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Durham is a city in County Durham in North East England. The name is believed to derive from "Dun-holme", or hill-island, due to its location on a meander on the River Wear. On this peninsula lies the well-preserved old core of the city, with an imposing Norman Cathedral and Castle. The castle is part of University College Durham, while the modern University has expanded south of the river.

Durham Cathedral

Bill Bryson was quite taken by Durham, writing in Notes from a Small Island (1995), "Why, it's a perfect little city. If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful." The compliment was returned in 2004 when Durham University made Bryson its Chancellor.

The Visitor Contact Centre is not open to the public, but can be contacted by phone (+44 3000 262626) or email (visitor@thisisdurham.com). There are also multiple Visitor Information Points across the city, some of these are located at:

• Durham Town Hall - Market Place, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 3NJ. M-F 08:00–16:00.
• Durham Indoor Market - Market Place, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 3NJ. 09:00–16:30, closed Su. - unmanned.
• Gala Theatre - Millennium Place, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 1WA. M-Sa 10:00–20:30, Su 14:30–20:30, closed bank holidays. - unmanned.
• World Heritage Site - Palace Green Library, 7 Owengate, Durham City, County Durham, DH1 3HB. 10:00–17:00.

Understand

Orientation

The River Wear flows north through the city, making an incised meander which encloses the centre on three sides to form Durham's peninsula. At the base of the peninsula is the Market Place, which still hosts regular markets; a permanent indoor market, Durham Indoor Market, is also situated just off the Market Place. The Market Place and surrounding streets are one of the main commercial and shopping areas of the city. From the Market Place, the Bailey leads south past Palace Green; The Bailey is almost entirely owned and occupied by the university and the cathedral.

Durham is a hilly city, claiming to be built upon the symbolic seven hills. Upon the most central and prominent position high above the Wear, the cathedral dominates the skyline. The steep riverbanks are densely wooded, adding to the picturesque beauty of the city. West of the city centre, another river, the River Browney, drains south to join the Wear to the south of the city.

There are three old roads out of the Market Place: Saddler Street heads south-east, towards Elvet Bridge, the Bailey and Prebends Bridge. Elvet Bridge leads to the Elvet area of the city, Durham Prison and the south; Prebends Bridge is smaller and provides access from the Bailey to south Durham. Heading west, Silver Street leads out of the Market Place towards Framwellgate Bridge and North Road, the other main shopping area of the city. From here, the city spreads out into the Framwelgate, Crossgate, Neville's Cross and viaduct districts, which are largely residential areas. Beyond the viaduct lie the outlying districts of Framwellgate Moor and Neville's Cross. Heading north from the Market Place leads to Claypath. The road curves back round to the east and beyond it lie Gilesgate, Gilesgate Moor and Dragonville.

Name

The name "Durham" is believed to derive from Dun-holme which is made up from two parts, firstly dun which comes from the Brythonic language meaning hill fort and secondly holme which comes from the Old Norse for island. The legend of the Dun Cow and the milkmaid is where some believe the name derives from, the legend states that the monks carrying St Cuthbert's body were guided to the current site of the city in 995 by the Dun Cow and milkmaid. Throughout its history the city has been known by many names, the nordic Dun-holme became Duresme with the Norman Conquest, then became Dunelm in Latin which over time has morphed into the modern form, Durham.

History

The site of the city can be traced back to AD 995, when monks from Lindisfarne came to the high peninsular with the body of St Cuthbert to settle here, as the geography of the meander provided great strategic value. The church built by the monks only lasted around a century, when the Norman Conquest happened the current Durham Cathedral and Castle were built. Durham Castle is the only Norman castle keep to have never suffered a breach. The city has played a part in many key battles especially against the Scots, in 1346 the Battle of Neville's Cross took place where the Scots suffered a heavy defeat (located about 1 mile outside the city centre on the A690 towards Crook).

