County Durham is a fascinating county in North East England only less than two hours by train from Edinburgh and three from London. The county has an excellent mix of amazing scenery, award-winning attractions and world-class events, festivals and exhibitions. Visitors will have a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying the tranquillity and peace of the Durham Dales which is within the North Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a spectacular landscape of breathtaking Dales, the wide expanse of heather moors, gushing upland rivers, majestic waterfalls, enchanting woods, close-knit communities, vibrantly coloured hay meadows and delightful birds, interesting traces of an industrial and mining heritage, lovely villages, unique plants and much more.
Durham City, the county town of Durham is host to the imposing Durham Cathedral, one of UK’s most familiar landmark. Along with the nearby Durham Castle, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site they constitute one of the most spectacular city vistas in Europe.
Food and shopping
The secret to a perfect vacation or break is savouring the food and drink on offer in one’s destination. And visitors to Durham will have nothing to complain about when it comes to the county’s menu since Food and Drink are Durham’s lifeblood. The city of Durham’s rich food culture cuts through fads from family-owned barbecue dives, and classic soul food to a new approach to international cuisine. With a wealth of unique possibilities, Durham is where experience can be found and appetites appeased over and over again.
Even as you explore the great outdoors of Durham, you can enjoy a nutritious lunch or brunch of homemade English cooking in a traditional tearoom or cosy pub. Some of the great food and drink on offer in Durham can be found in the shadow of the Durham Castle.
Great shopping opportunities abound in County Durham, from the Durham Vale to the Durham coast, and from the Durham Dales to Durham City. In the historic streets of Durham, there are high street names marching elbow-to-elbow with boutiques, independent shops, and off-the-wall craft shops beneath the shadow of the Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral. For bargain hunters, there is the Dalton Park, the largest outlet and discount shopping centre in the North East region. The market towns of Durham such as Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street, Seaham and Stanhope among others have their unique welcoming charm. For antique aficionados, Barnard Castle is the place
Places to Stay
It does not matter where guests choose to stay – at the Durham Dales, Durham City, Durham Coast or the Vale of Durham; they are sure to find an ideal place to stay. Durham has everything covered, from luxury hotels and spas, charming cottages, welcoming B & Bs, to regular rooms but with a view, animal-friendly rooms and rustic campsites.
Things to do
There is just too much to see and do in County Durham that it is best explored with a self-drive van rental for mobility and flexibility. A visit to Durham won’t be complete without checking out the UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of the Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle in Durham City. For the history buff, the Durham Dales, the Vale of Durham and the Durham Coast along with Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, beckon with the county’s fascinating past. Another not to be missed is the Kynren, a dramatic open air live show about the epic saga of England held in in Bishop Auckland. For cycling and walking, nothing will beat the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Durham Dales of Weardale and Teasdale.
