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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library

Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library

Palace Green Library
Palace Green
Durham City
County Durham
DH1 3RN

Tel: +44 0191 334 2932

Email

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Add Museum of Archaeology at Palace Green Library to your Itinerary

Romans on display in the Museum of Archaeology
  • Romans on display in the Museum of Archaeology
  • Romans on display in the Museum of Archaeology
  • Objects from Piercebridge on display in the Museum of Archaeology
  • Prehistory on display at the Museum of Archaeology
  • Replica skulls in the Museum of Archaeology
  • Bronze Age hoard on display in the Museum of Archaeology

About

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.

In this gallery, we explore artefacts that span 250,000 years of history - from Prehistory to the Romans.

The objects on display range from everyday items - such as dishes, coins, and glass bottles - to the rare and beautiful. Highlights include spectacular metalwork from the Bronze Age, Roman treasures retrieved from a murky riverbed, and the cremated remains of Durham City’s earliest known resident.

The main focus of our collections is the archaeology of North East England but the collection also includes national and international material, much of it excavated by members of Durham University’s Department of Archaeology.

Learn more about the history of the museum 

 

Book Tickets

Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Admission freeFree

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

3.7 of 5 stars
46 reviews
    • Excellent
      12
    • Very Good
      17
    • Average
      13
    • Poor
      0
    • Terrible
      4

    Recent Reviews:

    • Lady_Snowhawk
      Greater London, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Friends getaway
      Absolutely wonderful experience
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 27th August 2022
      Went with another student friend during the summer, was expecting a lot of people but was actually very quiet and had a wonderful time. There was a lovely small exhibit upstairs with Durham's... Read full review
    • ArinAnnan
      Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Solo travel
      Interesting but very small
      3 of 5 stars
      Sunday, 16th October 2022
      This museum is right next to the cathedral and castle so it's worth going in if you're in the area. However, it's very small and fills only one room. I was in for about 30mins max. Definitely not... Read full review
    • Ryan P
      Edinburgh, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Couples
      Small
      3 of 5 stars
      Friday, 18th April 2025
      Is a nice wee collection, enjoyed the diploma in particular however it was a lot smaller then I thought it would be, took 20 mins. Read full review
    Write a review
    © TripAdvisor 2025

    Facilities

    Accessibility

    • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
    • Guide Dogs Permitted
    • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

    Provider Features

    • In town/city centre
    • Indoor Attraction

    Target Markets

    • Family Fun
    • Marketed Towards Families
    • Marketed Towards Senior Citizens

    Tours and Demonstrations

    • Educational Visits Accepted

    Access Information

    Opening Times

    2025 (1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025)
    DayTimes
    Monday - Sunday10:00 - 17:00

    * From April to October we are open until 7pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.
    During December we are closed from 23rd until 26th, open from 27th until 30th, 11am-4pm, and then closed again December 31st and January 1st .

    facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeology.museum.durham
    instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archaeology.museum.durham/?hl=en

    Map & Directions

    Map Link

    View Map

    Road Directions

    Durham City is served by three Park and Ride sites on the key routes into the city. These are situated at Belmont, Sniperley and Howlands. A direct bus service runs every 10 minutes to the city centre from each site.

    Public Transport Directions

    Walk: Palace Green Library is a five minute walk from Durham Market Place in the city centre. From the Market Place, turn on to Saddler Street and follow the road upwards. Turn onto Owengate, which is the first street on your right. Owengate leads onto Palace Green, the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site. Palace Green Library is on the far side of Palace Green. Follow the pathway around the green, past the entrance to Durham Castle. Palace Green Library is the building adjacent to Durham Castle on the left.

    Trains to Palace Green Library: The nearest train station to Palace Green Library is Durham, which is well served by trains from most major centres in the country. The walk from the train station is about 15-20 minutes. Buses and taxis are also available from the train station.

    The Cathedral bus service runs to Palace Green, which departs from the train station at 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour from 09:10 – 17:10, Monday to Saturday. For more information and timetables, visit the Durham Cathedral Bus website.

    Travelling to Durham city centre by bus: Durham Bus Station on North Road offers bus services as far afield as Newcastle, South Shields, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Stanhope, Consett and the Gateshead MetroCentre shopping complex. Walking from Durham Bus StationDurham Bus Station is a 15 minute walk from Palace Green Library. Exit the bus station onto North Road. Turn left and follow North Road down, continuing on to Framwellgate Bridge. Turn left onto Silver Street and follow the road upwards to Durham Market Place. Directions from the Market Place are given above.

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