Durham Attractions
Durham boasts a huge range of cultural attractions. From industrial heritage to art collections, ancient castles to exotic gardens, rail heritage to religious heritage, it's got it all.
The iconic Cathedral and Castle UNESCO World Heritage site was the first to be designated and is one of the finest surviving examples of Romanesque architecture on the planet.
There are castles and historic houses filled with dazzling art and furniture collections. While The Bowes Museum is home to European art and the famous mechanical Silver Swan dating back to 1773. Or step back in time at Beamish Museum and experience life in the North in the 1800s and 1900s.
Marvel at the work of Saxon stonemasons who created Esomb's tiny church, a place of worship for over 1400 years! Hop aboard a steam engine at Locomotion in Shildon, ride the world's oldest existing line at Tanfield Railway or pop on a hard hat and head down the mine at Killhope, the North of England Mining Museum. Delve into the tropical collections in the University Botanical Garden or meander through the themed borders at Crook Hall.
St Mary and St Cuthbert's Church was the cathedral church and shrine of St Cuthbert from AD883 to 995, during which time the Lindisfarne Gospels were translated into Anglo-Saxon (facsimile on display). The Anker's House is an anchorage attached to the church with displays on Roman, Saxon and medieval times. Model of Anchorites' living quarters. Read More…
Principal country residence of the Prince Bishops since AD1190, the castle is now the home to the Bishop of Durham. A fine example of architectural history, the state rooms display treasures left behind including original works of art, the collection of 17thC Spanish paintings by Francisco de Zurbaran and portraits of past Bishops. St Peter's Chapel is one Read More…
Ruined castle overlooking the River Tees. Remains include 14thC great hall, 3-storey keep and circular round tower which inspired Sir Walter Scott (Rokeby). Set on a high rock above the River Tees, imposing Barnard Castle was the stronghold of the Balliol family. Taking its name from Bernard de Balliol, who rebuilt it in the 12thC, it includes a fine great hall and a dominating round-towered keep. Unsuccessfully besieged by the Scots in 1216, it Read More…
Experience a real sense of your past at Beamish, and discover what life was like in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times. Beamish is a living, working museum, set in 400 acres of County Durham countryside. Costumed demonstrators bring to life the Edwardian Town and Pit Village, complete with original drift mine. At Home Farm and Pockerley Old Hall, experience firsthand how the Industrial revolution transformed agricultural life in the Read More…
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