Discover the delights of this World Heritage City in a walk through history
A guided walk through the ancient streets of Durham will lead you up to the great Romanesque Cathedral (built 1093-1133), and beyond to the Riverbanks that make this experience a visual delight.
As we meander across bridges and by historic buildings beneath the shadow of Durham Castle in this University city, we discover why Durham has World Heritage credentials. We can turn back the pages of history to uncover the story of the Prince Bishops and the strategic position of Durham in the Middle Ages. We can trace the influence of modern history, and enjoy the sense of place that Durham is today.
Above all we can view the lofty structure of the Cathedral which is the final resting place of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede who did so much to shape the story of Christianity in Northern Britain and beyond. This building was fashioned by Norman overlords who ruled the Palatinate on behalf of the Crown, and inspired the words of Sir Walter Scott which are inscribed on Prebends Bridge:
Grey towers of Durham!
Well yet I love thy mix’d and massive piles,
Half church of God, half castle ’gainst the Scot,
And long to roam those venerable aisles
With records stored of deeds long since forgot.
Facilities & refreshments
- Entry to Durham Cathedral is dependent upon the circumstances of the day, and subject to Cathedral permission.
- Our start time can be arranged by mutual agreement, and the tour lasts approximately 2 hours (but can be extended or shortened if desired).
- We start outside the Gala Theatre, Millennium Square, in the centre of Durham and near the Market Place. An alternative meeting point may be arranged by mutual agreement. We will finish at Durham Market Place, the Cathedral or elsewhere in the city by mutual agreement.
- This walking tour requires comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather. Durham is quite hilly in places though the route takes this into consideration. There are a small number of steps to negotiate. There are some uneven surfaces and some inclines.
- There are accessible toilets available at the start of the tour and at the Cathedral.
- Durham has a wide selection of places to find refreshments and food.
- There is car parking available at the start of the tour. The nearest carpark is Walkergate Car Park, 21 Freemans Place, Durham DH1 1SQ. The nearest coach park is at Belmont Coach Park, DH1 1SR.
Accessibility
The tour is on foot throughout.
Durham is quite hilly in places though the route takes this into consideration. There are a small number of steps to negotiate. There are some uneven surfaces and some inclines. A variation of the route may be possible for some visitors. Each inquiry will be dealt with individually to carry out risk assessment. Please contact us for details.
