courtyard and Keep of Durham Castle,

    Add Durham Castle to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1415 reviews1415 reviews

    Durham Castle

    Type

    Type:

    Castle / Fort

    Durham City

    Durham Castle is part of the Durham City World Heritage Site. Entrance by guided tour only. Opening can vary - All enquiries re guided tours should be directed Palace Green Library. Telephone 0191 334 2932 or castle.tours@durham.ac.uk.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    More info for Durham Castle
  2. External view of the Mining Art Gallery

    Add Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project to your Itinerary

    Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project

    Type

    Type:

    Gallery

    Bishop Auckland

    With 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.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Visit England Visitor Ready 2025Visitor Ready
    • 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 Mining Art Gallery - The Auckland Project
  3. Children wearing hard hats in Killhope Lead Mine in dark truck full of rocks

    Add Killhope Lead Mining Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 315 reviews315 reviews

    Killhope Lead Mining Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Cowshill

    Killhope Lead Mining Museum is temporarily closed whilst restoration works continue. Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the family.

    Dates

    From:
    1 May 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold 2017Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold
    • Visit England Code of Practice 2017
    • Visit England VisitEngland Hidden Gem 2016VisitEngland Hidden Gem
    • Visit England Best Told Story 2021Best Told Story
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Weardale Visitor Network Member 2025Weardale Visitor Network Member
    More info for Killhope Lead Mining Museum
  4. deer park auckland palace county durham

    Add Auckland Palace Deer House and Park to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 8 reviews8 reviews

    Auckland Palace 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 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Auckland Palace Deer House and Park
  5. Romans on display in the Museum of Archaeology

    Add Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 46 reviews46 reviews

    Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Much of Durham’s history lies beneath our feet. Sometimes we can catch a glimpse of the past through the unique objects that are uncovered as the result of archaeological excavations, or are unearthed by chance by members of the public.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library
  6. Entrance to Durham University Oriental Museum

    Add Durham University Oriental Museum to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 388 reviews388 reviews

    Durham University Oriental Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Durham City

    Explore Ancient Egypt and Western Asia, the Himalayas, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia all in one museum.  The Oriental Museum is devoted to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of North Africa and Asia.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Green Awards Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold 2015Green Tourism Business Scheme - Gold
    • Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction 2017Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Highly Commended 2015North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Highly Commended
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2018Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Durham University Oriental Museum
  7. Image of the 1900s Town Street at Beamish Museum, people waiting to board the tram.

    Add Beamish - The Living Museum of the North to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 9291 reviews9291 reviews

    Beamish - The Living Museum of the North

    Type

    Type:

    Museum

    Beamish

    Discover an amazing journey through time at Beamish Museum as you travel back in time to the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s and become immersed in real, living history.

    Awards

    • Visit England VAQAS 2021VAQAS
    • Regional and Miscellaneous North East England Tourism Awards - Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Highly Commended 2020North East England Tourism Awards - Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award - Highly Commended
    • Visit England VisitEngland Award for Excellence Bronze 2016VisitEngland Award for Excellence Bronze
    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Regional and Miscellaneous TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025 2025TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards 2025
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Museum of the Year 2025Museum of the Year
    More info for Beamish - The Living Museum of the North
  8. Bowlees

    Add Bowlees Visitor Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 333 reviews333 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 National…

    Dates

    From:
    14 Mar 2026to29 Nov 2026Open 10:00 - 16:00

    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
    • Visit England Visitor Ready 2025Visitor Ready
    More info for Bowlees Visitor Centre
  9. Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church














 


   
Product Details

    Add Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 35 reviews35 reviews

    Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Chester-le-Street

    The cathedral church and shrine of St Cuthbert from AD883 to 995 with attached anchorage containing displays on Roman, Saxon and medieval times.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Ankers House and St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church
  10. East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Add East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 116 reviews116 reviews

    East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Seaham

    The East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre displays the historic lifeboat The George Elmy and gives and insight into the rich heritage of the area.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for East Durham Heritage and Lifeboat Centre
  11. 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
  12. Hopetown Darlington

    Add Hopetown Darlington to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 573 reviews573 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 2026VisitEngland 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
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Museum Accreditation 2026Museum Accreditation
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Award 2026 2026Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Award 2026
    More info for Hopetown Darlington
  13. An historic steam train on Tanfield Railway in County Durham.

    Add Tanfield Railway to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 529 reviews529 reviews

    Tanfield Railway

    Type

    Type:

    Railway

    Tanfield

    Oldest existing railway in the world, opened 1725. Steam-hauled passenger trains, vintage carriages, 61 locomotives and steam-driven vintage workshop. Please see website for dates and operating times.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous WTTC Safe Travels 2021WTTC Safe Travels
    • Regional and Miscellaneous Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023 2023Trip Advisor Travellers Choice 2023
    More info for Tanfield Railway
  14. Exterior view of The Light.

    Add The Light to your Itinerary

    The Light

    Type

    Type:

    Arts Centre

    Durham

    Bringing together art and science, The Light will be a welcoming and engaging space where visitors can explore internationally significant exhibitions; artists will be encouraged to create and collaborate; and communities can gather.

    Dates

    From:
    22 Aug 2026to31 Dec 2026Various Opening Times
    More info for The Light
  15. Bishop Auckland Peoples Museum

    Add Bishop Auckland People's Museum to your Itinerary

    Bishop Auckland People's Museum

    Type

    Type:

    Heritage / Visitor Centre

    Bishop Auckland

    The People’s Museum is situated in the old Hippodrome.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Bishop Auckland People's Museum
  16. An adult holding a baby in festive clothes, looking at a light installation of a bear.

    Add AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens to your Itinerary

    AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens

    Type

    Type:

    Christmas and New Year

    Bishop Auckland

    Bishop Auckland’s AGLOW light trail is alive!  
    Walk in wonder through one and a half magical miles of light and sound. Imagine a place where an ancient palace overlooks 150 acres of Deer Park that, as the sun sets, comes alive with wonderful lights…

    Dates

    From:
    20 Nov 2026to3 Jan 2027Open 16:30 - 19:30
    More info for AGLOW 2026 - Auckland Palace and Gardens
  17. Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Add Causey Arch and Picnic Area to your Itinerary

    Causey Arch and Picnic Area

    Type

    Type:

    Picnic Site

    Stanley

    Picnic site which is home to the world’s oldest surviving single arch railway bridge.

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Causey Arch and Picnic Area
  18. Escomb Saxon Church

    Add Escomb Saxon Church to your Itinerary

    Tripadvisor

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

    TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 103 reviews103 reviews

    Escomb Saxon Church

    Type

    Type:

    Church / Chapel

    Bishop Auckland

    One of England's finest Saxon churches, Escomb dates to the 7thC and contains a Roman arch and stonework. If locked keys available from 28 Saxon Green (daily 9-6 during summer and 9-4 during winter).

    Dates

    From:
    1 Jan 2026to31 Dec 2026
    More info for Escomb Saxon Church
  19. 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 2026to31 Oct 2026

    Awards

    • Regional and Miscellaneous Northern Saints Trails Passport 2021Northern Saints Trails Passport
    More info for Beaurepaire Manor House
  20. 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 2026to31 Dec 2026

    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
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