Cathedrals, castles and a riverside setting all make the northeastern city of Durham a picturesque and interesting place to visit. Read on to discover 20 of the best attractions in the area – how many can you tick off your list?
Just a 20-minute drive from the centre of Durham is Hardwick Park, a picturesque, leafy retreat from the historic city. This Visit-England-accredited country park is full of wildlife, nature and the lovely Serpentine Lake.
This Grade II-listed Victorian Great Hall is one of the best-kept secrets in Durham, despite being its official Town Hall. Though public access can be limited, private tours can be booked by contacting the Town Hall directly, with craft fairs and concerts occasionally held here too.
Not just a venue for cricket, Emirates Riverside is one of the top venues in Durham. Also the occasional host of concerts, this world-class outdoor arena is perfect sports and music fans alike.
Set in County Durham’s town of Bishop Auckland, this castle and its surrounding grounds date back as far as the late 12th century. The area itself is packed with history, with artefacts such as a 15th-century bed which was owned by Henry VII on display at the castle.
On the border of the North Pennines, Hamsterley Forest is the largest of its kind in County Durham and is perfect for family picnics and cycle rides.
Crook Hall is a 13th-century, Grade I-listed medieval hall with plentiful green space to explore in its immediate surrounding areas. At this idyllic, quintessentially English hall, visitors are able to enjoy a cream tea over the log fire in the beautiful Georgian dining room and explore the well-kept gardens.
Less than a mile from the city centre, wandering Old Durham Gardens is a charming way to spend an afternoon. This green space is accessible from a number of woodland walks or along the River Wear.
You’ll never believe this park was once a coal mine and coal storage depot. Fully transformed in to a green space, Broompark is now often used as a picnic area, but is also home to a variety of wildlife and has two short walking routes.
This popular walking route in Durham takes in the stunning River Tees and gives walkers the chance to marvel in the river itself and the grandiose buildings that peer down on the medieval city beneath them.