The Northeast
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Northeast - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Beamish, the Living Museum of the North
Situated nine miles northwest of Durham, this impressive "living museum"—a sprawling complex made up of heritage buildings found on-site or moved from elsewhere in the region—offers real insight into the way people in the Northeast lived and worked from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s. A vintage bus and a streetcar take you around the site to various points of interest, including a farm estate; a pit village and colliery; and an entire 1920s town complete with a bank, convenience store, and Masonic hall. Everything is staffed by workers in period costumes, and you can buy era-appropriate food and drinks in the pub, bakery, and "sweet shop" (candy store). As well as the permanent exhibits, there are special events year-round, from weekend-long festivals, where you're encouraged to come in old-style fancy dress, to traditional English celebrations such as May Day and Harvest Festival. You can spend at least half a day here, and tickets are valid for a whole year in case you want to return.
Off A693, Beamish, Durham, DH9 ORG, England0191-370–4000Sight Details
Rate Includes: £19.50, Some areas closed weekdays in winter -
2. Durham Cathedral
A Norman masterpiece in the heart of the city, Durham Cathedral is a vision of strength and fortitude, a far cry from the airy lightness of later Gothic cathedrals. Construction began about 1090, and the main body was finished around 1150. The round arches of the nave and the deep zigzag patterns carved into them typify the heavy, gaunt style of Norman, or Romanesque, building. The technology of Durham, however, was revolutionary; this was the first European cathedral to be given a stone, rather than a wooden, roof. Note the enormous bronze Sanctuary Knocker, shaped like the head of a ferocious mythological beast, mounted on the massive northwestern door. By grasping the ring clenched in the animal's mouth, medieval felons could claim sanctuary; cathedral records show that 331 criminals sought this protection between 1464 and 1524. An unobtrusive tomb at the western end of the cathedral, in the Moorish-influenced Galilee Chapel, is the final resting place of the Venerable Bede, an 8th-century Northumbrian monk whose contemporary account of the English people made him the country's first reliable historian. In good weather, and if you're feeling up to it, you can climb the 325 steps up to the tower, which has spectacular views of Durham. The Durham Cathedral Museum allows visitors into parts of the complex that were previously closed to the public, including the Monks Dormitory and the Great Kitchen with its breathtaking octagonal roof. Treasures on display here include priceless Anglo-Saxon art, gold and garnet crosses, elaborate vestments, illuminated manuscripts, and the original coffin of St. Cuthbert. Together it represents one of the most significant single collections of Anglo-Saxon artifacts in the world. For a more modern take on this ancient monument, check out the elaborate LEGO model of Durham Cathedral, situated between the Undercroft Restaurant and shop. It's made up of more than 300,000 bricks. Guided tours of the cathedral (one hour) are available Monday through Saturday at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm, though times can change if there's a special service going on. A choral evensong service takes place Tuesday through Saturday at 5:30 pm and Sunday at 3:30 pm.
Palace Green, Durham, Durham, DH1 3EH, England0191-386–4266Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free (requested donation £3); museum £7.50; tower £5.50; guided tours £7.50, No tours Sun. -
3. Durham Castle
Facing the cathedral across Palace Green, Durham's stately, manorlike castle commands a strategic position above the River Wear. For almost 800 years the castle was the home of the enormously powerful prince-bishops; from here they ruled large tracts of the countryside and acted as the main line of defense against Scottish raiders from the north. Henry VIII was the first to curtail the bishops' autonomy, although it wasn't until the 19th century that they finally had their powers annulled. At that point, the castle was given over to the University of Durham, the third oldest university in England after Oxford and Cambridge (albeit more than 600 years younger; it was founded in 1832). The castle interior, including the Great Hall with its stunning stained glass window and wooden beam ceiling, can only be seen on a 45-minute guided tour. These are usually available four times a day (afternoons only during the academic term) but are not held when the building is hired out for private events, so it's best to check the website or call ahead. During university vacation times, the castle also offers bed-and-breakfast accommodations in the state rooms for around £200 per night; call or check the website for details.
View Tours and ActivitiesPalace Green, Durham, Durham, DH1 3RW, England0191-334–2932Sight Details
Rate Includes: £5 -
4. Oriental Museum
A 15-minute walk from the cathedral, this Durham University–owned museum displays fine art and craftwork from all parts of Asia and the Middle East. Galleries are ordered by culture, including Ancient Egypt, Japan, China, and Korea. Among the highlights are some exquisite Qing dynasty jade and lacquer ornaments, ancient tapestries and embroideries from the Himalayas, and a collection of Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period.
Off Elvet Hill Rd., Durham, Durham, DH1 3TH, England0191-334–5691Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. -
5. Prebends Footbridge
Delightful views are the reward of a short stroll along the River Wear's leafy banks, especially as you cross this 17th-century stone footbridge, reached from the southern end of Palace Green. J. M. W. Turner adored the view from here and painted a celebrated scene of Durham from the bridge.
S. Bailey, Durham, Durham, DH1 3EA, England -
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