Durham Hotels
A hotel stay in Durham puts you right on the doorstep of its famous castle and cathedral. It’s such a pretty, engaging city that in the words of legendary easy listening king Roger Whittaker’s Durham Town, “leaving’s gerner get you down”.
Durham neighbourhoods
The Marquess of Londonderry statue presides over Market Place in the cobbled city centre. From here, the Bailey’s winding lanes lead to the charming Palace Green, home to Durham’s Norman castle and cathedral. The horseshoe-shaped River Wear loops the city centre and is peppered with university rowers during term time. Across Framwellgate Bridge you’ll find modern shops and bars along North Road. On Elvet Hill, south of the centre, see ancient Chinese and Egyptian artefacts at the Oriental Museum and explore wooded paths and exotic flora greenhouses in the Botanic Gardens.
Shopping in Durham
Rummage through bargain knick-knacks at the bustling Victorian Indoor Market in the city centre. Fowlers Yard, a former stables in Silver Street, is now a creative space for craftsmen selling one-of-a-kind prints, photos and tapestries. Bramwells Jewellers, founded in 1867, is one of the city’s oldest established stores, and Mugwump on Saddler Street sells fairytale ball gowns, hand-made cards and posh smellies.
Eating and drinking in Durham
Leave your Durham hotel and head for the Market Place, from where most of the city’s restaurants fan out. Tearooms in the city centre serve fresh soups, sandwiches and slabs of homemade cake - try Vennels, overlooking a 16th- century courtyard, or TheAlmshouses on Palace Green. The best curry in town can be had at Shaheens in North Bailey. For an authentic Italian meal amongst mafia-lookalike businessmen, Ristorante San Marco at North Bailey will have you “magnificoing” your way through the menu. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the Red Flag and the days of Arthur “one out, all out” Scargill, get stuck into hearty pub grub at the Market Tavern, where the Durham Miners’ Association was founded in 1869.
Culture and nightlife in Durham
Head to the Walkergate development for an evening of drinking and clubbing, or perhaps some theatre, comedy or cinema at the Gala Theatre. See amateur dramatics at Durham University’s Assembly Rooms or cruise past the illuminated cathedral on a jazz evening aboard the Prince Bishop boat.
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