Durham is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in North East England. It’s most famous for its cathedral and university, but the town itself is rich in history, culture and stunning landscapes. There’s nothing better than a stroll through Durham’s town centre on a sunny day.

The town isn’t too difficult to get to. It has a well-connected train station to other parts of the UK, and plenty of car parks if you’re driving. The Prince Bishop and the Walkergate car parks are located directly in the centre. You could also use the Park & Ride service if you’d prefer.

1. Durham Castle

The castle sits right next to the Cathedral at the top of the hill. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site and was originally built 900 years ago to defend the area surrounding the River Wear. It used to be the official residence for the Prince-Bishops of Durham until it was donated to Durham University in the 1800s.

Today it serves as accommodation for both students and staff at the university. Can you imagine having a room in a castle as your student accommodation? What a dream! They even serve breakfast in the Great Hall which sounds exactly like the Hogwarts experience I want. It makes me regret not trying to get into Durham University (although with their high standards I may not have made the cut). Access to the castle is via guided tour only so if you want to visit make sure you book! 

2. Durham Cathedral

Built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, Durham Cathedral is a perfect example of Norman architecture in England. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986. The size of the cathedral is breathtaking and going inside is a must do for any visitor.

If you have the stamina, you might want to give climbing the 325 steps to the top of the tower a go for some stunning views of the surrounding area. There is a small fee to climb the tower.

Not only is it a beautiful iconic structure, but the cathedral was used for a number of scenes in the first two Harry Potter films. It’s a must visit for any fan of the Wizarding World! The two main areas used for filming was the cathedral cloister and courtyard, and the chapter house.

3. Market Place

Merchants have been selling their goods on the historic Market Place site since the 12th century. If you want to catch the outdoor markets, you’ll need to go on a Saturday between 9am-4pm. It’s a great place to shop for a variety of unique items, and also the perfect place to grab a quick spot of lunch. 

One of my favourite merchants at the market is Flaura Rose who sell a range of vintage clothing and custom-made denim jackets. You can even request ‘made to order’ denim jackets from their website. You can follow their Facebook page for updates on when they’ll be at the Durham Market Place (sometimes they also go to the Quayside market in Newcastle).

As for food, you may be in North East England but you can get some fantastic Spanish food from Durham Market. Eats of Spain is my favourite place to grab some lunch from and again you can follow their Facebook to see when they’ll be at the market. Again they sometimes pop up at the Quayside market in Newcastle. These are just some genuine recommendations. I can assure you that I am not sponsored by either of these vendors.

4. Brown’s Rowing Boats

One of my favourite things about Durham is how beautiful it is down by the river. Sure you can go for a walk on the riverside, but personally I think the best way to enjoy the scenic views is by rowing a boat on the River Wear. You can hire them from Brown’s Boats for a very reasonable price. There is no need to book in advance and lifejackets are available if you would prefer to wear one.

If there are members of your party that don’t want to join, they can go grab some drinks in The Boat Club that has a balcony overlooking the river. Nothing beats the tranquil feeling of floating down the river with the sounds of nature surrounding you (unless your friend rows into the riverbank as mine did. I took over the oars very quickly after this catastrophic event).

5. Gala Theatre

Due to COVID-19, the Gala Theatre is unfortunately still closed for the unseeable future. However, the theatre is usually a great culture spot in the heart of Durham. At this venue you can catch a range of entertainment from live theatre and music, to comedians and cinema. The theatre also has a resident brass band and youth theatre school, who both put on some really great shows. The Gala Theatre is definitely worth checking out when it reopens. It’s a difficult time for the arts right now and we need to continue supporting them where we can.

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I hope if you ever find yourself in Durham you have the most amazing time. Durham has some great eateries so I’m hoping to do a post on the best places to grab some food another time. There are also some really great things to do around Country Durham that I might touch on later (Beamish Museum being on of them).