Things to do in County Durham
In this section, you will find out more information about attractions in the local area that you may want to visit while in the North East.
Things to do in County Durham:
Whether you like exploring beautiful cultural sites with unique features, experiencing how life looked like in the UK in the '50s or '60s, or hiking to enjoy breathtaking landscapes, the North East of England offers several tourist attractions that will satisfy all tastes.
In Shildon, just 20 minutes away from Darlington, Locomotion can be found. This railway museum is part of the Science Museum Group and its New Hall showcases Shildon's history as the home of the famous railway works, which closed in 1984. Housing 47 vehicles, New Hall brings the total number of vehicles at Locomotion to 99 - the largest undercover collection of historic vehicles in Europe.
Darlington has recently opened Hopetown Darlington, a railway museum capturing the very beginning of rail in County Durham, home to the Stockton & Darlington Railway which was established in the 1800s. Hopetown Darlington is home to a vast collection of over 30,000 objects including archives, vehicles, art, costumes, ephemera, and furniture showcasing the history of the railways in Darlington from 1825 to the 20th century.
Located in Bishop Auckland are several cultural sites managed and protected by The Auckland Project. Their mission is to bring the rich =, fascinating story of Bishop Auckland to life through arts, culture, and heritage. The sites include Auckland Castle, The Spanish Gallery, and The Faith Museum, all of which have reopened in recent years to welcome visitors to the town centre who wish to find out more about the small town in County Durham.
Raby Castle is a medieval castle located near Staindrop, in County Durham. It was built by John Neville, 3rd Baron Neville de Raby, between approximately 1367 and 1390. The approach to the castle is particularly beautiful as you can see its towers and turrets appear amongst the trees of the surrounding parkland with its lakes and herds of deer.
The Bowes Museum has a nationally renowned art collection and is situated in the market town of Barnard Castle (made infamous by Dominic Cummins), in Teesdale. The museum contains artworks by El Greco, Francisco Goya, Canaletto, Jean-Honoré Fragonard and François Boucher, together with decorative art, ceramics, textiles, tapestries, as well as older items from local history.
UNESCO Durham World Heritage Site
Durham is a beautiful city in the North East of England rich in heritage including its own Cathedral. The place of worship was built in the late 11th century and early 12th century to house the relics of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede. Behind the cathedral stands the castle, an ancient Norman fortress which was the residence of the prince-bishops of Durham.
