Durham
We take great pride of our home city at Durham Taxis, please take a look below at some of our fabulous tourist attractions that you may wish to visit while you stay here.
Beamish Museum
Beamish Museum is a great place to visit with family. It is a living museum that takes you back in time to the steam era. Explore stores and workplaces, take a ride on classic trains, and learn about the industrialisation of the north east. There is a charge for entry, but once you have paid you can come back more than once.
Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral is one of the most iconic features of Durham itself, and it is well worth calling by, especially at Christmastime. The Cathedral dates back to Norman times, being constructed in 1081, and the imposing architecture will astound you. The Cathedral is still used as a place of worship, but it is open to all, including other faiths and those who are not religious. The stain glass rose window that was added to the cathedral after construction is something that is worth stopping to ponder. This is a fascinating piece of architecture. During peak times, it can be quite a busy tourist site.
Raby Castle
Raby Castle is a stunning place to visit, especially in the winter. The Christmas Markets are a popular tradition with locals, and if you visit when the markets are on you can enter the site and explore the castle for free. In December, during periods where the markets are not on, you can still visit the café and gift shop for free. The mulled wine is well worth a try.
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is a spectacular sight, and is quite a large area to explore. You can have a lot of fun walking around the castle, before visiting the playground with your kids or playing miniature golf. The town itself is a thriving market town, with a lot of shops, so if the weather is bad you can go into the town and still have a lot of fun exploring the shops.
HMS Trincomalee
The HMS Trincomalee is viewable at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is in Hartlepool, on the outskirts of Durham. There are many other attractions at the museum, but this is the start of the show. It is a ship that will appeal to all ages, and you can get the chance to go below decks to really get a feel for it. Whether you are a sailing enthusiast or not, this is well worth exploring.
The World War One Soldier Sculpture
Head to the waterfront in Seaham, and you will find that there are many war monuments and memorials The World War One Soldier statue is a fantastic work that is a credit to the sculptor, and that deserves a moment to stop and ponder it. The statue is larger than life, and looks out over the sea, serving as a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the brave soldiers that gave their life during World War I. The statue is out in the open and free to view, and on the way there you will incidentally pass by some other lovely tourist sites on the sea front. If you’re in Durham during the summer months, then it’s well worth heading out of the city and towards Seaham to see this.
Binchester Roman Fort
Binchester Roman Fort is located in Bishop Aukland, in County Durahm. The fort is a must-visit for anyone that is interested in history. While some forts are barely stones sticking out from foundations, there is a lot to see at this one – the bath house, in particular, is very well preserved, and there are covered areas so it is suitable to visit even on a rainy day. You can get a good feel for how the bath house under-floor system worked, and learn a lot about the other elements of the bath houses as well.
The Glass and Art Gallery
The Glass and Art Gallery is a true treasure trove of work made by local artists You can visit the gallery and view a regularly updated selection of works, or head to the shop and actually pick up some hand-crafted gifts and souvenirs. Prices are reasonable, and the work is very high quality and reflects well on the artists of the region.
Gibside National Trust Site
Gibside is a national trust site that is located on the border between Gateshead and Durham. There is a manor, and a large park with running trails. There are regular farmer’s markets, and when these are on people can enter that part of the park free of charge. It is also free to enter the park during the Park Runs on a Sunday morning. The rest of the time, there is a fee, unless you are a member of the National Trust. The café serves good food, and the gift shop has a small selection of local souvenirs.
Some Final Tips
Durham City is a beautiful city with many historic buildings. County Durham has a huge number of historic sites, parks, castles, and more to explore. It is well worth a visit for those who like nature and history. The City is a student town, and there is some night life, but not as much as some other parts of the north east. To get around the whole of County Durham, you may need to hire a car. There are good public transport links, and it is possible to get buses to take you from Durham City Center up to Bishop Aukland, for example, but transport by bus can take a while. It is much easier to enjoy all of the National Trust sites and other attractions if you can drive.
Beamish Museum
Beamish Museum is a great place to visit with family. It is a living museum that takes you back in time to the steam era. Explore stores and workplaces, take a ride on classic trains, and learn about the industrialisation of the north east. There is a charge for entry, but once you have paid you can come back more than once.
Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral is one of the most iconic features of Durham itself, and it is well worth calling by, especially at Christmastime. The Cathedral dates back to Norman times, being constructed in 1081, and the imposing architecture will astound you. The Cathedral is still used as a place of worship, but it is open to all, including other faiths and those who are not religious. The stain glass rose window that was added to the cathedral after construction is something that is worth stopping to ponder. This is a fascinating piece of architecture. During peak times, it can be quite a busy tourist site.
Raby Castle
Raby Castle is a stunning place to visit, especially in the winter. The Christmas Markets are a popular tradition with locals, and if you visit when the markets are on you can enter the site and explore the castle for free. In December, during periods where the markets are not on, you can still visit the café and gift shop for free. The mulled wine is well worth a try.
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is a spectacular sight, and is quite a large area to explore. You can have a lot of fun walking around the castle, before visiting the playground with your kids or playing miniature golf. The town itself is a thriving market town, with a lot of shops, so if the weather is bad you can go into the town and still have a lot of fun exploring the shops.
HMS Trincomalee
The HMS Trincomalee is viewable at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which is in Hartlepool, on the outskirts of Durham. There are many other attractions at the museum, but this is the start of the show. It is a ship that will appeal to all ages, and you can get the chance to go below decks to really get a feel for it. Whether you are a sailing enthusiast or not, this is well worth exploring.
The World War One Soldier Sculpture
Head to the waterfront in Seaham, and you will find that there are many war monuments and memorials The World War One Soldier statue is a fantastic work that is a credit to the sculptor, and that deserves a moment to stop and ponder it. The statue is larger than life, and looks out over the sea, serving as a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the brave soldiers that gave their life during World War I. The statue is out in the open and free to view, and on the way there you will incidentally pass by some other lovely tourist sites on the sea front. If you’re in Durham during the summer months, then it’s well worth heading out of the city and towards Seaham to see this.
Binchester Roman Fort
Binchester Roman Fort is located in Bishop Aukland, in County Durahm. The fort is a must-visit for anyone that is interested in history. While some forts are barely stones sticking out from foundations, there is a lot to see at this one – the bath house, in particular, is very well preserved, and there are covered areas so it is suitable to visit even on a rainy day. You can get a good feel for how the bath house under-floor system worked, and learn a lot about the other elements of the bath houses as well.
The Glass and Art Gallery
The Glass and Art Gallery is a true treasure trove of work made by local artists You can visit the gallery and view a regularly updated selection of works, or head to the shop and actually pick up some hand-crafted gifts and souvenirs. Prices are reasonable, and the work is very high quality and reflects well on the artists of the region.
Gibside National Trust Site
Gibside is a national trust site that is located on the border between Gateshead and Durham. There is a manor, and a large park with running trails. There are regular farmer’s markets, and when these are on people can enter that part of the park free of charge. It is also free to enter the park during the Park Runs on a Sunday morning. The rest of the time, there is a fee, unless you are a member of the National Trust. The café serves good food, and the gift shop has a small selection of local souvenirs.
Some Final Tips
Durham City is a beautiful city with many historic buildings. County Durham has a huge number of historic sites, parks, castles, and more to explore. It is well worth a visit for those who like nature and history. The City is a student town, and there is some night life, but not as much as some other parts of the north east. To get around the whole of County Durham, you may need to hire a car. There are good public transport links, and it is possible to get buses to take you from Durham City Center up to Bishop Aukland, for example, but transport by bus can take a while. It is much easier to enjoy all of the National Trust sites and other attractions if you can drive.