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News, guides, and stories from Durham.
What's On This Weekend in Durham
Crank It Up! 2026, Beamish Museum, Susie Dent: Word Perfect, Heritage Open Day at Woodhorn, and 1 more
Learning to Drive in Durham
A practical guide to learning to drive in Durham, from the Meadowfield test centre and local driving schools to lesson costs, DVSA fees and the quiet streets that suit a first lesson.
Business Support in Durham: Start-up Help, Funding and Advice
A practical guide to starting or growing a business in Durham, from Business Durham and the Durham City Incubator to Finance Durham, NETPark, the North East Growth Hub and national funding.
Rainbows, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts in Durham: A Parents' Guide
A parents' guide to Girlguiding and Scouting in Durham: the sections by age, the local Scout groups, how to sign your child up, what it costs, and how to volunteer.
Durham Folk Festival: A Guide to the City's New Folk Celebration
A major new folk festival launches in Durham in September 2026, with more than 100 events across the Cathedral, Redhills, the Gala Theatre and the River Wear. Our guide to what's on and how to plan a visit.
Diggerland Durham: A Family Guide to the Digger Adventure Park
Where children ride, drive and operate real diggers. Our guide to Diggerland Durham at Langley Park: the rides, height-based pricing, opening season, food and how to get there.
Kynren: A Visitor's Guide to England's Epic Live Show
A short drive from Durham, Kynren tells 2,000 years of English history in a 90-minute open-air spectacle. Our guide to the show, the new daytime park, tickets, timings and how to get there.
Kynren Pyromusical Fireworks Return to County Durham this Halloween
The Kynren Pyromusical, a 25-minute fireworks display set to music at Bishop Auckland, returns for its eighth year on Saturday 31 October, with tickets on sale now.
Getting to Durham
How to reach Durham by train, coach, road and air, from the East Coast Main Line and the A1(M) to the nearest airport and the Park & Ride sites on the edge of the city.
Durham Park & Ride: A Complete Guide
Durham's three Park & Ride sites at Sniperley, Belmont and Howlands Farm, with free parking, frequent buses and a low flat fare, are the easiest way to visit the city by car.
Getting Around Durham Without a Car
Durham is a small city built for walking. Our guide to exploring on foot, the Cathedral Bus, cycling and getting around with limited mobility, from the peninsula's cobbled streets to Shopmobility.
Beamish Museum: A Visitor's Guide
Just north of Durham, Beamish is one of the North East's great days out. Our guide to the living museum's period streets, vintage trams, the year-long ticket, and how to get there.
Adventure Valley: A Family Day Out Near Durham
The North East's biggest family adventure park sits just north of Durham. Our guide to Adventure Valley's outdoor rides, indoor play zones, animals, tickets and how to get there.
The Best Independent Shops in Durham
Durham is full of independent shops, most within a few minutes of the Market Place. Our guide to the Victorian Market Hall, Saddler Street vintage, family jewellers and local makers.
The Best Walks In and Around Durham
With the River Wear looping through its heart and the Durham Dales and coast within reach, Durham is a fine place to walk. Our guide, from the riverside peninsula to the countryside beyond.
Sport and Fitness in Durham
From a riverside leisure centre and a free weekly parkrun to a rowing tradition that runs deep on the Wear, our guide to keeping active in and around Durham.
The Durham Miners' Gala: A Guide to the Big Meeting
On the second Saturday of every July, Durham gives itself over to the Big Meeting. Our guide to the Durham Miners' Gala, its banners and brass bands, the cathedral service and its history.
The Best Days Out from Durham
Durham sits within easy reach of some of the North East's finest days out. Our guide to the castles, museums, waterfalls, forests and coastline within a short drive of the city, from Beamish and Raby to High Force and the Heritage Coast.
Durham Regatta: A Guide to the North's Oldest Rowing Event
On the second weekend of June, hundreds of rowing crews race beneath the cathedral on the River Wear. Our guide to Durham Regatta, the second-oldest regatta in England, its history, its course and how to enjoy the weekend.
Parks and Gardens in Durham
For a small city, Durham is unusually green. Our guide to the best parks and gardens in and around the city, from the University Botanic Garden and National Trust Crook Hall to the cathedral views at Wharton Park and the Georgian landscape of Hardwick Park.
