Durham City

Bill Bryson called it ‘a perfect little city’ and Condé Nast’s Traveller magazine readers voted it the ‘Best city in the UK’. Now Durham warmly awaits your visit to receive another seal of approval.

A captivating city with winding cobbled streets and a prominent peninsula crowned with the dramatic Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site – one of the most stunning city panoramas in Europe - Durham is a pleasure to explore and one of the finest cultural and historic destinations in the UK.

The quintessential old English university city, Durham has a wonderful timeless quality with rowing on the Wear and relaxing riverside walks, and yet buzzes with a vibrant contemporary culture of superb cafés, artisan workshops, boutiques, galleries and museums.

There’s plenty to see and do: watch the world go by in one of the city centre cafés or shop for gourmet treats, locally produced food or original crafts in an array of shops and markets. Enjoy a moment of reflection in the awe-inspiring cathedral, find city-centre calm at Crook Hall and Gardens or explore the treasures of Durham University’s Oriental Museum.

Days in Durham are a hard act to follow, but we like to think our evenings are also up to the mark. From spellbinding theatre to side-splitting comedy, intimate restaurants to chic café-bars, action films to art house cinema – Durham City has entertainment galore.