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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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Grassholme Observatory
Waterside Parks purpose built observatory, based at Grassholme Reservoir near Barnard Castle,…
Binchester Roman Fort
Remains of Commandant's house and neighbouring bath-house containing one of the best preserved…
Durham Cathedral Tours
Discover the hidden history of Durham Cathedral with one of our regular guided tours. Tours are…
Raby Castle
Welcome to Raby Castle and Deer Park. A stunning complete medieval castle in County Durham with a…
The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
The Spanish Gallery tells a story of Golden Age Spanish art during the 16th and 17th centuries,…
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the…
Beamish - The Living Museum of the North
Discover an amazing journey through time at Beamish Museum as you travel back in time and become…
Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
Created in the 1930s, Riverside Park has always been popular with visitors. It was redeveloped in…
Diggerland
Diggerland is the UK’s most unique construction-themed adventure park where guests can drive, ride…
The Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle
The Plotters’ Forest at Raby Castle offers a thrilling mix of challenge, discovery and intrigue for…
Hamsterley Forest
Information point and tearoom, forest drive with children's play area. Four mile forest drive runs…
Durham Cathedral Tower
Durham Cathedral Towers Enjoy spectacular views of the historic city of Durham and the surrounding…
Durham History Hunt
Find 26 stops each offering a unique perspective on times gone by. Discover the reason why Durham…
Durham Castle
Durham Castle is part of the Durham City World Heritage Site. Entrance by guided tour only. Opening…
Durham Cathedral Museum
Explore 2000 years of the North East’s history, culture and faith at Durham Cathedral Museum. Step…
Museum of Archaeology
Enjoy our new special exhibition exploring the rich prehistoric and Roman archaeology and history…
Durham Town Hall
The Town Hall has been central to life in Durham city for more than 650 years. Learn about the…
High Force Waterfall
High Force is one of the most impressive waterfalls in England. The River Tees has been plunging…

- 1Grassholme Observatory
- 2Binchester Roman Fort
- 3Durham Cathedral Tours
- 4Raby Castle
- 5The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
- 6Killhope Lead Mining Museum
- 7Beamish - The Living Museum of the North
- 8Chester-le-Street Riverside Park
- 9Diggerland
- 10The Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle
- 11Hamsterley Forest
- 12Durham Cathedral Tower
- 13Durham History Hunt
- 14Durham Castle
- 15Durham Cathedral Museum
- 16Museum of Archaeology
- 17Durham Town Hall
- 18High Force Waterfall
