Durham

Durham castle in the city of Durham stands on a hill above the city on the Durham University campus. Durham castle was built in the 11th century and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in England. It has been continuously rebuilt and extended for some 900 years and for much of that time has housed students attending the university. It is one of the few castles in England that has been well taken care of, and it really feels like you walk back in time when you enter it. The castle is still in use and has many classrooms for students of Durham University. For this reason, it is important to note when the castle is open to tours. Tours happen on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and may change during exams. You'll want to call the castle porter at: 0191 334 3800 before you attend to be sure there is a tour happening at all. The tour is well worth waiting for, however, as the tour guides are both entertaining and enlightening. A tour of the castle lasts about 45 minutes and costs £5.00 for adults and £4.50 for children.

Adjacent to Durham castle is the Palace Green, a small area of glass in the middle of Durham. The Palace Green is a good place if you want to take a picnic lunch, enjoy the peace and quiet, and watch students going from class to class.

On the other side of the Palace Green is Durham Cathedral, a world heritage site which was founded in 1093. It is regarded as one of the largest and most perfect examples of Norman style architecture in Europe and is a prominent feature of the city landscape. Once there, you'll be surprised at the immensity of the place: the roof seems to be hundreds of feet above you. You'll want to see the impressive Rose window in the Chapel of the Nine Altars, and stroll around the grounds themselves. Often, you'll hear the choir practicing. The cathedral is open from 9:30AM to 6:15PM from Monday through Saturday and at 12:30 - 6:30 on Sundays. There is no charge for admission, but it is polite to leave an offering if you are able.

In the summer, you also might want to take a river cruise on the River Wear. One hour trips go along the river from the Elvet Bridge on a 150 seat cruiser. If you'd like something more intimate, you can rent a small row boat and paddle it yourself. When you're finished, you will probably want to get something to eat in Durham's downtown. There is a wide choice: everything from Chinese and Japanese to Indian, Italian and Mexican.

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See a Map of Durham