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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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Durham History Hunt
Find 26 stops each offering a unique perspective on times gone by. Discover the reason why Durham…
Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
Ushaw is set in the beautiful Durham countryside and houses architectural gems by Augustus Pugin…
Grassholme Observatory
Waterside Parks purpose built observatory, based at Grassholme Reservoir near Barnard Castle,…
Durham Cathedral Tower
Durham Cathedral Towers Enjoy spectacular views of the historic city of Durham and the surrounding…
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian lead mining museum offering a great day out for the…
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,…
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…
Gala Durham
The Gala Theatre is a superb arts venue in the heart of Durham City with 500 seat theatre, 2 cinema…
DLI Collection at Palace Green Library
Explore the history of the Durham Light Infantry enjoying items from the collection with…
Wharton Park
This VisitEngland accredited attraction Wharton Park commands spectacular views across Durham City.…
Durham Cathedral Tours
Discover the hidden history of Durham Cathedral with one of our regular guided tours. Tours are…
The Auckland Project
Journey through a thousand years of history, art, culture and faith at The Auckland Project in…
Durham Online Escape Room - Quest of the Rose Coins
Legend tells of six rose coins that will bring fortune to those who find them, but they are hidden…
Binchester Roman Fort
Remains of Commandant's house and neighbouring bath-house containing one of the best preserved…
Adventure Valley
Discover a world of family adventures at Adventure Valley, the North East’s biggest family…
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…

- 1Durham History Hunt
- 2Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
- 3Grassholme Observatory
- 4Durham Cathedral Tower
- 5Killhope Lead Mining Museum
- 6The Northern Saints Trails
- 7The Spanish Gallery - The Auckland Project
- 8Chester-le-Street Riverside Park Splash Pad
- 9Gala Durham
- 10DLI Collection at Palace Green Library
- 11Wharton Park
- 12Durham Cathedral Tours
- 13The Auckland Project
- 14Durham Online Escape Room - Quest of the Rose Coins
- 15Binchester Roman Fort
- 16Adventure Valley
- 171950's Welfare Hall at Beamish
- 18High Force Waterfall
