Tours

You can easily explore Durham City on foot. The city is a network of winding cobbled streets and sturdy stone bridges which lead up to the World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle.  Take a relaxing leafy walk around the tree lined peninsula which circles the old City for breathtaking views of the magnificent castle and cathedral. Join a scary ghost walk or jump aboard a River Wear cruise boat. A brisk 20 minute walk from the old city will take you to Medieval Crook Hall & Gardens, the Oriental Museum, the fascinating Durham Light Infantry Museum, the Durham Heritage Centre and the Botanic Gardens.

Durham City is the ideal car touring base from which to explore County Durham. A wealth of historic castles and houses are spread across a county rich in unspoiled countryside, lakes and coastline. Look out for the impressive medieval Raby Castle, home to Lord Banard's family since 1626. Splendour at one of the largest private chapels in Europe at Auckland Castle, the official residence of the Bishop of Durham. Don't miss one of Britain's greatest collections of European fine and decorative arts at Bowes Museum.

Discover Beamish, England's Large Visitor Attraction of the Year which vividly recreates life of a town in northern England in the early 1800s and early 1900s. Marvel at Locomotion, a 6,000 square metre site railway heritage collection.  Killhope Lead Mining Museum was awarded the North of England's Most Welcoming Experience award in 2005 - it explores the life of Pennine lead mining families. 

See some amazing churches and unravel their history. Explore the world's oldest Methodist chapel, High House Chapel in Ireshopeburn and the adjacent Weardale Museum. Escomb Saxon Church dates back to the 7th Century and is one of Northern Europe's finest examples of early Christian Architecture.

A must see is High Force in Upper Teesdale, England's largest waterfall which thunders 70ft over rocks on the River Tees.