Durham, England
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       52     7 1       45     8 1       41     10 3       51     13 4       44     15 7       61     18 9       61     20 11       67     20 11       57     17 9       63     14 7       73     10 4       61     7 1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2     44 34       1.8     46 35       1.6     50 37       2     55 39       1.7     60 44       2.4     64 49       2.4     68 52       2.6     68 52       2.2     63 49       2.5     56 44       2.9     49 38       2.4     45 35 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Due to the city's location being so far from Westminster, the city had a great amount of autonomy with the Bishop of Durham having power similar to that of the monarch, the city fell under what was known as the County Palatine of Durham, which was the jurisdiction that the Bishop had control over from 1071 until 1832. Some of the powers the Bishop of Durham had included the ability to raise their own parliament, raise their own armies, appoint their own sheriffs and Justices, administer their own laws, levy taxes and customs duties, create fairs and markets, issue charters, salvage shipwrecks, collect revenue from mines, administer the forests and mint their own coins. Henry VIII curtailed some of the powers the Bishops had, and in 1538 ordered the destruction of the shrine of St Cuthbert. During the Commonwealth period (1649-1660), Oliver Cromwell sold Durham Castle to the Lord Mayor of London and the Cathedral was closed in 1650 in order to house 3,000 Scottish prisoners. This period, with the abolition of the Church of England, restricted more of the Bishop of Durham's powers. After the Restoration in 1660, a lot of the powers returned to the Bishops.

In 1801, the first census showed the population of the city to be 7,100. The Industrial Revolution did not have a great impact upon the city and mostly passed it by, however the city did have large manufacturing in carpet making and weaving. Production of mustard and coal mining were also very prominent in the city and surrounding county. Coal mining became the county's main industry until the 1970s. Many villages in the surrounding suburbs of the city were established for the purposes of sinking a coal mine, although these pits no longer exist due to regional decline in heavy industry, the community, spirit and passion surrounding the coal-mining heritage is still very strong in a lot of communities. The first Durham Miner's Gala was held in 1871 and was attended by 5,000 miners, it is still held annually (usually the 1st Saturday in July) and is now attended by tens of thousands of people (mostly with mining heritage and ancestry). The 19th century saw the creation of Durham University, which now has a large presence in the city with a lot of student accommodation in the surrounding suburbs.

Durham suffered heavily during the Great Depression, however the university during this time thrived and expanded. St John's College and St Cuthbert's Society were founded. From the 1950s to the 1970s the university expanded to the south of the city centre with the foundation of Trevelyan, Van Mildert, Collingwood and Grey colleges. The final addition to the university came in 1979 with the migration of the College of St Hild and St Bede. The city escaped the bombing during World War 2, with very little damage to the city and the creation of another legend known as 'St Cuthbert's Mist', which states that a mist fell over the city when the Luftwaffe attempted their bombing raids thus protecting the castle and cathedral.

UNESCO named 'Durham Castle and Cathedral' as a World Heritage Site in 1986. The wider county also features more UNESCO sites including Beamish Museum, Auckland Castle and Killhope - North East Lead Mining Museum.

Climate

Durham has a temperate climate, like the rest of the United Kingdom. At 651.1 millimetres (26 in) the average annual rainfall is lower than the national average of 1,125 millimetres (44 in). Equally there are only around 122 days where more than 1 millimetre (0.04 in) of rain falls compared with a national average of 154.4 days. The area sees on average 1445.4 hours of sunshine per year, compared with a national average of 1125.0 hours. There is frost on 51.5 days compared with a national average of 55.6 days. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 12.5 and 5.2 °C (54.5 and 41.4 °F) compared with a national averages of 12.1 and 5.1 °C (53.8 and 41.2 °F) respectively. The highest temperature recorded at Durham was 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) during July 2022.

Visitor Information

• Tourist Information - ThisIsDurham

Get In

By plane

1 Newcastle International Airport (NCL ^IATA) is 25 miles (40 km) north of Durham and approx. 7.7 miles (12.4 km) north of Newcastle. Most international destinations are Mediterranean holiday resorts, but year-round flights include Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Milan and Paris. Emirates fly from Dubai, with global connections. Domestic flights into Newcastle are from London Heathrow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Exeter, Jersey, Newquay and Southampton. Tyne & Wear Metro trains run from the airport to Newcastle Central Station every 12 min, taking 24 min. The overall journey time to Durham is an hour and costs around £16.

2 Teesside International Airport (MME ^IATA) near Darlington is closest, but is the less popular of the two airports which serve the city. It only has two to five flights a day, from Aberdeen, Alicante, Amsterdam; with other seasonal destinations including Antalya (ends Sept 2023), Burgas, Corfu, Dalaman (starting May 2024), Faro, Jersey and Palma de Mallorca. Its only public transport is the Number 12 bus which runs through Darlington six times a day. Travellers can also carry up to 2 litres of liquid through security at this airport.

Manchester Airport (MAN ^IATA) is approx. 150 miles (250 km) south, but it has a much greater choice of destinations, more competitive fares, and an hourly direct train to Durham (2 hr 30 min). Other trains, with similar travel times, have a change at York or Manchester Piccadilly. Single walk-up rail fare is around £62 but advance fares can be less than a third of this.

