Things to do in Durham is an intriguing issue attracts residents and visitors at home and abroad. Durham is a cathedral city and civil parish in the county of Durham, England. The name “Durham” comes from the Brythonic element dun, signifying a hill fort, and the Old Norse holme, which translates as island. It is the county town and contains the headquarters of Durham County Council, the unitary authority which governs the district of County Durham. The city was built on a meander of the River Wear, which surrounds the centre on three sides and creates a narrow neck on the fourth. The surrounding land is hilly, except along the Wear’s floodplain to the north and southeast. The city is the home of Durham University, which has a claim to be the third-oldest university in England. Durham City is a vibrant and historic destination, offering a range of activities for visitors of all ages and interests. Durham is steeped in so much history that you would like to explore. There are plenty of fun things you can do in Durham as well.
This blog selects and analyzes things to do in Durham detailedly serving as a comprehensive guide, helping you have a better command of Durham. If you want choose Durham as your tourist spot or educational destination, you ought to read this blog carefully.
Sightseeing and Tourist Attractions
Go Sightseeing in Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Durham, England. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Durham and is the mother church of the diocese of Durham. It also contains the shrines of the Anglo-Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede. There are daily Church of England services at the cathedral and it received 732,680 visitors in 2024.
The building is notable for the ribbed vault of the nave, with some of the earliest transverse pointed arches supported on relatively slender composite piers alternated with massive drum columns, and lateral abutments concealed within the triforium over the aisles. The skilled use of the pointed arch and ribbed vault made it possible to cover far more elaborate and complicated ground plans than before. Buttressing made it possible to build taller buildings and open up the intervening wall spaces to create larger windows. It is one of fun things to do in Durham.
Appreciate Beauty of Durham Castle
Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been occupied since 1837 by University College, Durham after its previous role as the residence of the Bishops of Durham. Designated since 1986 as a cultural World Heritage Site in England, along with Durham Cathedral, the castle is open to the general public to visit, but only through guided tours, since it is in use as a working building and is home to over 100 students. The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham’s peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral.
The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle built about 1078. Its architecture is Anglian in nature, possibly due to forced Anglian labour being used to build it. In the 15th century, its three windows were all but blocked up because of the expanded keep. It fell into disuse until 1841 when it was used as a corridor through which to access the keep. During the Second World War, it was used as a command and observation post for the Royal Air Force. The chapel was re-consecrated shortly after the war and is still used for weekly services by the college. Tunstall’s Chapel, named after Cuthbert Tunstall, was built in the 16th century and is used for worship within the college. It was modified in the 17th century by Bishop Cosin. It is one of fun stuff to do in Durham.
Explore Charm of Durham Museum
Durham Museum is a museum in Durham, England. It details the history of the City of Durham from medieval times to the present day. The museum is located in the redundant church of St Mary-le-Bow, close to the World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. The museum contains a variety of objects, models, pictures and audio-visual displays. These exhibitions provide the visitor with an overview of life, labour and leisure in this ancient fortified city, centre of pilgrimage and capital of the Prince Bishops of Durham.
Many of the museum’s displays involve the industry and trade that Durham is known for, including the manufacture of organs, which still continues. As well as these permanent displays, there are also periodic exhibitions and events that highlight the lesser known aspects of Durham’s social history. The museum also features a centre for making brass rubbings as well as a souvenir shop.
Fenwick Lawson is a local sculptor who has contributed three works of art to Durham Museum, the first being ‘Cuthbert of Farne’ which he sculpted in 1984 and donated to the museum in 2004.
Stroll on Sunderland Bridge
Sunderland Bridge is a bridge outside the village in Durham, England. It lies close to the confluence of the River Wear and River Browney. It is built of dressed sandstone with four semicircular arches. When a new bridge was needed as the existing bridge was not wide enough to cope with traffic, Croxdale Bridge was constructed to the east of the existing bridge. The A1 at this point was later re-designated as the A167, and Croxdale Bridge continues to carry this road.
Pay a Visit to Durham University
Durham University is a collegiate public research university in Durham, England. It was the first recognised university to open in England for more than 600 years, after Oxford and Cambridge, and is thus the third-oldest university in England. Durham University owns a 640-acre estate in Durham. This contains part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site and multiple other heritage assets including three ancient monuments, four grade I listed buildings and 79 grade II listed buildings.
Exciting and Adventurous Activities
Have Fun in Lumiere Festival
Lumiere is the UK’s largest light festival. The first Lumiere festival took place in Durham in 2009 and has been recommissioned by Durham County Council every two years since then. 75,000 people attended the four-day event in 2009, the central exhibit of which was Durham Cathedral illuminated with projected images from the Lindisfarne Gospels. For the first time in its history, artworks were spread across Durham County, rather than being concentrated in Durham City Centre.
Head Down to Adventures
Durham is a world full of family fun where you’ll find acres of outdoor attractions to explore. Durham is a top family adventure destination, offering a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor fun. Whether you’re soaring down zip lines, tackling giant slides, or battling it out at Water Wars, the outdoor adventures are endless. Indoors, there are huge soft play areas and themed zones for creative play, ensuring entertainment no matter the weather. With daily live shows, hands-on animal encounters, and seasonal events, Durham delivers excitement for all ages. It’s the ultimate spot for a full day of action-packed family fun, rain or shine.
