What supermarkets are there in Durham?

Durham's largest supermarkets are on the retail parks around the city: a 24-hour Tesco Extra at Dragonville to the east, and a Sainsbury's at the Arnison Centre to the north alongside Marks & Spencer, with Aldi, Lidl and Iceland also on the parks. Convenience stores and Co-op branches serve the neighbourhoods.

Where can I buy fresh local produce in Durham?

The Victorian Durham Market Hall on the Market Place has independent traders selling cheese, deli goods, meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and flowers, often better value and with more character than the chains. There is also an outdoor market on the square on certain days.

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Supermarkets and Food Shopping in Durham

Q: Is there a 24-hour supermarket in Durham?

Yes. The Tesco Extra on Dragons Lane at Dragonville Retail Park trades around the clock on weekdays, making it the go-to for a big shop or a late-night essential, with generous free parking. Opening hours can change on bank holidays.

Where to do the weekly shop in Durham, from the big retail-park superstores at Dragonville and Arnison to the Victorian market hall for fresh and local produce.

durhamcity.live·9 September 2026

Durham may be a compact historic city, but it is well served for food shopping, with large supermarkets on the retail parks that ring the centre and plenty of convenience stores in between, plus a Victorian market hall for something more characterful. Here is our guide to where to do the weekly shop in Durham.

Tesco Extra, Dragonville

The city's biggest supermarket, Tesco Extra sits at Dragonville Retail Park off the A690 to the east, handy for Gilesgate and Belmont. As a full Extra-format store it carries the complete grocery range alongside clothing, homewares and a café, and it trades around the clock on weekdays, making it the go-to for a big shop or a late-night essential, with generous free parking.

Best for: Best for a large one-stop shop with long opening hours.

Sainsbury's, Arnison

To the north of the city, Sainsbury's anchors the Arnison Retail Centre at Pity Me, alongside Marks & Spencer, Boots and Next. It offers the full grocery range with plenty of parking, making it the natural choice for households in Framwellgate Moor, Newton Hall and the northern suburbs, with Aldi, Lidl and Home Bargains close by for budget options.

Best for: Best for the north of the city, with M&S and other shops next door.

Durham Market Hall

For fresh, local and independent food, the Victorian Durham Market Hall on the Market Place is the place to browse. Under its iron-and-glass roof, traders sell everything from a cheese and deli counter and a butcher to fruit, vegetables, bread and flowers, often at better value than the chains and with far more character. There is an outdoor market on the square too on certain days.

Best for: Best for fresh, local produce and independent traders.

Everyday and convenience shopping

Between the big stores, Durham has plenty of smaller options: Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local convenience stores, Co-op branches around the neighbourhoods, and the Dragonville and Arnison parks together cover Aldi, Lidl, Iceland and more for budget and specialist shopping. Wherever you are based in the city, a food shop is rarely far away, though opening hours vary between the superstores and the smaller convenience branches, so it is worth checking for late or Sunday trips.

Know a great food shop or grocer in Durham we should feature? Get in touch.