Durham

Historic charm and riverside beauty

Durham is a historic town in northeast England known for its medieval cathedral and university. The city’s stone buildings line quiet streets that lead to the River Tyne, where walking paths offer views of old bridges and modern architecture side by side. Durham Castle stands near the university campus, which attracts students from around the world. Local cafes serve traditional pies alongside fresh coffee shops. In summer, outdoor markets fill with crafts and seasonal produce. The surrounding countryside features rolling hills and ancient woodlands ideal for hiking or cycling.

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Town in United Kingdom

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.0

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

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5/5

English is the primary language spoken in Durham, and tourists will find it easy to communicate with locals and access services in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Durham Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Strong in historic architecture and university charm. Visit the famous cathedral, walk riverside paths, explore medieval streets and enjoy quiet cafés.

Place score

7.3

Best at:

Walkable

Spotless

Architecture

Historic sites

Religious sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

💻 8

Digital Nomads

United Kingdom – Quick facts

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Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type G Type G: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Pound Sterling (GBP)
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in the UK, especially in cities. Contactless payments and mobile payment options are increasingly popular, with smaller businesses also accepting cards. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in the UK, with 10-15% in restaurants. Taxi drivers generally expect a 10% tip or rounding up. Small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in many parts of the UK, especially in parks, festivals, and licensed premises. However, it's banned on public transport or in certain public spaces.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in all public spaces, including bars and restaurants. There are designated outdoor smoking areas.

Christmas (December)	Christmas is widely celebrated, expect crowded markets and higher accommodation prices.
Bank Holiday (August)	Busy periods, especially in cities and along coastal areas. Many businesses close.
New Year’s Day (January)	A major public holiday with celebrations and closures in some sectors.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 999 or 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Free Now, Ola
Other:	The UK is well-prepared for tourists, with excellent infrastructure. However, be aware of language barriers in remote areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Durham, United Kingdom

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Sep. - Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Durham Miners' Gala, second Saturday in July: huge crowds, book accommodation well ahead

Daylight is only about 7 hours in December, so plan sightseeing around early closing times

Don't miss

⛪ Explore the majestic Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO site
🏰 Tour Durham Castle with its historic great hall
🌉 Walk along the scenic River Wear and bridges
🏡 Visit the interactive Beamish Living Museum of the North
🌿 Relax in the lush Durham University Botanic Garden

You've been here?

Why travel to Durham?

Durham's UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle are true showstoppers, but the city also offers cozy pubs, scenic riverside walks and a welcoming vibe. It’s a compact city with a lot of character, making it easy to explore on foot. Plus, the surrounding countryside offers beautiful hiking opportunities and historic sites.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Durham Cathedral
2 The Bowes Museum
3 Durham Castle
4 Oriental Museum
5 Finchale Priory
6 Beamish Museum
7 Palace Green Library
8 Crook Hall and Gardens

🎡Places for activities

1 Bowburn Hall
2 Crook Hall
3 Durham Climbing Centre

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Crook Hall Gardens
2 Durham University Botanic Garden
3 Improvements on the River Wear
4 Wharton Park
5 Woodland Barn B&B
6 Brancepeth Castle Golf Club
7 Hamsterley Forest
8 Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve

🛍️Shopping

1 Northern Stores and Deli
2 Market Hall
3 The Riverwalk
4 The Mugwump
5 Durham Indoor Market

🎈Events

Durham Lumiere Festival
Durham Miners' Gala
Durham Book Festival
Brass: Durham International Festival
Durham Christmas Festival
Durham City Run Festival
Durham Fringe Festival
St. Cuthbert’s Day Celebrations
Durham Beer Festival
The North East Festival of Archaeology

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit Durham Cathedral; it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Walk the riverside paths for stunning views of the cathedral and castle.
Check local event schedules for festivals and cultural shows.
Explore the historic market and try local foods at independent cafes.

How to travel to Durham

The nearest airport is Newcastle International Airport (NCL), about 30 minutes away by train or car. Durham is well-connected by train, including direct routes from London, Edinburgh and other major cities.

Access summary

From Newcastle Airport (NCL): Metro to Newcastle, then train to Durham, about 1–1.5 hours.
From London: Direct LNER trains on East Coast Main Line, roughly 3 hours.
From Edinburgh or York: Direct intercity trains to Durham, typically around 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Durham

Durham offers charming B&Bs, boutique hotels and some university accommodation outside of term time. The city center is the best base, giving easy access to attractions and dining.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Grand Hotel Sunderland

8.7

Radisson Blu Hotel Durham

8.8

Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort

8.5

Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa

8.6

Hotel Indigo Durham By IHG

Holiday Inn Sunderland – City Centre By IHG

9.3

Hardwick Hall Hotel

9.1

Delta Hotels Durham Royal County

8.4

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Durham

Durham is best explored on foot due to its compact size and narrow streets. Buses connect the city to surrounding areas and taxis or ride-hailing services are readily available. The Park and Ride service is a good option for drivers.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+10 %

Daily expenses in Durham are around 10% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

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This place also uses Pound Sterling, so no money exchange necessary.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£67	£157	£444
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£68	£180
🍝 Food per day	£31	£79	£224
🚕 Transportation per day	£10	£11	£40

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£35
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£15
🍟 Fast food combo	£9
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£3.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£23
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£80
🤧 Cold medication	£4.30
💇 Basic haircut	£9

Safety information overview

General safety

Durham is generally very safe for tourists. As with any destination, keep an eye on your belongings, especially in busy areas. The city is quiet at night, with low crime rates.

Health & Medical

Medical services in Durham are good, with hospitals, clinics and pharmacies readily available. The UK’s healthcare system provides emergency care to all, but travel insurance is recommended.

Accessibility

Durham has some steep streets and cobblestones, which might be challenging for those with mobility issues. However, many main attractions have good accessibility options.

Tap water

Tap water in Durham is safe to drink. The quality is excellent and there are usually no issues with public drinking water availability.