The various London airports have little to no advantage over Manchester, and they all involve getting from the airport into central London, before travelling north from London Kings Cross.

By train

Durham is on the East Coast Main Line and has excellent train services. Trains to Newcastle are frequent with journeys only taking 15 mins. LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern services run from this station, the latter being quite infrequent. Southbound services run from platform 1 and northbound services run from platform 2.

3 Durham railway station is 0.5 miles (0.8 km) west of the city centre, but at a significantly higher altitude - walking to and from the centre involves staircases up the valley side or circuitous and still-steep roads. It's quite small: there's a car park, cafe, bar, shop, toilets and ATM but no left-luggage facilities. There are no ticket barriers at this station. It's linked to the scenic old town by the Cathedral Bus, (M-Sa 08:30–17:10, every 20 mins). An all-day ticket costs £1 (50p for under 13s). A taxi rank is present outside of both platforms.

Services

Operator	Direction	Destination	Via	Frequency	Duration	Notes
LNER	Northbound	Edinburgh Waverley	Newcastle	Hourly	2 hr
		Sunderland	Newcastle	Daily
		Aberdeen	Dundee	Daily		Extended past Edinburgh Waverley
		Glasgow Central		Daily		Extended past Edinburgh Waverley
	Southbound	London Kings Cross	Darlington, York, Doncaster and Peterborough	Hourly	3 hr
		Leeds	York	Daily
CrossCountry	Northbound	Newcastle		Hourly
		Edinburgh Waverley	Newcastle	Hourly
		Glasgow Central	Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley	Every 2 hours
		Dundee	Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley	Twice daily
		Aberdeen	Newcastle, Edinburgh Waverley and Dundee	Daily		Extended past Dundee
	Southbound	Birmingham New Street	York, Leeds/Doncaster, Sheffield and Derby	Twice hourly
		Plymouth	Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter St Davids	Hourly		Extended past BNS
		Reading	Oxford	Hourly		Extended past BNS
		Southampton Central	Oxford	Every 2 hours
		Penzance	Plymouth	A few daily		Extended past Plymouth
TransPennine Express	Northbound	Newcastle		Hourly
		Edinburgh Waverley	Newcastle	Hourly
	Southbound	Manchester Victoria	York, Leeds and Huddersfield	Hourly
		Manchester Airport	Manchester Piccadilly	Hourly		Extended past Manchester Victoria
		Liverpool Lime Street		Hourly		Extended past Manchester Victoria
Northern	Northbound	Newcastle		Daily		Morning, Weekdays only
		Carlisle	Newcastle and Hexham	Twice daily		Morning, Weekdays only
	Southbound	Darlington		Daily		Evening, Weekdays only

By car

Follow A1(M), exit at J62 and follow A690 into the city centre. For the University campus south of the city, a faster route from the south is to exit at J61 and follow A177 through Shincliffe.

Park & Ride

If you're just here on a day-trip, use the Park & Ride service (P&R) which is located on the outskirts of the city suburbs; the old city centre does not have very good infrastructure for driving or parking. Parking is free providing you use the P&R service. A bus ticket is £2 per person, and will be valid for the entire day. Buses run every 15 minutes.

The P&R sites are:

• Belmont, DH1 1SR (Route PR1), located just off A1(M) J62 and is clearly signposted - M-Sa last bus 18:30.
• Howlands Farm, South Road, DH1 3TQ (Route PR2), located less than one mile after joining A177 at the A167 / A177 roundabout - M-Sa last bus 18:37.
• Sniperley, DH1 5RA (Route PR3), north of the city on A691 near the hospital - M-Sa last bus 18:36.

P&R opening hours: 07:00–19:00 (closed Sundays)

Note: PR2 is also frequently used by members of the nearby Stephenson College and Josephine Butler College located on the Howlands Farm site, which can lead to crowded buses on the weekends.

