The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in County Durham, England

Please note we are open until the 27th October as a visitor attarcetion, we will be open as usual during weekends in december for Santas Grotto and will move in the new year. Owned by David & Tori, formerly Walworth Castle Birds of Prey based at Walworth Castle, Darlington. We are relocating in the new year to Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. We now offer private offsite falconry experiences, hunting experience days, educational school visits, offsite displays, wedding ring deliveries and entertainment, a falconry display team for country shows, game fairs etc. and pest control services across the North East of England. Please note once we relocate we will no longer open as a visitor centre, all experiences must be booked in advance.

The Weardale Museum is a volunteer run charity in Ireshopeburn, County Durham. It is a small cottage museum which occupies the house next to High House Methodist Chapel, the oldest methodist Chapel in continuous use. The Museum collection tells the story of the lead-mining people and also their encounters with John Wesley and the early methodists and a visit to the chapel is part of the admission fee. The trustees encourage visitors to touch and interact with many of the fascinating objects in their Weardale Kitchen. Durham quilts and a beautifully embroidered tapestry of Weardale History are among the highlights of a visit as well as the collection of sparkling crystals and minerals from the nearby lead mines. For those interested in family history we offer a huge database of over 60,000 Weardale people. Our season starts at the Easter weekend and then we are open From May 1st to October 31st. Check our website for details of the hours and days of opening.

Advance Booking Required : We are a working Alpaca Farm and run Alpaca Treks and Farm Visits throughout the year (subject to the Great British Weather!) We can tailor a trek or visit to suit most requirements and can arrange special Treks and Visits - Just ask and we'll see what we can do! Book as far in advance as you can as we do get very busy at weekends and during holiday periods and are often booked several months in advance! Try to have some alternate dates in mind. Please remember that both weather and animals can be unpredictable and as such we may need to cancel and rearrange at short notice. Alpaca Walks are currently £20 per person (supplement for extra people and children) and we require a minimum of two people as the alpacas prefer to go in a group. We cannot allow waiting on farm for insurance reasons but Cross Lanes Organics Farm Shop is 2 min away. Farm visits are also available at a cost of £10 per person (min 2 people) : Check out our website for more information.

A real life escape game has arrived in Durham. You and your team will need to solve a series of puzzles in under an hour, can you beat the room? Great for team building, stag/hen do's or just a great way to spend an hour with friends or family!

Visit Steam Machine Brewing Company's BREW ROOM for a constantly changing selection of fresh craft beer from our core range, as well as BREW ROOM exclusives. Interact with the brewers in the heart of the brewery. On and off-site sales available, including bottles, gift packs, and growler fills.

Following Government advice, Durham University’s museums, galleries and Botanic Garden are temporarily closed. We will be using the closed period to carry out improvements at all our sites. At the Oriental Museum this will include: - completing the new Silk Roads permanent gallery, which will provide an updated introduction to the museum and its collection. - installing the special exhibition, 'Lu Xun’s Legacy in Print Making in Modern China', celebrating the impact of Lu Xun (1881-1936) arguably the most important cultural figure of twentieth century China. Stay in touch on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. From Ancient Egypt to modern China, we are the only museum in the North of England devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia. The Oriental Museum is normally open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 12pm - 5pm.

Visit the place where railways were born! Set in our original 1840's railway station follow the history of Darlington and the growth of the railways. We have a shop with souvenirs to suit all tastes and pockets and a varied events programme. There really is something for everyone!