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Attractions In Durham With e-travelguide.info
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Durham Cathedral
The College
Durham
DH1 3EH
Tel: 0191 3864266
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.
Durham Castle
University College
Palace Green
Durham
DH1 3RW
Tel: 0191 3343800
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 It was only in the Middle Ages when the Prince Bishops eventually became superseded by the crown, and County Durham was no longer a separate entity.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.
Beamish The North of England Open Air Museum
Beamish
County Durham
DH9 0RG
Tel: 0191 3704000
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.
Durham Light Infantry Museum & Durham Art Gallery
Aykley Heads
Durham
DH1 5TU
Tel: 0191 3842214
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.
Durham Heritage Coast
c/o Environment
Durham County Council
County Hall
Durham
DH1 5UQ
Tel: 0191 383 3351
The extensive mining of coal in the Durham Coalfield was the staple industry of the region for many years, but the industrial gains came at a cost; the East Durham coastline became an unsightly wasteland of pit heaps and blackened beaches, and the subsequent demise of coal mining in the region left behind a legacy of neglect. Through painstaking and visionary efforts however, all this has changed. The Durham Heritage Coast has been transformed and returned to its former rugged splendour. It comprises over 9 miles of natural, undeveloped and restored sections of coastline of East Durham and South Sunderland, from Seaham Hall Beach to Crimdon Park. There are footpaths and cycle ways along the length of the Heritage Coast, with dramatic and rugged scenery and the welcome return of diverse and rich wildlife that has made the coastline an area of international nature conservation importance.
Tanfield Railway
Marley Hill
Tyne and Wear
NE16 5ET
Tel: 01207 280643
The Tanfield Railway is the World’s oldest existing railway. Originally built to transport coal from nearby collieries to ships on the River Tyne using horses and gravity, the oldest part dates from around 1647, while the Sunniside to Causey section from 1725 is now the world's oldest working railway, and incorporates Causey Arch, the world’s oldest railway bridge. Steam locomotives, pioneered in the North East of England, became part of the line in later years, and today’s Tanfield Railway is a fascinating snapshot of the past, with a fleet of locos operating along the line from the Marley Hill engine shed, built in 1854. With regular events held throughout the year, this is a great family day out.
Durham Heritage Centre
St. Mary-le-Bow
North Bailey
Durham
DH1 5ET
Tel: 0191 3845589
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.
The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 8NP
Tel: 01833 690606
The Bowes Museum was originally conceived by John and Josephine Bowes as a private art gallery, and was built by French architect Jules Pellechet. It opened in 1892, and today the three floored museum houses one of the UK’s most outstanding collections of European fine and decorative arts, particular French arts, including items from the Bowes family’s home in Paris. In addition, the museum displays an array of paintings, furniture, ceramics and photography, alongside priceless archaeological items from County Durham, an exhibition of social history in Teesdale and a delightful toy exhibition.
Website
Raby Castle
Raby Park
Staindrop
County Durham
DL2 3AH
Tel: 01833 660202
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.
Website
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 9AT
Tel: 01833 638212
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.
Auckland Castle
Market Place
Bishop Auckland
DL14 7NR
Tel: 01388 601627
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
Elvet Hill
Durham
DH1 3TH
Tel: 0191 3345694
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.
Treasury Museum
Durham Cathedral
The College
Durham
DH1 3EL
Tel: 0191 3844854
The Treasury Museum is a remarkable collection of artefacts chronicling the history of Christian worship in Durham. It is one of the North of England’s most important museums, and contains many relics from the Golden Age of Northumbria; including the 7th Century wooden coffin of St. Cuthbert; the Pectoral Cross of St. Cuthbert; a collection of fine silver plate belonging to The Prince Bishops; richly illustrated manuscripts; and Bishop's rings and seals.