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Things to Do
There's no shortage of things to do during your stay in Durham - a county full of surprises.
No visit to the county would be complete without a visit to the world-famous Durham Cathedral, which together with the adjacent Castle forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City. And if you love history you can delve further into the county's fascinating past at exciting attractions in the Durham Dales, Durham Coast and the Vale of Durham including Beamish - The living Museum of the North, England's largest open air museum. Plus, don't miss the spectacular live open air night show Kynren, an epic tale of England, which takes place in Bishop Auckland throughout the summer and the brand new 11Arches Park.
Take some tranquil time out in the county's many green spaces, country parks and gardens, or get active as you explore the Durham Dales of Teesdale and Weardale, and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - packed with walking and cycling routes and dotted with hidden gems and historical treasure troves.
From a day at the races to international cricket, golfing holidays and indulgent spa breaks, you'll be spoilt for choice in Durham.
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Binchester Roman Fort
Remains of Commandant's house and neighbouring bath-house containing one of the best preserved…
Durham Town Hall
The Town Hall has been central to life in Durham city for more than 650 years. Learn about the…
Hamsterley Forest
Information point and tearoom, forest drive with children's play area. Four mile forest drive runs…
Adventure Valley
Discover a world of family adventures at Adventure Valley, the North East’s biggest family…
Chester-le-Street Riverside Park Splash Pad
The splash pad is a state-of-the-art play facility which is free to use and suitable for families…
Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project
Positioned high above the meandering River Wear, Auckland Castle was once home to the Prince…
Hardwick Park
This VisitEngland accredited attraction is an 18th Century parkland featuring beautiful views, rich…
Durham University Oriental Museum
Explore Ancient Egypt and Western Asia, the Himalayas, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia all…
Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
Created in the 1930s, Riverside Park has always been popular with visitors. It was redeveloped in…
Museum of Archaeology
Enjoy our new special exhibition exploring the rich prehistoric and Roman archaeology and history…
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the…
The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
The Spanish Gallery tells a story of Golden Age Spanish art during the 16th and 17th centuries,…
The Auckland Project
Journey through a thousand years of history, art, culture and faith at The Auckland Project in…
Wharton Park
This VisitEngland accredited attraction Wharton Park commands spectacular views across Durham City.…
Durham Cathedral
Thought by many to be the finest example of Norman church architecture in England, with the tombs…
Durham Cathedral Tours
Discover the hidden history of Durham Cathedral with one of our regular guided tours. Tours are…
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
Ushaw is set in the beautiful Durham countryside and houses architectural gems by Augustus Pugin…
The Northern Saints Trails
The Northern Saints Trails, based on ancient pilgrim routes, position the North East as the…

- 1Binchester Roman Fort
- 2Durham Town Hall
- 3Hamsterley Forest
- 4Adventure Valley
- 5Chester-le-Street Riverside Park Splash Pad
- 6Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project
- 7Hardwick Park
- 8Durham University Oriental Museum
- 9Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
- 10Museum of Archaeology
- 11Killhope Lead Mining Museum
- 12The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
- 13The Auckland Project
- 14Wharton Park
- 15Durham Cathedral
- 16Durham Cathedral Tours
- 17Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
- 18The Northern Saints Trails
