Family Activities in Durham: Days Out with the Kids

Durham packs an unusual amount into a small, walkable city. You can wander a UNESCO World Heritage site in the morning, take a rowing boat along the Wear after lunch and finish the day burning off energy in a soft play barn, all without a long drive. This guide is a broad "days out with the kids" roundup, grouped by the kind of day you fancy, covering both indoor and outdoor options as well as a few bigger attractions nearby. For deeper dives we point you to our companion guides along the way.

Outdoor and riverside days

Some of the best family time in Durham costs nothing at all. The riverbanks below the cathedral form a leafy loop popular with families, and Wharton Park, a restored Victorian civic park just above the railway station, has a play area, a heritage centre and some of the finest views over the peninsula. Both are free public spaces, so they are ideal for a picnic and a run-around when the weather is kind.

For something more memorable, hire a traditional wooden rowing boat from Browns Rowing Boats at the boathouse by Elvet Bridge. Gliding under the old bridges with the castle keep above you is a classic Durham experience, and even younger children love the novelty. It is seasonal and weather-dependent, so check before you set off.

Best for: Best for a free, low-cost morning outdoors with big Durham views.

Gardens and green space to explore

On the southern edge of the city, the Durham University Botanic Garden spreads across around 10 hectares of mature woodland on Hollingside Lane. Families come for the winding woodland paths, the bamboo grove and the glasshouses, where the desert house of cacti and the tropical rainforest house are firm favourites with children. There is a modest admission charge and a cafe on site, and it stays open almost every day of the year.

Closer to the centre, Crook Hall Gardens is now cared for by the National Trust. Its walled gardens, medieval hall, secret spaces and grassy areas suit little ones who like to explore, and there is a shop and cafe for a proper sit-down afterwards. It sits just off Sidegate, a short walk from the riverside path.

Best for: Best for slow-paced exploring and hands-on nature.

Museums and culture the kids will enjoy

Durham does culture without the stuffiness. The Oriental Museum is the only museum in the north of England devoted to the art and archaeology of North Africa and Asia, and entry is free, with a donation box for those who wish to give. Egyptian mummies, Chinese ceramics and family trails make it a genuinely engaging rainy-hour stop.

On Palace Green, between the castle and cathedral, Palace Green Library runs changing exhibitions and family-friendly displays in a wonderful historic setting. The neighbouring Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, both civic landmarks and part of the World Heritage Site, are free to enter the cathedral and well worth folding into the same afternoon. Older children who have read a certain wizarding series will recognise the cloisters from the films.

Best for: Best for a low-cost culture fix in the heart of the city.

Active and indoor days out

When the weather turns, or when the children simply have energy to spare, Durham has plenty indoors. For under-fives and primary-age children, Bertie's Play Village offers imaginative role-play areas, while Infinite Durham brings trampolines, inflatables and clip-and-climb style activities for older kids and teens. Both are built for a couple of hours of full-on play.

Climbers should head to Durham Climbing Centre, which caters for beginners and families with sessions and taster options, and swimmers are well served by Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre, whose pool and family sessions sit conveniently by the river near the city centre. For more indoor ideas, see our full rainy-day guide to Durham and our roundup of soft play in Durham.

Best for: Best for burning off energy whatever the weather.

Bigger days out nearby

If you have a full day and a car, a few larger attractions sit within easy reach. Adventure Valley, just north of the city at Brasside, combines outdoor play, farm animals and indoor barns into one of the region's most popular family days out. A little further afield, Diggerland near Langley Park lets children drive real diggers and dumpers, and Beamish, the celebrated open-air living museum near Stanley, recreates North East life across the centuries with trams, a town street and a working farm.

These make good rainy-holiday backups too, since Adventure Valley and Beamish both offer plenty under cover. For everyday adventures closer to home, our guides to the best playgrounds in Durham and free things to do in Durham will keep the calendar full without stretching the budget.

Best for: Best for a full-day outing with a short drive.

Planning your day

Durham's compact centre means you can string several of these together on foot: the cathedral, Palace Green Library, the riverside path and the rowing boats are all within a short walk of one another. Add a warm layer, comfortable shoes and a picnic, and you have the makings of a proper family day out whatever the season.

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