10 Best Things to Do in Durham

Durham Castle, built in 1072, features a motte and bailey design favoured by the Normans. It was once the seat of Durham's prince-bishops. University College, the oldest of Durham University's Colleges now occupies this magnificent complex.

Students and staff get to stay, learn, and work in this UNESCO-listed landmark, while the public can explore the grounds on a guided tour. Sessions usually start at 1.15 pm, 2.15 pm, 3.15 pm and 4.15 pm every day. During university breaks, tours are available at 10.15 am, 11.15 am and 12.15 pm.

The Durham Botanic Garden spans 24.7 acres of bamboo groves as well as alpine and woodland gardens. Located in Durham University, you can see thousands of plants from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific here.

Check out the heated glasshouses, which houses desert and tropical plant species such as sugarcane, coffee, giant bamboo, and cacti. The Durham Botanic Garden’s visitor centre has a café that serves as an exhibition space for local artists and photographers. Families can enjoy free activities on Saturday or Sunday afternoons, as well as self-guided trails for children year-round.

Durham Cathedral is a prominent UNESCO World Heritage site in County Durham. Founded in 1093, it was to house the relics of Saint Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede. The cathedral is within a 2-minute walk of the iconic Durham Castle.

Highlights within the light-filled Romanesque building include tranquil cloisters and a serene chapel. You can also discover ancient artefacts from the onsite Open Treasures exhibit. You'll need both hands free to climb 325 steps to the top of the cathedral's tower, but it's worth it for the view. Harry Potter fans will recognise the cloisters as Hogwarts' in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001).   

Durham Market Hall is a prominent gathering place in Market Place, near Durham Town Hall. Farmers have been bringing their wares to this spot since medieval times, and the tradition continues today.

The indoor marketplace hosts around 40 independent traders selling fresh fruit, vegetables, and cheeses from nearby farms. You can also find bread and cakes from village bakeries, as well as stalls offering vintage toys, jewellery, vinyl records, and textiles. Visit during a festive occasion, like Christmas, to enjoy colourful decorations and live performances at the market.

The Oriental Museum has an extensive collection of artworks and artefacts, mostly from Asia and Ancient Egypt. Founded in 1960, the museum was to support the teaching and research for Durham University students and academics.

Today, the museum has over 36,000 objects dating from prehistory to the modern-day. It has over 2,000 Chinese jade and hardstones – one of the largest collections in the UK. A must-see is the early 19^th-century Chinese bed with carved boxwood and ivory panels, as well as the Tibetan thangkas (painted or embroidered Buddhist tapestries).

Wharton Park sits on a hillside to the north of the city centre, close to Durham railway station. The 11-acre public park dates to 1857, with its original layout and features intact to serve as a reminder of its role in the city’s social history.

You can have a picnic in Wharton Park’s designated barbecue area, next to The Way sculpture. It’s built on a hill with picnic benches overlooking Durham City. There are play areas, an amphitheatre, a mini-car track, and scenic footpaths.

The Durham Museum and Heritage Centre occupies the former medieval church of St Mary-le-Bow, near Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. The museum has audio-visual displays, models, and artefacts tracing traces the history of Durham from medieval times to the 20^th century.

Learn about medieval Durham through exhibits on the powerful Neville family of Raby and Brancepeth. A must-see is the 4 stained-glass windows by Victorian artist William Collins, which depicted influential members of the Neville family. The Durham Museum also has models of the medieval city, a 19th-century market, and a Victorian prison cell.

Our Lady of Mercy & St Godric's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Durham city centre, about a 10-minute walk of Wharton Park and Durham railway station. The Grade II-listed building, built in the 1860s, had parts severely damaged by a fire in 1985.

Refurbished and reopened in 1987, the church began serving the local Catholic community to this day. It houses a gilded stone high altar dating back to 1914, impressive stained-glass windows, and painted scenes from the life of St Godric. The churchyard holds a war memorial commemorating parish member who died during World War I.

The River Wear surrounds Durham's historic centre on 3 sides like a watery lasso. It’s crossed by a series of bridges, including Framwellgate and Elvet. These masonry arch bridges, which date back to the 1400s, are Grade I-listed structures in Durham.

You can sail under these bridges on a 1-hour river cruise with Prince Bishop River Cruises while admiring the view of castle and cathedral from the cruiser's sun deck. Feeling more energetic? Hire a traditional wooden boat from Brown's Rowing Boats and row your way along the winding river.

Finchale Priory is a Grade I-listed Benedictine priory on the bank of the River Wear. Founded in 1196 and constructed during the 13th century, it served as an outpost of Durham Cathedral and a holiday retreat for its monks until it was suppressed by King Henry VIII in 1538. Today, much of the structure remains standing, and guests can visit the grounds for free.

While exploring Finchale Priory, keep your eyes peeled for faint paintings that still exist on the piers of the church nave. Parking is available at the Cocken Road Car Park on the other side of the river. There are also a handful of hotels and holiday apartments just a stone’s throw away.