The city of Durham boasts a great many historical and cultural attractions for anyone looking to take a city break off the well-worn path to London. With its 11th-century castle and Norman cathedral on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, as well as a variety of museums and other activities centred around Durham University and life in the city centre, no one taking a short vacation in Durham will want for things to do.
But what about some of the lesser-known attractions in and around the city of Durham? If the unconventional is what you fancy, then the following attractions are certain to make your city break in Durham one you won’t soon forget.
Ghost Walks
Just about everyone has been on a guided tour of historic buildings or monuments within their hometown or at a destination they’ve visited, but not as many have ever been on a ghost walk.
Ghost walks are unlike any guided tour you’ve been on before: you’ll learn some local history, but you will also learn how it ties in with grisly deaths of people who once lived here or who, in any case, expired in Durham. Ghost walks led by Ghosts and Grisly Death will educate you exactly on what their name implies. If you have a taste for local folklore or the macabre, you won’t want to pass up this opportunity the next time you’re in Durham.
Countryside Tours via Trike
Why fuss with rental cars and road maps when you can tour the North East of England on a chauffeured trike, €just like Billy Connolly in Route 66€? No need to pack extra riding gear, as trike tours provide everything you need, including helmets equipped with speakers to allow you to chat with fellow passengers while your friendly chauffeur provides information about points of interest along the way.
North of England’s two- to four-hour trike tours will take you around Yorkshire, Northumberland, the Lake District and all the national parks in northern England and can accommodate stops for lunch, visits to the Black Sheep Brewery and wherever else you may wish to stop and have a look around.
Castle Eden Dene Nature Walks
Hiking enthusiasts and others people craving a healthy dose of fresh air won’t want to miss out on the nature walks of the Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve in the Stanhope Chase, Peterlee area. The 1.8-mile Squirrel Walk and 2-mile Yew Tree Walk will give active people who love the outdoors exactly what they need to recharge and refresh while learning about the local flora (from prehistoric giant horsetail to wild arum and Lords and Ladies) and fauna (including a variety of bird and butterfly species). Although relatively short, these walks are not for the faint of heart: both are steep in places and not recommended for those with limited mobility or for touring during high winds.
Once you’ve had the enlivening experience of a countryside trike tour and are ready to have a similarly invigorating experience on foot, Castle Eden Dene is the next place you will want to visit.
Even before you begin planning the itinerary of your city break in Durham, you will want to arrange luxury accommodations that will allow you to make the most of your time in the area, and at the top of your list should be the Town House Hotel in Durham.
The Town House Hotel Durham
The Town House Durham is in a class apart from other hotels in Durham with its individually designed rooms and the award-winning Town House Restaurant, which boasts only the highest-quality seafood, meats and produce which are sourced locally whenever possible.
Accommodation includes eleven completely indulgent, individually designed rooms in a Georgian Grade II listed Town House and secluded Garden Apartments. Also, there are three restaurants all of which have received the prestigious TasteDurham awards in a nationally accredited food quality initiative.
This award from TasteDurham is only awarded to businesses achieving at least 80 per cent of the TasteDurham criteria, which include physical features such as the condition of an establishment, the food on offer, cleanliness, comfort and ease of use of facilities. And also looks at the warmth of the welcome and the atmosphere experienced.
To stay at the Town House Durham, located in the heart of the Durham city centre, is to experience the very best that Durham City has to offer. So to book your accommodations, whether a City Break or longer, call today on 0191 384 1037 or by visiting www.thetownhousedurham.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you.