Car Parking

There are a number of car parks in the city centre:

• Operated by Durham County Council (Free parking after 14:00):
  • The Sands (multi-storey, 277 vehicles) - Riverside Place, Durham, DH1 1SL. 24 hours daily. - Tariff applies between 08:00–22:00, 0–2 hours: £1.60, 80p/hour thereafter.
  • Providence Row (19 vehicles) - Providence Row, Durham, DH1 1LH. 24 hours daily. - Tariff applies between M-Sa 08:00–18:00, 30p/30 mins.
  • Sidegate (107 vehicles) - Sidegate, Durham, DH1 5SY. 24 hours daily. - Tariff applies between 08:00–22:00, 0–2 hours: £1.60, 80p/hour thereafter.
• Operated privately:
  • Prince Bishops (multi-storey) - DH1 3UJ. 06:00–00:00. - Tariffs apply. See website for details.
  • The Riverwalk (multi-storey) - 1 Framwellgate Bridge, Durham, County Durham, DH1 4SL. Car park 1: 07:00–18:00. Car park 2: 24 hours daily. - Tariffs apply. See website for details.
  • Walkergate (multi-storey, 500 vehicles) - 24 hours daily. - Tariffs apply. See website for details.
  • LNER - Durham Railway Station (358 vehicles) - 24 hours daily. - Tariffs apply. See website for details.

It is advised not to attempt parking in the old centre or "Peninsula", as the streets are extremely narrow and offer almost no roadside parking spaces. The city centre does operate a congestion charge system between the hours of 10:00–16:00 (no charge on Sundays or bank holidays) in the Market Place, after leaving the zone you must pay before midnight.

By bus

National Express connects Durham direct to London Victoria, once per day (NX425) and one overnight (NX435), 7 hr. They also run to Newcastle (twice daily, 30 min).

Go North East Angel 21 runs between Durham and Newcastle every 30 min or so, taking about an hour. These run daily via Gateshead, Birtley (for "Angel of the North") and Chester-le-Street, between 16:00 and 00:00 and the Angel N21 runs F-Sa between 00:00 and 05:00. Arriva North East 7 runs between Durham and Darlington every 30 min, taking about an hour. Arriva North East X12 runs between Durham and Middlesbrough, M-Sa every 30 min and hourly on Sunday, taking 1 hr 20 min.

The new Durham Bus Station (opened Jan 2024) is on North Road, 200 yards west of the river, just south of the railway station.

By sea

DFDS operate an overnight ferry between Port of Tyne, North Shields (near Newcastle) and Ijmuiden near Amsterdam. 16 hr 45 min.

See Newcastle page for how to reach the ferry terminal: in brief, take the train between Durham and Newcastle, then the shuttle bus (£3.80 each way, 30 min) or Metro to the ferry.

Get Around

Walk. The centre of Durham is compact and congested, driving is tedious and parking (other than that mentioned above) is effectively non-existent.

Durham Cathedral Bus runs Monday to Saturday between Durham train station and the Cathedral, with stops at Durham University, city centre and Durham Castle. Tickets are £1.00 for adults and 50p for children 13 years and under, concessions apply and a P&R ticket is also valid for this bus.

For visitors with reduced mobility there is a Shopmobility scheme from Prince Bishops Place car park (Level 1. M W F 10:00–14:00), but bear in mind that Durham's pavements are narrow and winding, and the streets in many places cobbled and/or steep.

See

Durham Castle

Most of Durham's sights are concentrated on the neck of land called The Peninsula. This is the oldest part of the city, dominated by the Castle and Cathedral.

• 1 Market Place. The fine fellow mounted on a horse is Charles Vane (1778-1854), 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. He's not here for his dashing contribution to the Peninsular War under Wellington, but because he owned land around Durham. He was furious when the government proposed banning child labour down his coal mines. Located at the bottom end of the market place is a statue of Neptune and outside of the indoor market is a tribute to the Durham Light Infantry. If you look toward the middle of the market place on the floor (stretching from the church at the far end to the horse statue), you will see a timeline of history in Durham. Nearby are a few more art pieces including a statue of monks carrying St. Cuthbert's body. (updated Aug 2023)
• 2 Durham Cathedral. 08:00–18:00. Durham bishopric was founded in 995 AD by monks from Lindisfarne, fleeing Viking raids, and bringing their holy relics with them. Early Norman bishops were of royal status - hence their title "Prince Bishop" - and they built the present cathedral from 1093. Its a magnificent structure, part of a World Heritage Site, with a soaring nave and 66 metre tower. The relics of Saint Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede, and hundreds of ancient artefacts, are on display in the Durham Cathedral Museum (M–Sa 10:00–16:00, last entry 15:30, adults £7.50, under 16 free). The central tower can be climbed Monday to Sunday, adults £7.50, child (8-17) free, under 8s cannot climb, 325 steps and a fair bit of pigeon poo. The cathedral is a working church, please respect services and private prayer, and there may be part-closures at short notice (e.g. for funerals). No admission fee (suggested donation £5). (updated Aug 2023)
• 3 Durham Castle. Tours daily, self-guided tours during summer. Built by the Normans, it was much altered in the 19th century, and is part of a World Heritage Site. It's now part of Durham University, and can only be visited on a 50 min tour or self-guided with an audio guide in summer. The historic nature and layout of the Castle means that the majority of the building is inaccessible to wheelchair users and pushchairs. The tour route involves many steps and staircases, some of which are uneven. Some of the students at the university reside within The Keep, the oldest student accommodation in the world, dating from 1073. Adults (16+) £5, Concessions £4.50, Children (under 16) free. (updated Aug 2023)
• 4 Durham Indoor Market. 09:00–16:30, closed Su. Victorian covered market, established 1851. Cafe, toilets and Wi-Fi available. The sweetie shop in the corner, with hundreds of jars of real traditional sweets is a must. Extends outdoors across the market place on Saturdays 09:00–16:00. (updated Aug 2023)
• 5 Kingsgate Bridge. A striking 1960s concrete span designed by Ove Arup. (updated Aug 2023)
• 6 Shire Hall, Old Elvet. Home to Durham County Council from 1898 to 1963, this Grade II listed building is now a hotel (Hotel Indigo) and is worth a visit due to its size and heritage. (updated Aug 2023)
• 7 Durham Viaduct (Just south of the railway station). This Grade II* listed structure was built in 1857, and the East Coast Main Line runs along it. It is 790ft in length, stands 100ft tall and consists of eleven arches. (updated Aug 2023)

