Crook Hall Gardens
A National Trust garden beside the River Wear with a maze, secret walled garden, orchard and moat pool, plus self-led family activities through the summer.
About Crook Hall Gardens
Cared for by the National Trust since 2022, Crook Hall Gardens is a compact but richly planted site at Sidegate, a short walk from Durham's market place beside the River Wear. Interlinked gardens lead visitors past a secret walled garden, an orchard, a wildlife-rich moat pool and a living puzzle of a maze, with views of the city and cathedral rising beyond. It is an easy-going place for families, with plenty of room for children to explore at their own pace.
Through the summer holidays the garden lays on self-led sports, crafts and nature activities, giving children something to do every day, and a cafe provides a base for tired grown-ups. Admission is charged with family tickets available and under-fives free. Opening times and the current activity programme are published on the National Trust website.
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Blog posts and guides that feature Crook Hall Gardens.

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More Family Attraction in Durham
Durham University Botanic Garden
Durham University's ten-hectare botanic garden on the southern edge of the city, with woodland gardens, glasshouses and a cafe. Under-16s enter free.
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