Durham on a Budget: A Student's Guide

Student budgets only stretch so far, but happily some of the best things about Durham cost little or nothing. Here is how to enjoy the city without spending much.

The cathedral, for free

Entry to Durham Cathedral is free, one of the finest buildings in the country to wander into on a spare afternoon. It is a working church and receives no regular government funding, so it asks visitors to donate around £5 if they can, and optional extras like the tower climb and guided tours are charged separately. Parts may close for services, so check before you go.

Free walks along the river

The River Wear loops right around the cathedral-and-castle peninsula, and the riverside paths make one of the best free things to do in the city, a gentle circuit of a few miles on mostly paved paths. It costs nothing, changes with the seasons, and never gets old.

Free museums

Palace Green Library, next to the cathedral, currently offers free entry, as does the Museum of Archaeology housed within it, which tells the story of Durham. The university's Oriental Museum does charge admission, but it is modest, and between them the university's museums are an easy, cheap way to fill a rainy day. Opening times can change, so check before visiting.

Affordable food and finds

The Victorian Durham Market Hall has been trading for more than 170 years and is home to over fifty independent traders selling food, fresh produce and goods, plus a cafe, all free to browse and often cheaper than the chains. For clothes, books and homeware to kit out a student room, Durham's charity shops, with North Road near the bus station a well-known hunting ground, are a genuinely useful and sustainable option.

Make your student card work

Finally, a student discount card such as TOTUM is worth having: free membership unlocks online codes through the app, while a paid tier adds a physical card accepted in shops. Discounts change constantly, so check what is currently on offer before you buy anything.