Sights in County Durham
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Durham Cathedral
This exquisite cathedral is the definitive structure of the Anglo-Norman Romanesque style, one of the world's greatest places of worship and, since 1986, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
It's an overwhelming building with an unusually solid, fortified appearance: it may have been built to pay tribute to God and to house the bones of local St Cuthbert, but it needed to be strong enough to withstand attack by Scots and Saxons unimpressed with the arrival of the Normans some years earlier.
Beyond the main door – and the famous (and much-reproduced) Sanctuary Knocker, which medieval felons would strike to gain 37 days asylum within the cathedral before standing trial or…
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Durham Castle
Built as a standard motte-and-bailey fort in 1072, Durham Castle was the prince bishops' home until 1837, when it became the first college of the new university. It remains a university hall, and you can stay here.
The castle has been much altered over the centuries, as each successive prince bishop sought to put his particular imprint on the place, but heavy restoration and reconstruction were necessary anyway as the castle is built of soft stone on soft ground. Highlights of the 45-minute tour include the groaning 17th-century Black Staircase, the 16th-century chapel and the beautifully preserved Norman chapel (1080).
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Durham Light Infantry Museum
The history of Durham's County Regiment is brought to life at this museum 500m northwest of city centre.
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Oriental Museum
Egyptian artefacts and a giant Chinese bed are highlights of this excellent museum 3 miles south of the city centre. Take bus 5 or 5A.
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Durham Heritage Centre
A pretty crowded collection of displays on Durham's history from the Middle Ages to mining.
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Museum of Archaeology
A university museum with a collection dating back to prehistoric times.
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Crook Hall
This medieval hall with 1.6 hectares of charming small gardens is about 200m north of the city centre.
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Locomotion
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Cloisters & Treasures
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Beamish Open-Air Museum
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