Durham is one of those places that you need to visit time and time again to see everything it has to offer, as it has so many attractions. While I have been to the northern city before, I have many reasons to visit again – read on to find out what I will do when I visit Durham once more.
1) Walk around the picturesque city
The first thing I would do as soon as I’ve unpacked my bags at my Northumberland cottage is head to the city. Most centres in the UK have large shopping facilities, modern buildings and large office blocks, but Durham is completely different.
It hillside location and old-fashioned buildings give it a quaint atmosphere, and the shops you’ll find here are boutiques, craft and gift stores all housed in Victorian properties. Incidentally, I did spend a lot of time walking around the city on my last visit, but I would happily stroll along its cobbled streets and soak up the Olde English ambience again.
2) Visit Durham Castle
One thing you’ll notice as you walk around is the huge Durham Castle on a hillside nearby, as it looms over the city. The castle is actually where many students of Durham University live, with 100 residing in the halls throughout term-time. Regardless of this, you can come and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at any time of the year, and you can take a tour of the building to learn more about its history.
3) Eat at the Black Knight Restaurant
Another castle I would love to visit is Lumley Castle, not least because you can dine in opulent surroundings at its Black Knight Restaurant here. The 600 year-old castle overlooks the River Wear, and it is a great place to walk around. But, if I came here, I would definitely pop in either to taste a few classic dishes on its delicious menu at the Black Knight Restaurant or enjoy an afternoon tea at its Library Bar. This may even end up being the most opulent surroundings I’ve ever had scones, pastries and little sandwiches in!
4) Explore the Bowes Museum
Another historic site I’d love to visit is the Bowes Museum. This building was designed in the 19th century to look like a French chateau and you’ll discover a range of art work and a collection of ceramics.
As well as walk around the extravagant building, I would make sure I left enough time to meander through the gardens and parkland. I imagine this is a lovely way to spend the day, particularly if the weather is nice!
5) Go for long walks
The great thing about Durham – apart from all the sites there are to see here – is that it is surrounded by beautiful countryside. I would like nothing better than to hike through the Durham Dales, but there are also plenty of other places to explore on foot.
Hamsterley Forest, Durham’s Heritage Coast and the North Pennines are just a few beautiful rural areas to visit, and you can spend hours hiking around these regions, soaking up the beautiful landscape. There is an array of wildlife here, and this is definitely something I’d love to see. If you’re the same, you can join a guided tour of the North Pennines, during which you will be led to popular hotspots for wild animals in the area. You may even get to see badgers during your trip, and have a good chance of spotting birds like black grouse and merlin.
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