Things to do in Durham
There’s no denying that there is an array of spectacular things to do in Durham. You might say, that Durham is a county full of surprises, where you can delve further into the beautiful county’s history and explore it’s fascinating past from a multitude of attractions.
Whether you have a keen interest in the medieval city, or are simply looking for something to fill up your weekend, we have compiled a list below of some must-see things to do in Durham.
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral was built in 1093 to house the Shrine of St Cuthbert, and is home to it’s beautiful architecture and wonderful location, which is in the heart of the Durham World Heritage Site.
Durham Cathedral is just a 15 minute drive from our Diggerland Theme Park, which is located in Langley Park. This gives you the perfect opportunity to experience what Durham has to offer, by immersing yourself into the views from the Cathedral’s central tower, where you can see the historic city and surrounding countryside.
Beamish
Set in 300 beautiful acres of the countryside, Beamish offers visitors a chance to really gain a first hand experience on what life was like in North East England, in the 1820s, 1910s and 1940s.
With a list of exciting events such as, The Great North Festival of Transport, the Georgian Fair and The Great North Festival of Agriculture, there are always an ample of fun things to do in Durham throughout the year.
Fun Activities to do in Durham
Diggerland
You will find Diggerland Durham located in Langley Park, just off Front Street, which is the main road that runs through Langley Park Village.
The only place where adults and children can gain a real experience of the construction world, we provide an array of attractions whereby our guests can ride and operate real, full sized diggers and dumpers. With our specially adapted machines, visitors can learn to operate their very own Skidsteer, drive around a designed course and see if they can get to grips like a professional! If that’s not enough for you, how about operating the world famous JCB 3CX? Who would have thought that your little ones would have the opportunity to drive a real Backhoe Loader? For our littler guests, they may enjoy boarding our Diggerland Train, where they can turn the steering wheel and honk the horn on a journey around the park.
Down At The Farm
Based in the Sunderland area, Down At The Farm has been running since the 18th century. Visitors can meet a variety of wonderful animals such as alpacas, meerkats, reindeers and ponies.
During their season, guests can get up and close by washing, petting and feeding some of their farm animals.
Adventure Valley
With an array of attractions, indoor play areas and animal zones, Adventure Valley offers a wonderful family experience for all ages. You can even create magical memories at their upcoming Winter Wonderland.
Escape Rooms Durham
For an hours worth of adrenaline, an escape room may just be the perfect activity for your family or friends. A group of six people can experience two different games ‘Mr Barrowdales Study’ and ‘Escape The Lab’. These will certainly bring the group together, and are perfect for stag/hen parties or corporate team building exercises.
Places to stay whilst in Durham
Best Western Whitworth Hall Hotel
Whitworth Hall has 29 rooms with a purpose of providing relaxing stay, whilst also offering views over the deer park and local countryside. The hotel serves a variety of cuisine from The Library restaurant and their very popular afternoon tea.
Alternatively, you can experience a variety of nearby restaurants such as The Royal Oak, which serves everybody’s well-loved ‘pub grub’ food. Casa d’Italia is also a very popular nearby Italian restaurant for all you pizza and pasta lovers!
Hotel Indigo Durham
Now this is classy! Hotel Indigo is the perfect stop for those that are looking to step into the history of Durham. Their boutique hotel is just a few short moments from the historic Durham City Centre, which is right in the heart of all the adventure. With the magnificent university, castle and spectacular Durham Cathedral right on your doorstep, you will be spoilt for choice!
Hotel Indigo is just a 15 minute drive away from Diggerland Durham, which gives you the perfect chance to ticket us off your list!