Visiting Durham was high on my travel bucket list so when I had a free weekend, we did a little road (okay a long road trip) to visit this beautiful city and visit a few castles along the way. There are so many things to do around Durham that it makes a great weekend break in England.
Things to See in Durham
Putting on my favourite leather summer sandals, I marched into the centre of Durham…stopping along the way taking a few photos of nifty little signs and partaking in window shopping…
^^the most comfortable walking shoes for a weekend away
…all the time making my way towards Durham Cathedral which is a pretty good ol’ looking gal…
…she doesn’t have a bad side.
Many of the cathedrals in England now charge for entry or ask for a donation which feels like a “compulsory donation”…Durham Cathedral is free to enter however donations are invited (I left a donation) so that future generations can also enjoy this amazing piece of architecture.
Over my years living in England I’ve visited many cathedrals including Arundel, Canterbury, Bath, Lincoln, St Paul’s, York Minster, Wells, Salisbury, Liverpool, Chester, Ely to just name a few (many more were visited pre-blog and there is a huge list of cathedrals).
Like anything in life, you can’t compare cathedrals as each is unique with it’s own history but for some reason, Durham Cathedral is the one that I felt the most at home in…the calmness made this Cathedral very special to me.
^^I could have quite happily joined him
The interiors are stunning…it’s not over the top and during my visit it wasn’t overflowing with visitors.
These stained glass windows were glorious…don’t you agree?
Sitting back on the bank outside the Cathedral…I watched the clouds go by…
…and took a cheeky shoefie!
If you’re short on time then the Cathedral is definitely one of the top things to do in Durham, without a doubt.
My next stop was Durham Castle however unfortunately it was closed for a private event…
…these things happen in life…I still managed to grab a pretty photo of the entrance…plus I knew I was going to visit two castles the following day in Northumberland so I didn’t want to peak to soon.
There are quite a few fantastic vantage points of the city from the bridges over the River Wear…
…each offering a different photographic opportunity….
…while some properties are trying to hide among the trees…I caught them in the end.
In front of Durham Cathedral are many grand old buildings which make up the University…
…in the summer time…the honey coloured stone with summer flowers frolicking away in the flower beds all look magnificent.
Never to miss a door or two…
…it’s just a beautiful spot to admire the architecture.
I took time to wander down the little back streets…
…locating a British icon…
…finding little gems hidden among the lush summer foliage and beyond.
I found a little piece of New Zealand history in Durham as well.
Places to Visit Near Durham
There are so many things to do around Durham and while I enjoyed exploring the city itself; the city made a great base for exploring further afield including visiting two castles that had sat on my bucket list for years.
Alnwick Castle…
…and Bamburgh Castle which are around 1.5 hours away from Durham by car.
There’s also the beautiful villages dotted around Durham and Northumberland that are worthy of a look…
…along with golden sand beaches!
A fabulous National Trust property nearby is Old Washington Hall which obviously has family links to George Washington and is less than a 20 minute drive away.
There are so many fun things to do in the Durham region especially if you love castle hunting! Check out all the Castles you can visit in the county.
If you’re going to do a road trip then check out my North of England itinerary as you could add Durham and Northumberland on at the end!
Where to Stay in Durham
Using points we stayed at the IHG property, Hotel Indigo Durham which is within easy walking distance of most of the tourist sites. The hotel itself is a bit of a tourist attraction as it’s located in the former university offices at Old Shire Hall hence the building has a lot of quirks which I loved.
For me, the Hotel Indigo brand is one that I’ve fallen in love with…friendly service, fun interiors and normally with a bit of history with a great location…a boutique hotel chain.
We dined in the restaurant and the food was delicious so would recommend making a reservation while on your break in the city…make sure you go upstairs and look down…
…I loved this building a lot…along with the Rotunda Bar…
….and the staircase!
^^loved all the original features…kinda sick of seeing 5 star beige hotels.
I could have easily moved in…and I don’t say that about many hotels!
If you’re looking for a cheaper option there is a Holiday Inn in Washington which is 20 minutes away however a car is very much needed.
Our Durham weekend away was relaxing…heaps of castles, history and a relaxing hotel…what more could a girl ask for.
xx
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