At the south tip of the Peninsula, a footbridge crosses the River Wear. Continue south into the modern University area.

• 8 Durham University Botanic Garden, South Road, Durham, DH1 3TN. Mar-Oct 10:00–17:00, Nov-Feb 10:00-16:00. 10-hectare gardens run by Durham University. Adults £5, Concessions £4.50, Children (under 16s) free. (updated Aug 2023)
• 9 Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill Road, Durham, DH1 3TH. Tu-F 10:00–17:00, Sa Su 12:00–17:00, bank holidays 12:00–17:00. Attached to Durham University, this museum displays artefacts from far east (China, Japan, Korea), central Asia (Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Afghanistan), South Asia (India), Southeast Asia, Near and Middle East, and Egypt. Free admission. (updated Aug 2023)

Just outside of the city center.

• 10 Miners' New Hall (Redhills), Flass Street, Durham, DH1 4BE. Closed until 2024. This building opened in 1915 is the headquarters of the Durham Miners' Association. It is (as of 2021) under renovation/restoration. (updated Aug 2023)

Do

Durham at night

• Walk the scenic meander on the River Wear, for great views of the cathedral. There are footpaths both sides.
• Find the golden teapot, it has been hanging above shops in the city centre for more than 160 years.
• Hire rowing boats, ☏ +44 191 386 9525. Apr-Oct daily. Deposit £10, Adults £7, Children £5. (updated Aug 2023)
• Ride the Prince Bishop River Cruiser, ☏ +44 191 386 9525. Apr-Oct daily. 1 hour long, offering stunning and alternative views of Durham City. Adults £10, Children £5, under 5s free. (updated Aug 2023)
• Watch a performance at the modern Gala Theatre complex.
• Catch a film at the Odeon or Gala Cinema.
• Participate in a Ghost Walk, every first Sunday of the month, meeting in the Market Place by the horse. Free, booking required via website.
• Durham Walking Tours. Choose from one of many walking tours available, contact the Visitor Information Points for more information. (updated Aug 2023)
• 1 Visit the Durham University Campus. If you or a family member might want to study at Durham, there are three ways to find out more. Best option are the Open Days, with a chance to speak to staff and current or recent students. Next best are the Discover Durham campus walking tours. And for a taster, take the virtual campus tour. (updated Aug 2023)
• Watch cricket at Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, 8 miles north. This is home to Durham CCC, who play in Division Two of the County Championship. County matches normally last 3-4 days. The stadium also frequently hosts international or "Test Matches", lasting up to five days. The stadium is 200 yards from the railway station, frequent trains take less than ten minutes from Durham or Newcastle.
• Football: Durham doesn't have a pro men's football team, but Durham WFC play in the Women's Championship, their second tier. Their home ground is Maiden Castle (capacity 3000) on the University campus.
• Go bowling at Lane7, 6b, 6C Walkergate, Durham, DH1 1SQ. M-Th 11:00–00:00, F-Su 11:00–01:00. (updated Aug 2023)

Buy

There are multiple choices for shopping in and around the city. Most locals do their shopping in the city centre or one of the surrounding retail parks.

