What to do and see in County Durham, England: The Best Sightseeing Tours

From the Ice Age to the modern day, Durham has a fantastic story to tell. The city has resisted both the Scots and the Normans throughout its history, developed into a regional capital and been shaped by its stunning Romanesque Cathedral in the city centre. On this tour, you’ll hear many of the city’s amazing stories as you walk its picturesque streets. This tour is one of the best ways to see Durham during a visit to the North East of England. What 3 Words starting location: ///shed.librarian.when Available start times: 10am | 2pm

Inclusions: Local guide, Professional guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Durham is one of the most famous cities in Northern England, set among the magnificent Cathedral of Blessed Mary the Virgin and St. Cuthbert of Durham and the city’s imposing Castle. This tour gives you an in-depth introduction to Durham, which has grown around the shrine of its Anglo-Saxon saint, St. Cuthbert, and the influence of the mighty Prince Bishops. We’ll guide you through the city and then take you to the grand Romanesque cathedral – often described as the greatest Cathedral in England – explaining the architecture and history of the building. Then, you’ll behold the Open Treasures of the Bishop of Durham, which has been gathered and curated for you to discover. Please contact us for details of solo traveler bookings. What 3 Words starting location: ///shed.librarian.when

Inclusions: Local guide, Professional guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified

Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO world heritage site, marks the frontier of the Roman Empire. The frontier extended for 80 Roman miles and covered many landscapes. On this half-day tour, we’ll focus on the fort at the east end of the wall: Segedunum. The fort is home to fantastic reconstructions of the Roman way of life, allowing you to learn up-close about this fantastic, ruthless yet creative culture that conquered much of the known world. We will start the tour at the fort of Segedunum - now called Wallsend. Following this we’ll go to the Great North Museum in Newcastle, which has one of the largest collections of Roman artefacts in the North of Britain. This tour is great for those who love history and wish to discover more about the Romans in urban Newcastle and Tyneside. Please contact us for details of solo traveler bookings. What 3 Words starting location: ///rocky.move.wide

Inclusions: Local guide, Professional guide, Local Forts and museums

Exclusions: Food and drinks

Experience the city of Newcastle (and Gateshead) in a new light - gone are the days of industry & depression - the city today is one of the most fascinating, culturally active and inspiring cities in the UK. Discover its past, present and future on this discovery walking tour with your local expert!

Inclusions: Professional, local tourist guide, Tailor-made: choose your start/end points within the city

Exclusions: Private transportation, Entry fees, Gratuities

Immerse yourself in Newcastle’s rich past and handsome architecture on a two-hour walking tour of its historical highlights. Learn about the city’s Roman, Norman and mercantile history. Admire Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and the Castle Keep. Hear about the Victorian entrepreneurs who made Newcastle a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. And take in the revamped Quayside, where cutting-edge venues overlook the River Tyne. Every step of the way, you’ll absorb the city’s vibrant atmosphere, rooted in the famously friendly natures of the ‘Geordie’ locals. What 3 Words starting location: ///rotate.angel.monks

Inclusions: Local guide, Professional guide, Tour escort/host

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks

The tour offers more sights than some other tours of the beautiful city of Newcastle. On it you will hear about the history of the city from the Iron Age to present day, and also about some of the city's more interesting characters. The tour is less than 4km, does include some steps, and some uneven pavement. Please come prepared according to the weather forecast for that day. In the event of bad weather, please contact me through the message option here on TripAdvisor to see if the tour is still going ahead. Weather cancellations will be very rare.

Inclusions: English-speaking tour guide

Exclusions:

This is one 90-minute walking tour you’ll never forget. Hear tales of Newcastle’s ghosts, criminals and gangsters as you walk along Dean Street, Quayside and High Bridge Street. See sights including Earl Grey's Monument, Castle Keep and Bigg Market, while learning the mysterious stories that surround them. Please note: this is not a ghost tour. There will be no paranormal activity on this tour. What 3 Words starting location: ///rotate.angel.monks

Inclusions: Professional guide

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drinks, Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting at Greys Monument at 1pm, this tour offers travellers the chance to take in Newcastle’s rich culture and amazing scenery whilst sampling some of the cities finest food provided by some of the best independent eateries in town! Along the way you will visit a diverse culture scene from the hustle and bustle of the famous Grainger Market where traders still shout their wares right to The Baltic Centre For Contemporary art where you will take in some of THE best views of the city

Inclusions: Licensed tour guide, Newcastle food tasting

Exclusions:

This tour is completely customizable - let us know your ideal starting / end points, time, duration, inclusions you wish to add (museums, galleries, foodie places etc.). We look forward to building the tour to suit you and your fellow travellers. Enjoy a personal and inspirational walk through the great city of Newcastle and discover how the city has transformed itself in the past 20-30 years to become one of the most culturally active and stunning architectural cities in the country. The tour will tell the story of 2,000 years of city history and will give you a rounded story of how the city has become this cultural hub. We will focus on today's highlights and what the future holds for a city moving at pace. We can offer private transfers from/to port or airport at an additional fee.

Inclusions: Private, tailored tour and professional tourist guide, Optional further languages if required

Exclusions: Private transfers - these can be added though.

This is the ORIGINAL NEWCASTLE PUB TOUR! Enjoy a tour of discover & taste, as we cherry-pick some of the oldest and most iconic pubs in Newcastle! We look forward to sharing their fascinating tales from amusing anecdotes to serious chat... We’ll also find out about the rise and fall of local brewers like the iconic Newcastle Brown Ale and the recent resurgence of dozens of micro-breweries making Newcastle the go-to place for independent brewers and beer lovers. Even today, the Geordies are famed for knowing how to have a good night out and the tour will include some more recent favourites.

Inclusions: Professional, local tourist guide, We will include at least 4 locations with drink tastings during your tour. This can include half-pints of beer or a small rack of local beers to taste etc., A small bar snack is included (this will only be something similar to crisps / pork scratchings or similar)

Exclusions: No further food or drinks is included in the tour price but can be purchased during your tour.