Top Things to do in Durham
What to do and see in Durham, England: The Best Things to do Good for Couples
Discover the best top things to do in Durham, United Kingdom including Escape Rooms Durham, Viva Cuba, Durham Castle, Palace Green, East Durham Coast, Durham Cathedral, Old Durham Gardens, Crook Hall & Gardens, Gala Theatre Durham, Durham University Botanic Garden.
Restaurants in Durham
1. Escape Rooms Durham
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 303 reviews
A real life escape game has arrived in Durham. You and your team will need to solve a series of puzzles in under an hour, can you beat the room? Great for team building, stag/hen do's or just a great way to spend an hour with friends or family!
Reviewed By 339jot - London, United Kingdom
We had great fun at Escape Rooms Durham - clues to crack codes, to release keys, to open draws, really challenging with additional clues provided by Danielle who guided us just as much as we needed and we escaped with 22 seconds to go (but there were only two of us so not bad!) Highly recommend this - a fun hour that gets you thinking!
2. Viva Cuba
3. Durham Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,272 reviews
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
Reviewed By DJBURTY
We are in Durham for the first time. We spent an hour or so around the Cathedral which is so impressive. We then took a tour of the Castle. Great value for money at £5 each. The tour lasted around an hour and the tour guide Rupert was a fountain of knowledge but also made it interactive with the group. Some first year University students are lucky enough to reside in the castle.
4. Palace Green
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
Reviewed By liverpoolfan2016 - Bishop Middleham, United Kingdom
Upstairs is a fixed exhibition giving a potted history of Durham and its environs and also the University. Very informative. Downstairs there are several rooms which hold temporary exhibitions - currently (to the end of February) sketches from Norman Cornish, which had me in tears. There is a small cafe and a shop too. Entrance to the Durham gallery is free and there may be a small fee for special exhibitions
5. East Durham Coast
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 201 reviews
Reviewed By angier931 - Sunderland, United Kingdom
We consider ourselves extremely lucky to live near such a lovely coastline and Indeed being able to walk here during lockdown kept us sane. We are particular fans of the coast around seaham - Whether you visit noses’s point, vane tempest or seaham hall the scenery is stunning! We also love to look for sea glass too Have travelled the world and would struggle to name a more beautiful coastline Unlike other coastal areas parking is free too and the beaches are rarely crowded.
6. Durham Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,765 reviews
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.
Reviewed By RafalWVIIX - Skoki, Poland
Durham Cathedral was second best place I'd a chance to visit during my short trip around north-east England. The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is magnificent example of late Romanesque architecture with Gothic features incorporated here and there, that created harmonious whole. I would say, that Durham's Cathedral is fine example of transition form from late Romanesque style to the new, Gothic style. Construction of cathedral started in 1093, and took several decades, Stone edifice was erected in place of much smaller and humbler Anglo-Saxon wooden church. In thirteen century cathedral was already in need of repairing. Along with those necessary works, cathedral's expansion has progressed. From three towers that cathedral has acquired that time, the central one was damaged by lightning and then was rebuilt in 15th century. Thanks to new techniques developed during Medieval period cathedral was equipped with new rose and pointed arch windows characteristic for newborn architectural style that was taking over Europe, namely, Gothic. In 17th century cathedral was used as makeshift prison after the Battle of Dunbar. The prisoners, kept in inhumane conditions, destroyed much of the woodwork. These damages were partly restored in second half of 17th century by Bishop John Cosin. Works carried out in 18th and 19th centuries considerably altered cathedral's character. Much of the outer stone work of the cathedral was smoothed off and most of the Chapter House was demolished. Cosin's wooden organ screen was removed. During Victorian restoration Cathedral's central tower was refurbished, also new marble choir screen and pulpit in the Crossing were added. 20th century brought along with it restoring the Shrine of St Cuthbert behind the High Altar. Current, 21st century witnessed some more changes that took place in cathedral's interior. Two altars in Nine Altars Chapel were re-dedicated and new painting and sculptures were placed there. The Durham's Cathedral is a must see for everyone who's roaming around north-east England. What's made the greatest impression on me, were in the first place massive, Romanesque columns, and omnipresent arches. The Cathedral has unique atmosphere, and the play between the light and the shadow within its walls is truly amazing. Its exterior is no less impressive. One of the best cathedrals I'd ever seen. Period.
7. Old Durham Gardens
8. Crook Hall & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 970 reviews
Crook Hall is a Medieval Manor house built circa 1217 and is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Durham City. Home to the Bell Family since 1995, the Medieval Hall merges into a Jacobean Manor house which in turn merges into a Georgian Town house reflecting its development over the centuries. The Hall provides a spectacular backdrop to the 5 acres of stunning gardens. Visitors from all over the world come to share in the timeless magic of Crook Hall and leave inspired by these idyllic English gardens. Afternoon Tea is served in the beautiful Georgian Drawing Room. We are open from Sunday to Wednesday and welcome visitors throughout the year. We have two modern self catering apartments available in the heart of Durham City. We are a unique, historic wedding venue providing exclusive use of a beautiful and romantic setting. Our Licensed Garden Gate Café is open 7 days a week from 9:30am - 5pm serving breakfasts, light lunches and refreshments along with wines and local ales
Reviewed By LCN23 - Durham, United Kingdom
Fabulous themed Harry Potter afternoon tea with the hall done up to resemble hog warts Loved the creations and had a brilliant afternoon / excellent staff and well thought out event / loved it !!!!!
9. Gala Theatre Durham
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 317 reviews
Reviewed By NiallFleming - Bardon Mill, United Kingdom
Well situated venue with accessible parking and a range of restaurants near by. The auditorium is well designed, comfortable and with good viewing and acoustics. Theatre staff are very pleasant and helpful. Gordon Buchanan is an outstanding photographer and naturalist who has passion and humour. The time simply flew. He was also very generous with autographs and questions. A thoroughly nice guy!
10. Durham University Botanic Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
We are currently operating reduced opening hours of 10am to 2.30pm, Monday to Fridays only. Closed at weekends.
Reviewed By fletch08
We have visited Durham a number of times our first visit to the Botanic gardens Car parking available The food was lovely in the cafe and outside seating is brilliant lovely floral surrounds the tulips were beautiful We walked through the gardens there is so much to see We will definately return ????
