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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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1950's Welfare Hall at Beamish
Experience the excitement and community spirit of the 1950's with our new welfare hall.
High Force Waterfall
High Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees has been plunging…
Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
Created in the 1930s, Riverside Park has always been popular with visitors. It was redeveloped in…
Hamsterley Forest
Information point and tearoom, forest drive with children's play area. Four mile forest drive runs…
Binchester Roman Fort
Remains of Commandant's house and neighbouring bath-house containing one of the best preserved…
Durham History Hunt
Find 26 stops each offering a unique perspective on times gone by. Discover the reason why Durham…
The Northern Saints Trails
The Northern Saints Trails, based on ancient pilgrim routes, position the North East as the…
The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
The Spanish Gallery tells a story of Golden Age Spanish art during the 16th and 17th centuries,…
Durham Cathedral Tower
Durham Cathedral Towers Enjoy spectacular views of the historic city of Durham and the surrounding…
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
Ushaw is set in the beautiful Durham countryside and houses architectural gems by Augustus Pugin…
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…
Museum of Archaeology
Enjoy our new special exhibition exploring the rich prehistoric and Roman archaeology and history…
Grassholme Observatory
Waterside Parks purpose built observatory, based at Grassholme Reservoir near Barnard Castle,…
Durham University Oriental Museum
Explore Ancient Egypt and Western Asia, the Himalayas, China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia all…
DLI Collection at Palace Green Library
Explore the history of the Durham Light Infantry enjoying items from the collection with…
Adventure Valley
Discover a world of family adventures at Adventure Valley, the North East’s biggest family…

- 11950's Welfare Hall at Beamish
- 2High Force Waterfall
- 3Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
- 4Hamsterley Forest
- 5Binchester Roman Fort
- 6Durham History Hunt
- 7The Northern Saints Trails
- 8The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
- 9Durham Cathedral Tower
- 10Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
- 11Chester-le-Street Riverside Park Splash Pad
- 12Auckland Castle - The Auckland Project
- 13Hardwick Park
- 14Museum of Archaeology
- 15Grassholme Observatory
- 16Durham University Oriental Museum
- 17DLI Collection at Palace Green Library
- 18Adventure Valley
