10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in County Durham That You Shouldn't Miss

Visit Steam Machine Brewing Company's BREW ROOM for a constantly changing selection of fresh craft beer from our core range, as well as BREW ROOM exclusives. Interact with the brewers in the heart of the brewery. On and off-site sales available, including bottles, gift packs, and growler fills.

The Bob Abley art gallery is made up of both large and small rooms hosting a large selection of sensational and affordable art for sale as well as a fine collection of permanent works demonstrating Spennymoor’s great heritage of mining art. While owned by the Town Council, the gallery is run on a daily basis by hard working and committed volunteers who will happily show you around and explain things for you. The main gallery is the Norman Cornish Room. The exhibition hosts the work of Spennymoor’s most famous artist and includes a selection of original pieces of his work, loaned by Northumbria University, the Town Council and the Cornish Family. There is also a large selection of original work by Norman Cornish for sale as well as a range of framed and unframed prints, books, post cards and posters. With video footage of Norman talking about the area and how and why he painted in the way he did playing throughout your visit, this really is an experience not to be missed.

The Mining Art Gallery will provide a permanent home for more than 400 works from prominent local artists connected with the regions mining communities, including Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish. The gallery will be located in the former Old Bank Chambers in the heart of the Market Place. Parking available at North Bondgate car park, DL14 7PG. PLEASE NOTE: We are temporarily closed due to Covid-19.

To ensure the safety and well-being of staff and visitors, Durham University’s museums, galleries and Botanic Garden will remain closed until early 2021. We will be using the closed period to carry out improvements at all our sites. At Durham Castle this will include: • Preparing to launch ‘Heralding Women’, a project celebrating the women of University College and Durham Castle which will run through 2021 • Updating and improving the Tunstall Gallery art displays • Develop new online exhibitions and learning resources for users to engage with from anywhere in the world • Catalogue and digitise more of our collections and share them online via our online database Discover

Following Government advice, Durham University’s museums, galleries and Botanic Garden are temporarily closed. We will be using the closed period to carry out improvements at all our sites. At the Oriental Museum this will include: - completing the new Silk Roads permanent gallery, which will provide an updated introduction to the museum and its collection. - installing the special exhibition, 'Lu Xun’s Legacy in Print Making in Modern China', celebrating the impact of Lu Xun (1881-1936) arguably the most important cultural figure of twentieth century China. Stay in touch on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. From Ancient Egypt to modern China, we are the only museum in the North of England devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia. The Oriental Museum is normally open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 12pm - 5pm.

Durham Cathedral welcomes non-flash visitor photography. We have been a place of worship, welcome and hospitality for almost one thousand years. We rely on donations, and we suggest you give £3 per person to support the Cathedral's future. Located at the heart of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Built in 1093, the Cathedral is famous as the Shrine of St Cuthbert and the resting place of the Venerable Bede. Durham Cathedral also boasts the most intact surviving set of medieval monastic buildings in the UK. These spectacular spaces house Open Treasure, a world-class visitor experience which reveals the remarkable story of Durham Cathedral and its incredible collections through temporary and permanent exhibits for visitors of all ages. Charges apply to group tours, public tours and Open Treasure.

It’s been delighting visitors for more than 100 years, and now a £12m revamp has transformed The Bowes Museum into a must see 21st Century place to visit.A romantic history, stunning galleries, great location, fine dining, top class exhibitions, family fun events, a thriving toddler group – all these can be discovered inside this fabulous listed building which resembles a French chateau.And that’s not all. It’s surrounded by parkland, woodland walks, formal gardens and a newly opened children’s play area.No visit is complete without a browse in our shop, or a delicious snack in Café Bowes.If you’re looking for a great day out, make The Bowes Museum your destination of choice. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for up to the minute info on what’s on when.

Visit the place where railways were born! Set in our original 1840's railway station follow the history of Darlington and the growth of the railways. We have a shop with souvenirs to suit all tastes and pockets and a varied events programme. There really is something for everyone!