Top Things to do in Durham
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The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Durham, England
Discover the best top things to do in Durham, United Kingdom including The Surtees Arms And Yard of Ale Brewery, Durham Climbing Centre, Escape Rooms Durham, Viva Cuba, Pom's Massage, Durham Castle, Oriental Museum, Lindisfarne Gospels, Durham Cathedral, Gala Theatre Durham.
Restaurants in Durham
1. The Surtees Arms And Yard of Ale Brewery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
The Surtees Arms public house and home to the Yard of Ale Brewery. Serving fine ales, lagers and other beverages including real ales from its own micro-brewery. The Surtees Arms is a multi-Camra-award winning pub (Durham 2010,2011 & North East Pub of the Year 2010, runner-up 2012, 2013).Bar, lounge and dining room, function room (self-contained 60-seater), big-screen sports, pool, darts, beer garden. etc.. Sunday Lunches are home-made from local food sources - book to avoid disappointment.
Reviewed By DurhamCarl - Chilton, United Kingdom
great pub in ferryhill station with own micro brewery, friendly staff and part of CAMRA , defo will be back
2. Durham Climbing Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 100 reviews
Welcome to Durham Climbing Centre - the premier indoor bouldering venue in the North East! Durham Climbing Centre caters for every level of climber from beginner to very advanced. Whatever your age or ability, at Durham Climbing Centre there is a challenge for everyone! Suitable for ages 3 years to adults from beginner to advanced! Rock Stars Children's Club, Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Equipment Shop. FREE Adult Coaching weeknights 8pm - 9pm, Ladies Night, Regular events & competitions. Free Parking. Baby change facilities
Reviewed By J2047OXbethanym
Being a girl and going for my first ever climb i was quite nervous. I was greeted by Charlotte who took me through the whole process and eased my nerves. I couldn’t recommend Charlotte more. She gave me a great first climbing experience and I can’t wait to come back and climb with her again.
3. Escape Rooms Durham
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 303 reviews
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!
Reviewed By 339jot - London, United Kingdom
We had great fun at Escape Rooms Durham - clues to crack codes, to release keys, to open draws, really challenging with additional clues provided by Danielle who guided us just as much as we needed and we escaped with 22 seconds to go (but there were only two of us so not bad!) Highly recommend this - a fun hour that gets you thinking!
4. Viva Cuba
5. Pom's Massage
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
At Pom’s massage I have created a relaxing environment for my customers to switch off from the outside world. Don’t worry about tidying your house for a mobile masseuse, come to mine! My Thai massage is tailored to your needs. I provide both Thai traditional without oil and Thai oil massage starting from £25 for 30 minutes to £40 for 60 minutes and £55 for 90 minutes.
Reviewed By Q5376ALcaitlinm
Fantastic full body massage from Pom. Left feeling relaxed with limbs like jelly. Very professional and the facilities were spotless.
6. Durham Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,272 reviews
To ensure the safety and well-being of staff and visitors, Durham University’s museums, galleries and Botanic Garden will remain closed until early 2021. We will be using the closed period to carry out improvements at all our sites. At Durham Castle this will include: • Preparing to launch ‘Heralding Women’, a project celebrating the women of University College and Durham Castle which will run through 2021 • Updating and improving the Tunstall Gallery art displays • Develop new online exhibitions and learning resources for users to engage with from anywhere in the world • Catalogue and digitise more of our collections and share them online via our online database Discover
Reviewed By DJBURTY
We are in Durham for the first time. We spent an hour or so around the Cathedral which is so impressive. We then took a tour of the Castle. Great value for money at £5 each. The tour lasted around an hour and the tour guide Rupert was a fountain of knowledge but also made it interactive with the group. Some first year University students are lucky enough to reside in the castle.
7. Oriental Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 342 reviews
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.
Reviewed By chipadvisor93 - Port Louis, null
thank you to my mother for introducing me to this treasure trove of world history... just incredible and somewhere anyone who loves life should visit....
8. Lindisfarne Gospels
9. Durham Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,765 reviews
Durham Cathedral welcomes non-flash visitor photography. We have been a place of worship, welcome and hospitality for almost one thousand years. We rely on donations, and we suggest you give £3 per person to support the Cathedral's future. Located at the heart of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Built in 1093, the Cathedral is famous as the Shrine of St Cuthbert and the resting place of the Venerable Bede. Durham Cathedral also boasts the most intact surviving set of medieval monastic buildings in the UK. These spectacular spaces house Open Treasure, a world-class visitor experience which reveals the remarkable story of Durham Cathedral and its incredible collections through temporary and permanent exhibits for visitors of all ages. Charges apply to group tours, public tours and Open Treasure.
Reviewed By RafalWVIIX - Skoki, Poland
Durham Cathedral was second best place I'd a chance to visit during my short trip around north-east England. The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is magnificent example of late Romanesque architecture with Gothic features incorporated here and there, that created harmonious whole. I would say, that Durham's Cathedral is fine example of transition form from late Romanesque style to the new, Gothic style. Construction of cathedral started in 1093, and took several decades, Stone edifice was erected in place of much smaller and humbler Anglo-Saxon wooden church. In thirteen century cathedral was already in need of repairing. Along with those necessary works, cathedral's expansion has progressed. From three towers that cathedral has acquired that time, the central one was damaged by lightning and then was rebuilt in 15th century. Thanks to new techniques developed during Medieval period cathedral was equipped with new rose and pointed arch windows characteristic for newborn architectural style that was taking over Europe, namely, Gothic. In 17th century cathedral was used as makeshift prison after the Battle of Dunbar. The prisoners, kept in inhumane conditions, destroyed much of the woodwork. These damages were partly restored in second half of 17th century by Bishop John Cosin. Works carried out in 18th and 19th centuries considerably altered cathedral's character. Much of the outer stone work of the cathedral was smoothed off and most of the Chapter House was demolished. Cosin's wooden organ screen was removed. During Victorian restoration Cathedral's central tower was refurbished, also new marble choir screen and pulpit in the Crossing were added. 20th century brought along with it restoring the Shrine of St Cuthbert behind the High Altar. Current, 21st century witnessed some more changes that took place in cathedral's interior. Two altars in Nine Altars Chapel were re-dedicated and new painting and sculptures were placed there. The Durham's Cathedral is a must see for everyone who's roaming around north-east England. What's made the greatest impression on me, were in the first place massive, Romanesque columns, and omnipresent arches. The Cathedral has unique atmosphere, and the play between the light and the shadow within its walls is truly amazing. Its exterior is no less impressive. One of the best cathedrals I'd ever seen. Period.
10. Gala Theatre Durham
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 317 reviews
Reviewed By NiallFleming - Bardon Mill, United Kingdom
Well situated venue with accessible parking and a range of restaurants near by. The auditorium is well designed, comfortable and with good viewing and acoustics. Theatre staff are very pleasant and helpful. Gordon Buchanan is an outstanding photographer and naturalist who has passion and humour. The time simply flew. He was also very generous with autographs and questions. A thoroughly nice guy!
