County Durham

A historic county in Northeast England, led by the World Heritage Durham Cathedral and Castle, with numerous countryside castles and waterfalls.

County Durham is located in Northeast England, bordering the North Sea to the east and the North Pennines to the west, and was once a major hub for coal mining and the railway industry. Durham Cathedral and Castle are World Heritage sites, with the River Wear looping around the old city, offering scenic riverside walks. The Beamish Open Air Museum recreates life in the industrial era, the Locomotion railway museum in Shildon showcases railway history, and Auckland Castle, Raby Castle, and the Bowes Museum are also highly significant. In summer, you can watch the Kynren live-action show or visit High Force waterfall in Teesdale. May to September is the best time to visit. Durham can be reached in about three hours by East Coast Main Line trains from London.

Destinations

• Durham

Itineraries

• Great Britain Classic Loop: England & Scotland – A classic British road trip from London, looping through Bath, the Lake District, Edinburgh, and York.
• Durham, Hadrian's Wall & Northumberland Coast – Head north from Durham to see the Roman Wall, castle coast, seabird islands, and Lindisfarne.
• London to the Highlands: 10-Day Rail Journey – Take the train north from London to York and Edinburgh, ride the West Highland Line to Skye, and finish in Inverness.