Enjoy Go-Karting
Durham gives you karting and entertainment in one and improves your racing techniques in a basic open session or just enjoy good fun racing your kids around the track. Durham caters for all types of go karting parties – whether kids go karting birthday parties, family days out, adult birthday parties, corporate go karting events or Christmas karting parties. It is able to organize go kart racing events to suit your exact needs, with various go karting options from grand prix’s to karting sprints. Plus, Durham has no limitations regarding numbers and no experience is needed. It caters for adults and juniors from 8 years upwards and all safety equipment is provided. Plus, there is no need to worry about the typical UK weather as the track is completely indoor.
Popular and Pleasant Restaurants
Taste Delicious Food in The Rabbit Hole
The Rabbit Hole garners accolades for its intimate and stylish ambiance, reminiscent of a luxurious speakeasy, where even the menus light up to add to the experience. Guests have called out the restaurant’s service as notably attentive and friendly, contributing to an enhanced dining experience.
The Rabbit Hole place is intended as ‘an ode to a bygone era of decadence and indulgence, re-lived in all its glory’ so if you fancy a meal in somewhere that looks and feels a little different then you’re covered here. For a more relaxing daytime bite you can enjoy the Dim Sum Parlour, which serves up Asian tapas, dim sum and soups or for ‘a more indulgent Oriental offering’ hit up the A La Carte menu.
Enjoy Coffee in Cafédral Durham
Cafedral Durham emerges as a beloved spot among visitors, who are charmed by its warm and quirky atmosphere, brimming with lush plants and unique decor. You’ll find Cafédral Durham on the corner of Saddler Street and Owengate just before you begin your final ascent towards the Cathedral. It’s the building with plenty of greenery on the outside and just as much inside as well. The homemade scones, sandwiches, and smoothies receive high marks for their freshness and delightful presentation. Guests have called out the staff’s friendly and efficient service, ensuring quick seating even during peak times.
While some note a slightly higher price point, the consensus is that the value is justified by the quality of food and service. Despite its popularity leading to brief waits, the cafe’s efficient management keeps things moving smoothly.
Large-Scale and Luxurious Shopping Malls
Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors
Dalton Park is your go-to outlet shopping destination where you’ll find over 65 world-famous brands at up to 70% off RRP. Big brands, small prices, it’s outlet shopping at its best. When you’ve had a good dose of retail therapy, stop for a break and a bite to eat at one of tasty restaurants and cafés. Put your bags down and recharge. Enjoy a full day out with our 7 screen cinema where you can catch the latest films and explore 55 acres of parkland trails. There is something for everyone, including the dog.
Sanderson’s Auctions & Shop
Auctions occur the first Saturday of each month at Andrew Street auction house in Hartlepool starting around 10am. Anything can be up for auction from antiques, modern and retro furniture, homeware, bikes, pianos, garden equipment, rare and collectable items such as paintings, jewellery and Police lost property. Every auction is overseen by professional auctioneer.
Tips For Cutting Cost in Durham
- Plan Your Budget
Find out how much it will cost to get there and how much money you’re likely to need on a weekly basis taking into account local transportation, accommodation, food & drink and leisure expenses.
- Use ADesignated Savings Account
Once you start to free up some extra money, it’s important to put that money in a designated savings account.
- Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions
Cast a critical eye on all your monthly subscriptions and ask yourself the following question. Do you really need them?
- Use Alternative Transport Methods
Before ordering that taxi or getting on that bus, ask yourself if you could get to your destination on foot or by bicycle.
Conclusion
Things to do in Durham are selected and analyzed detailedly in this blog serving as a comprehensive guide, helping you have a better command of Durham. If you want choose Durham as your tourist spot or educational destination, you ought to read this blog carefully.
After you have decided to pay a visit to Durham or go to Durham for further education, accommodation is the first and foremost thing. uhomes.com is a platform providing affordable, reliable and comfortable student accommodation in UK.
FAQ
Durham is celebrated for its rich cultural diversity, which is reflected in its food, festivals, and community events. Dubbed the “Tastiest Town in the South,” Durham is home to a thriving culinary scene that features a mix of traditional Southern cuisine and innovative dining experiences.
A captivating city with winding cobbled streets and a prominent peninsula crowned with the dramatic Durham Cathedral and Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It somewhat depends on where you are based and what your interests are. Durham Cathedral and Castle are a world heritage site, with the cathedral being a significant architectural masterpiece, so worth doing a little research on it before visiting in order to fully appreciate it.
The best things to do in Durham mostly revolve around its famous university. Most come for the historic city centre’s magnificent monuments, collectively named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Saturday. Every Saturday, the Market Place is transformed by up to 30 small independent traders. It becomes a traditional, bustling, fresh air market and a great shopping experience.
As Durham is such a compact city there are some pleasant walks within easy reach of the city centre. Some of them are listed here. For more advice just ask at the Pointers Trike or contact us. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these walks are the perfect way to explore Durham and appreciate its unique character.
Home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, Durham boasts heritage, beauty and convenience, being only a small city everything is easily accessible.
Food lovers can feast on the fact that Durham is home to an array of local produce and artisan producers, including award-winning cheeses, Teesdale lamb, fish from our reservoirs, vegetables, jams, chutneys and local beers. Durham has a rich heritage when it comes to local produce.
Duke University East Campus. With a median home price of $999,494 and a median rent of $479, Duke University East Campus is the most expensive neighborhood on our list. Based on the growth in home prices in Duke University East Campus over the last 3 years, it ranks No. 1 among all the neighborhoods in Durham.
Which area of Durham is affluent? Some of the most affluent areas in Durham include Aykley Heads, Neville’s Cross, Langley Moor and Chester-Le-Street. These are all high income areas with higher housing prices in comparison to the rest of the county.
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.