Durham (UK) event weekends: what to do between sessions
A cathedral and castle on a river bend, with a collegiate university and Newcastle 15 minutes away.
Events we cover in Durham (UK)
Arriving
Newcastle airport (NCL) is 40 minutes; trains from London take 2 hours 50 minutes.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Station area | Chain hotels. |
| Mid-range | Peninsula | Old town by the cathedral. |
| Splurge | Country houses nearby | Lumley Castle. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Premier Inn Durham City Centre
- Mid-range: Hotel Indigo Durham
- Splurge: Lumley Castle Hotel
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Beamish.
- Botanic Garden.
Rainy-day backups
- Oriental Museum.
Free things to do
- Riverbank walk around the peninsula.
- Cathedral (donation).
Getting around
- Walkable; trains to Newcastle every 15 minutes.
- Tap in with a contactless card on buses, trams and most urban trains.
- Book long-distance trains early on the operator app or Trainline: walk-up fares are expensive.
- Uber works in most UK cities; local black cabs are metered.