• 1 Arnison Centre, Pity Me, Durham, DH1 5GD. M-Sa 08:00–22:00, Su 11:00–17:00. Lots of clothing and general shops here, as well as fast-food eateries and coffee shops. Parking available on site.
• 2 Dragon Lane Retail Park, Dragon Ln, Durham, DH1 2WP. Supermarkets and fast-food places. Few general shops. Parking available on site.
• 3 Durham City Retail Park, McIntyre Way, Durham, DH1 2RP. General shops, hardware store, restaurants/fast-food. Parking available on site.

A little bit further afield people tend to shop in Newcastle or retail parks/shopping centres further out.

• 4 Dalton Park , Church St, Murton, Seaham, SR7 9HU. M-F 10:00–18:00, Sa 09:30–18:00, Su 10:30–16:30. Many outlet shops, bars and restaurants here. Parking available on site.
• 5 Metrocentre , St. Michaels Way, Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YG. M-F 09:00–21:00, Sa 09:00–19:00, Su 11:00–17:00. Many outlet shops, bars and restaurants here. Also a cinema, arcade and bowling. Parking available on site.

Eat

Durham has all the eateries one would expect to find in any City: the usual burger joints and sandwich shops, but Durham has some hidden gems and supposedly the most restaurants per capita in the country. Particularly worth a mention are:

Tea, coffee & cakes

• Vennels Café, Saddlers Yard, 71 Rear of Saddlers Street, Durham, DH1 3NP, ☏ +44 191 375 9635, enquiries@vennels.com. 09:00–17:00. All food is freshly prepared daily. Table reservations not taken. (updated Aug 2023)
• Caffè Nero, 34 Silver St, Durham, DH1 3RD, ☏ +44 191 384 9444. 07:00–18:30. Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks. (updated Aug 2023)
• Flat White Café, 21A Elvet Bridge, Durham, DH1 3AA, ☏ +44 7936 449291. M-Sa 09:00–17:00, Su 10:00–16:00. Food served all-day, casual coffee shop (updated Aug 2023)
• Undercroft Cafe, Durham Cathedral, Durham, DH1 3EH. M-Sa 10:00–16:00, Su 10:30–16:00. A unique space within the cathedral which offers freshly prepared food and a range of hot and cold drinks (updated Aug 2023)

Traditional local cuisine

• Durham Indoor Market. (updated Sep 2018), located in the city's main square, offers traditional local food such as pease pudding (most traditionally used in a ham and pease pudding stottie bread sandwich).
• Fish & Chips are common traditional local food due to the proximity to the North Sea and its cod fish. Some long-standing fish & chips stalwarts of Durham are Stanton's on Neville Street, Bell's in the market place and - outside of the city centre - K.S. Davison in Bowburn.

Budget

• Café Cenno, upstairs in the Durham Indoor Market, with a splendid vista of the railway viaduct and river on one side, and the market stalls on the other. Bacon and eggs, etc. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available when purchasing food and drink.
• The Cartologist (formally The Garden House), through the park behind the railway station, serving excellent Pub Grub and considerably cheaper than city centre pubs and restaurants.
• The Bishops Mill - JD Wetherspoon opposite the Gala for basic but hearty pub meals: burgers, curries, etc.
• Stanton's Fish and Chips, fish and chips, and crackin' pizza n pasta!
• Greggs or Cooplands Bakery, for affordable pies, pasties, bread, sandwiches, cakes and drinks. Various locations across the city, on Saddler Street, North Road and New Elvet..
• La Spaghettata, for wonderful and very cheap Italian food. Prices around £6-8 for a main course.

Mid-range

• The Bridge Hotel, under the viaduct, for large portions.
• The Almhouses Restaurant, on Palace Green, between the Castle and cathedral.
• Bella Mamma at Neville's Cross (a mile west of the railway station) for a classy Italian meal.
• Bella Italia, Italian restaurant underneath Cafe Rouge (formerly Pizza Hut) in Silver Street at the end of Framwellgate Bridge. Ask for a table in the conservatory overlooking the River Wear.
• Court Inn, next to the Crown Court. Best to book a table, and look out for the prisoner peaking through the window in the dining room! Specials during the day.
• Kwai Lam, Chinese cuisine on Saddler Street
• Ché Vitas adjoined to the Travelodge at the foot of Gilesgate Bank. Yet another Italian, reasonably cheap and good food.
• Chiquito's, ASK, Nando's and Slug & Lettuce. Typical decent chain-restaurants in the complex next to the Gala.

