What are the best traditional pubs in Durham?

Durham's historic pubs include The Dun Cow on Old Elvet, Ye Old Elm Tree on Crossgate, the Victorian Victoria Inn on Hallgarth Street, and the Market Tavern in the Market Place, all known for well-kept cask ale.

Which Durham pub is the oldest?

Both The Dun Cow, parts of which date to the fifteenth century, and Ye Old Elm Tree, with origins claimed back to at least 1600, are among the city's oldest inns.

Where can I find real ale in Durham?

Ye Old Elm Tree and The Dun Cow are reliable for changing cask ales, and the Victoria Inn is recognised on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

Food & Drink

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.

durhamcity.live·31 August 2026

Durham rewards anyone who enjoys a proper pub. The old city is dotted with historic inns, many of them keeping a good range of cask ale, and several appear regularly in CAMRA listings. Here are four traditional favourites worth seeking out.

The Dun Cow

On Old Elvet, The Dun Cow is one of Durham's most historic pubs, a Grade II listed building with parts dating to the fifteenth century. Its name nods to the founding legend of the city, in which monks bearing St Cuthbert's body were guided to Dun Holm by a milkmaid seeking her lost cow. Inside there is a snug front bar and a larger rear lounge, with well-kept real ales throughout.

Ye Old Elm Tree

Just across the river on Crossgate, Ye Old Elm Tree claims origins going back to at least 1600. It is firmly focused on cask ale, typically pouring several changing beers, and adds a real fire, a heated patio, acoustic music and a weekly quiz. It has been named a local CAMRA City Pub of the Year in recent years.

The Victoria Inn

The Victoria Inn on Hallgarth Street, built in 1899, is one of the region's finest heritage pubs, recognised on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors for its genuinely unspoilt Victorian layout. It is a place to appreciate period detail over a quiet pint rather than a rowdy night out.

The Market Tavern

For something right in the thick of it, The Market Tavern sits in the Market Place at the very centre of the city, a handy, characterful stop with well-kept ales and classic pub food while you explore the surrounding streets.

Making a night of it

All four are within an easy walk of one another, so a gentle crawl around the old city is very doable. For more places to eat and drink, see our full directory of Durham venues.