Soaring above the city below and a landmark visible from miles around, Durham Cathedral Church of Christ and Blessed Mary the Virgin is one of the most strikingly beautiful buildings in the UK. Travel writer (and now Vice-Chancellor of Durham University) Bill Bryson hailed Durham Cathedral as ‘the best cathedral on planet earth’; high praise indeed, but perhaps it is not surprising that so many people find the Cathedral such an awe-inspiring icon; it is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England and is listed by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre as a site of major historical interest. Within the audacious vaulted structure of the Cathedral, whose foundations were laid in 1093, can be found the final resting place of St. Cuthbert, evangeliser of Northumbria, and of The Venerable Bede, chronicler of Cuthbert’s life and the first English historian. Durham Cathedral also houses The Coal Miners’ Memorial – a fitting tribute to the men who toiled, lived and died in the Durham Coalfield.

The Cathedral is open for worship and prayer on Sunday 7.45am - 12.30pm
Monday to Saturday it is open from 7.30am - 9.30am

It is then also open for general sightseeing until 5.00pm on Sunday and until 6.15pm from Monday to Saturday. During the summer, the Cathedral remains open until 8.00pm.

County Durham was unique in that it was an entity unto itself, ruled by the Prince Bishops of Durham, medieval churchmen who ruled with absolute power, making Durham their own separate kingdom. It was only in the Middle Ages when the Prince Bishops eventually became superseded by the crown, and County Durham was no longer a separate entity. Their legacy in Durham is still apparent today, not least in the magnificent Durham Castle, a Norman fortress founded soon after the Conquest of 1066, which was the fortified residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham. The Castle is superbly well preserved; the Department of the Environment comment that few buildings in England can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Durham Castle, which has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to changing circumstances and uses over a period of 900 years, and is today the home of the first college of the University of Durham - University College.

Entrance to Durham Castle is by guided tour only. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Tours take place most days out of term time, and each day from Easter to 30th September.

Set in over 300 acres of beautiful County Durham countryside is Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum. Beamish is no ordinary museum; it is a living, working experience of life as it was in the Industrial North of England at the turn of the 20th Century. Proud winner of the British Museum of the Year and European Museum of the Year Awards, Beamish brings the past to life; from its period-perfect recreation of a busy market town street from 1913, complete with Co-operative shops, printing works, bank, Sun Inn pub, a dentist’s home and surgery among others; the working Home Farm; a perfectly recreated pit village with drift mine, miners’ cottages, school and chapel; a branch line country station; and so much more, including working trams and authentic working replicas of Chapman’s Steam Elephant and Stephenson’s Locomotion No. 1.

Beamish is a great family day out, and with a constant programme of steady evolution and regular events held throughout the year, you will want to come back time and again.

Open:
Summer – every day from 10.00am – 5.00pm
Winter – 10.00am – 4.00pm, closed Mondays and Fridays.

Set in beautiful gardens towards the northern fringes of the city centre, The Durham Light Infantry Museum & Durham Art Gallery was built on the site of the last working colliery in Durham City, and combines a fascinating, informative and moving commemoration of County Durham’s own Regiment, who served with distinction in every conflict between 1758 and 1968; and one of the finest and most intriguing art galleries to be found in the North of England.

The history of the DLI is presented through exhibitions, uniforms, weapons, artefacts and fascinating displays including the medals of Durham soldiers who fought in the Regiment from the Peninsular War to the last campaign in Borneo in 1966. The Durham Art Gallery has a regularly changing programme of exhibitions and events showcasing traditional and contemporary works from local, national and international artists.

Open: every day except Christmas Day
Summer (1 April-31 October) 10.00am – 5.00pm
Winter (1 November-31 March) 10.00am – 4.00pm.

The Durham Heritage Centre is the only local history museum in the city, and tells the extraordinary story of Durham from medieval times to the modern day. It chronicles the past, with fascinating displays about Durham as a centre of pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Cuthbert, Durham's old theatres, the people of Durham, the world-renowned Harrison organ makers, lost and forgotten industries, reconstructions of cells from the Victorian prison, life in a mining community and County Durham’s role in the innovation of the railways. There is also the opportunity for visitors to try their hand at brass rubbing on the many replica brasses.

Open: Easter, April, May and October, open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays 2.00pm - 4.30pm
June open daily 2.00pm - 4.30pm
July, August and September, open daily 11.00am - 4.30pm.

Raby Castle in County Durham is one of England’s largest and most spectacular medieval castles. It was built in the 14th Century, on the site of a previous fortified manor house by the rich and influential Nevill family, in whose hands it remained until the Rising of the North in 1569. Since 1626, Raby Castle has been the home of Lord Barnard and is a popular and intriguing family day out. There is much to see, from the towers, turrets and embattled walls of the castle; the wonderfully preserved interiors and artworks from the Medieval, Regency and Victorian periods; splendid parkland; ornamental gardens; horse-drawn carriages; and a delightful tearoom and gift shop. During the summer months there are regular fairs, events and exhibitions.

Open: June, July and August: Daily except Saturdays
May and September: Wednesday and Sunday only
Bank Holidays: Saturday to following Wednesday (including Easter)
Castle open: 1.00pm - 5.00pm
Park and Gardens open: 11.00am – 5.30pm

Built in a perfect defensive position in 1125, over the site of a Roman ford, Bernard Balliol's Barnard Castle is a fantastic ruin that still towers over the River Tees and the attractive County Durham town of Barnard Castle today. During its vivid history, the castle has been home to historical figures including Richard III, Henry VII, Warwick the Kingmaker, and the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham. Today the ruins are open to the public, and possess a wonderfully historic and romantic atmosphere. Also recommended is the historic town of Barnard Castle itself, with its cobbled lanes and fascinating architecture.

Open:
April – September: daily 10.00am – 6.00pm
October: daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
November – March: Wednesday – Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Closed 1.00pm – 2.00pm throughout the year, and closed 24-26 December and 1 January.

Auckland Castle has been the official residence of the Bishop of Durham for over 800 years. Initially established as a hunting lodge for the Prince Bishops, the castle grew in splendour and importance over the centuries and today it is the administrative centre for the Diocese of Durham, as well as being the Bishop's home and the Castle and 800 acres of magnificent grounds are open to the public as tourist attractions in their own right.

In addition, Auckland Castle is available for use as an extensive and fully-equipped venue for meetings and conferences, a romantic wedding venue, and for concerts and social functions.

The Oriental Museum is part of the University of Durham, and is the only museum of its kind in the UK. It is entirely devoted to art and archaeology from the civilisations of Asia and the Near East and the Islamic cultures of North Africa; from ancient Egypt, China and Japan to contemporary works from today’s Oriental artists. It is open to the public, and also serves as a resource for university staff and students, as well as researchers and connoisseurs of Oriental art worldwide.

Open:
Monday – Friday: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12.00pm – 5.00pm
Bank Holidays: 12.00pm – 5.00pm