Welcome to durhamcity.live
A new, independent community hub for Durham, the cathedral and university city on the River Wear, local events, a business directory, guides, and neighbourhood news.
Things to Do in Durham
From the World Heritage cathedral and castle to riverside walks, museums and the Victorian market hall, here is our guide to the best things to do in Durham.
Where to Park in Durham
Durham's medieval centre is compact and partly pedestrianised, so parking takes a little planning. Here is our guide to Park & Ride, city-centre car parks and the alternatives.
The Best Restaurants in Durham
From Michelin-listed tasting menus to riverside dining and long-standing local favourites, our guide to the best restaurants in Durham city.
The Best Pubs in Durham
Durham is a city of historic inns and well-kept cask ale. Our guide to the best traditional pubs in Durham, from a fifteenth-century inn to a preserved Victorian gem.
The Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Durham
Durham does coffee properly, from cathedral-view cafes to independent roasters and all-day kitchens. Our guide to the best places for a flat white in the city.
The Best Brunch in Durham
From riverside kitchens to Claypath delis and French brasseries, our guide to the best places for brunch in Durham, whether you want eggs, pancakes or a proper fry-up.
The Best Sunday Roast in Durham
A proper Sunday lunch is a Durham institution. Our guide to the best roasts in the city, from historic inns to riverside steakhouses and country pubs on the edge of town.
The Best Afternoon Tea in Durham
Scones, sandwiches and a proper pot of tea. Our guide to the best afternoon tea in Durham, from a riverside tea room to grand country-house hotels on the edge of the city.
The Best Bakeries in Durham
Fresh bread, pastries and proper cake. Our guide to the best bakeries and patisseries in Durham, from a French patisserie to a market-hall bakery and a Claypath deli.
A Weekend in Durham
How to spend a perfect two days in Durham, from the World Heritage cathedral and castle to riverside walks, independent restaurants and the Victorian market hall.
Durham Cathedral: A Visitor's Guide
How to visit one of the finest Norman cathedrals in Europe, from the shrine of St Cuthbert and the tomb of Bede to the tower climb and the Sanctuary Knocker.
Durham Castle: A Visitor's Guide
How to visit the Norman castle on Palace Green, once home to the Prince Bishops and now a Durham University college, open to the public by guided tour.
The Prince Bishops of Durham
For centuries the Bishops of Durham ruled the County Palatine with near-royal powers, raising armies, holding courts and minting their own coins. Here is their story.
The Story of St Cuthbert and How Durham Began
Durham owes its existence to a saint. The story of St Cuthbert, the monks who carried his body, and the legend of the Dun Cow that founded the city.
Walking the Durham World Heritage Site: A Self-Guided Route
A short circular walk around Durham's peninsula, taking in the cathedral and castle, Palace Green, Prebends Bridge and the wooded riverbanks of the Wear.
Durham on Screen: Film and TV Locations
From Hogwarts to Asgard, Durham Cathedral has doubled for some of cinema's grandest settings. A guide to the film and TV made in the World Heritage city.
Palace Green and Durham's University Museums
The historic green between the cathedral and castle, and the Durham University museums around it, from Palace Green Library to the Oriental Museum.
A Student's Guide to Durham
New to Durham University? An introduction to life in one of England's oldest university cities, from the collegiate system to getting around a compact, hilly city.
Durham University Colleges Explained
Durham's collegiate system explained, from the historic Bailey colleges on the peninsula to the Hill colleges on Elvet Hill, and what college life actually involves.
Where Durham Students Live: Colleges and Student Areas
From first year in college to shared houses in the Viaduct, Gilesgate and beyond, a guide to where Durham students live and what each area is like.
The University Year in Durham: Terms, Freshers and Graduation
How Durham University's three terms shape the city, from Freshers' Week in October to graduation in the cathedral, and how Durham changes with the academic year.
Moving to Durham for University: What to Know
A practical guide for new Durham students, from arriving for Freshers and college accommodation to registering with a GP and getting around the city.
Durham on a Budget: A Student's Guide
Some of the best things about Durham are free or cheap, from the cathedral and riverside walks to the museums and the market. A student guide to the city on a budget.
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