Splurge

• 1 Zen, Court Lane DH1 3JS (off New Elvet), ☏ +44 191 384 9588. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. A trendy bar and Thai food. (updated Jul 2018)
• Fat Buddha, Unit 6B and 6C Walkergate DH1 1SQ, ☏ +44 191 383 1390. Su-Th noon-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM. Asian fusion cuisine and trendy bar. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Finbarrs, Aykley Heads House, Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5TS (Various bus routes from central Durham to Aykley Heads/ University Hospital), ☏ +44 191 307 7033, info@finbarrsrestaurant.co.uk. Tuesday - Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday lunch only. One of Durham's top restaurants. Modern British cuisine. Roast lunch available on Sundays. (updated Jul 2021)

In general, it is only necessary to reserve a table on Friday and Saturday nights. However, around graduation and the start and end of University terms, things can get tight.

• Or, eat like a true citizen of Durham and have a mince pie and sticky bun from any of Durham's many bakeries.

Drink

Durham is equally as well-served when it comes to watering holes, with more than forty within a mile radius of the Cathedral. Drinking is a major pastime of Durham residents and students alike, and alcohol is very reasonably priced due to competition for student custom:

• For the cheapest pint in Durham try one of the College bars if you have student ID (£1.20/pint for lager).
• For the cheapest non-student pint in Durham, try the wonderfully unadulterated 1 Colpitts Hotel (at the top of Allergate). where you can pick up a pint of Samuel Smiths Old Brewery bitter for £2 and play a game of pool or darts  ; the larger 2 Swan and Three Cygnets. also sells Sam Smith's at a slightly higher price, with a beer garden overlooking Elvet Bridge on the River Wear .
• For the trendiest drink in Durham, try a cocktail at Hide on Saddler Street, or the newly opened Fabio's Bar, conveniently straight over the road.
• For the most interesting pint in Durham, try one of the plethora of local real ales on sale at 3 The Woodman (at the bottom of Gilesgate Bank (around one kilometre from the Market Place, past the Gala Theatre and up Claypath)). Be warned that they will not be to everyone's taste and may be considerably stronger than your standard tipple! 
• 4 Victoria Inn, 86 Hallgarth St DH1 3AS, ☏ +44 191 386 5269. Splendid traditional pub with Victorian interior, highly rated by CAMRA. Also has rooms. B&B double £90. (updated Jul 2020)

Durham isn't fantastically well endowed with nightclubs, but should this be your scene then worth a mention are:

• Fishtank, possibly the smallest club in the world (it is above Stantons Fish & Chip Shop on Neville Street, hence the name), but offering up an impressive programme of alternative music.
• Klute, Elvet Bridge, think school disco every night of the week, voted the second-worst nightclub in Europe by FHM magazine in 2013, but it became the worst by default after an arson attack destroyed the previous holder of the title, and now proudly wears that title.
• Studio, the closest Durham has to a non-student nightclub.
• Loft, owned by the same people as Studio, and is next door.
• Loveshack, in the Gala Theatre complex, near the railway station. It is Durham's largest club and has a modest cover charge and reasonable music.
• Ebony (formerly Épernay), champagne bar, near the Gala theatre. Glass of champagne from £5. Bottles from £30.

Sleep

As well as places listed below, it's possible during the university holidays to stay in the college buildings, including the Castle, if they're not booked out to a conference. If Durham is booked up, consider staying in nearby Newcastle upon Tyne or Gateshead and coming in by rail and road.

