With a history dating back thousands of years, the city of Durham offers a fantastic combination of medieval architecture and modern living. Durham is situated less than 20 miles south of Newcastle Upon Tyne and about 200 miles north of Birmingham in the north east of England, County Durham. Newcastle (NCL) and Teesside (MME) airports are around 30 minutes drive.

Enclosed by the River Wear on three sides, Durham University College is located within a Norman fortress which is part of Durham Castle. Together with Durham Cathedral, this site makes up the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the heart of the city.

Take a trip back in time with a guided tour of the Castle but be aware that this is home to many students; tours run during the afternoon throughout term time and in the mornings during uni holidays (telephone in advance). Within the castle is the 57 foot high, Black Staircase, with the oldest part being the 1080 Norman Chapel and Tunstall’s Chapel being built in around 1540. The grassed area in front of the Castle and Cathedral is known as Palace Green, which you approach by either of two legendary cobbled streets.

Steeped in culture, there are many other historic buildings to visit in Durham including the mid 1800s Town Hall and old Guildhall both on the Market Place, and 14th century Crook Hall in Sidegate. If you prefer museums and art galleries, you won’t be disappointed either. There are regular exhibitions at the Durham University Museum of Archaeology, and the Light Infantry Museum and Art Gallery, the Heritage Centre and the Fowlers Yard Creative Workspaces where you can meet and observe craftspeople.

Should you prefer the modern side of city living, then there is the superb 40 shop Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in Durham centre and The Gates Shopping Centre north of the river. Bernard Castle, and Dales Centre in Stanhope offer great shopping opportunities, and of course, there are many delightful chic boutiques and independent stores to discover as you explore the winding lanes (vennels). Durham also has a Saturday market which has been running for over 150 years with the Farmer’s Markets held on the third Thursday of each month.

As a thriving university city, there are plenty of excellent restaurants catering for all tastes from Mexican to French and Japanese to Portuguese, and cafes, delis, wine bars, nightclubs and many pubs too!