• 1 Farnley Tower Hotel, The Avenue, DH1 4DX, ☏ +44 191 375 0011. 13-bedroom hotel in converted Victorian mansion, 1 mile west of city centre. B&B double from £80. (updated Jul 2018)
• 2 Travelodge, Station Lane, Gilesgate DH1 1LJ (A690 half mile east of centre and a mile from the present railway station). Durham used to have four railway stations: this one was Durham Gilesgate, whence the last passenger train departed in 1857. The former station house is now the Travelodge, a reliable budget chain. B&B double from £50. (updated Jul 2018)
• Premier Inn on Freeman's Place DH1 1SW is another chain budget choice.
• 3 The Bridge Hotel, 40 North Road, DH1 4SE (under the viaduct). Hotel established in 1864. from £50. (updated Jan 2016)
• Forty Winks, 40 South St DH1 4QP, ☏ +44 191 386 8217. B&B in Edwardian house facing cathedral across the river. Amazing eclectic decor, gets rave reviews. No children under 16 or dogs. B&B double £110. (updated Aug 2020)
• 4 The Garden House, North Road, DH1 4NQ (up the hill behind the railway station). B&B accommodation. (updated Jan 2016)
• Radisson Blu, Framwellgate Waterside DH1 5TA (West bank of river, north of bridge), ☏ +44 191 372 7200, info.durham@radissonblu.com. Reliable 4-star chain with 207 rooms: Standard, Business, Suites and The Presidential Suite. All rooms are equipped with TV and free internet access. The hotel includes its own Italian restaurant and 2 bars and a health club. B&B doubles from £125. (updated Jul 2018)
• 5 Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County, Old Elvet DH1 3JN (From A690 in city centre cross New Elvet bridge, hotel is on the left), ☏ +44 191 386 6821. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. 4-star hotel, part dates back to the 17th century, modern amenities plus historic charm. Rooms have work-space, hair dryer, a/c and high-speed Internet. B&B doubles from £90. (updated Jul 2018)
• 6 Burnhopeside Hall, Durham Rd, Lanchester DH7 0TL (7 miles west of city on A691), ☏ +44 1207 520222. Relaxing comfy place in Georgian mansion. Basically B&B but can do dinner by arrangement. Dog-friendly. B&B double £120. (updated Aug 2020)

Connect

As of June 2022, Durham has 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go Next

• 2 Beamish is the North of England Open Air Museum, five miles west of Chester-le-Street, north of Durham. Extensive "skansen"-type museum with reconstructed buildings from around the northeast, big enough to host its own tram network. Waggonway bus 28/28A runs here from Newcastle via Gateshead and Chester-le-Street, M-Sa every 30 mins, hourly Sunday.
• 3 Diggerland Durham Langley Park, County Durham, DH7 9TT. (Exit the A1(M) at J62. Head west on the A690 into Durham city centre. Cross over the River Wear and at the next roundabout turn right onto the A691 towards Consett. At the roundabout with a petrol station, turn left towards Langley Park. Head towards Riverside Industrial Estate where Diggerland is located.), ☏ +44 1634 711711. Varies, usually Feb–Oct daily 10:00–17:00. Diggerland is a JCB-themed amusement park where visitors young and old can get behind the "wheel" of various items of construction machinery (Dumper Trucks, Mini Diggers, Giant Diggers, etc.) Events are also run by arrangement, such as JCB or Dumpster Racing. Adults (under 65s) / Children under 100cm £32, Adults (65+) £16, Children under 100cm free (all prices are on the day, discount applies if pre-booked and paid at least one day in advance), disabled visitors may bring a carer free of charge.
• You're bound to see the colossal Angel of the North statue as you travel north by road or rail from Durham into Gateshead and Newcastle. By road exit A1(M) onto A167 and follow the footpath. Or take Angel Bus 21 north from Durham, the bus stop is at the foot of the statue.
• Newcastle upon Tyne is the throbbing heart of the North East, with excellent shopping, clubbing and art. Take the train, see "Get In".
• Locomotion is a branch of the National Railway Museum in Shildon, near Bishop Auckland, 20 mi (32 km) south of Durham. The collection is mostly Victorian steam era from around the north of England. By car follow A167 then A689 then signs to Shildon; buses also run via Bishop Auckland. Shildon has its own railway station: travel to Darlington and change to a local train towards Bishop Auckland.
• York, 60 mi (97 km) south, is a must-see.
• The Durham coastline is often industrial or muddy. The coast improves at Whitby, a pretty North Yorkshire harbour town noted for crab-meat, Goths and vampires. It's 60 mi (97 km) southeast, in summer use the daily direct X60 Arriva bus. Or take the train changing at Darlington and Middlesbrough: the line between Middlesbrough and Whitby is very scenic. The North Yorks coast south of Whitby has cliffs and fishing coves all the way down to Scarborough and Bridlington, but you'll need a car to explore them.

You'll also need a car to reach attractions out in the County Durham countryside:

• Barnard Castle is a pretty market town with its ruined castle overlooking the river Tees. It's on A688 about 25 mi (40 km) southwest of Durham. The stand-out attraction here is the Bowes Museum Newgate DL12 8NP, in a vast French-style mansion.
• High Force is a 71-foot waterfall, where the River Tees plunges over Whin Sill, the hard band of rock that elsewhere underpins Hadrian's Wall. It's 15 mi (24 km) northeast of Barnard Castle along B6277.
• Escomb Saxon Church, one mile west of Bishop Auckland, has been in use since the 6th century.

Routes through Durham

Newcastle upon Tyne ← Chester-le-Street ←

N  S

→ Darlington → Leeds