A Trip to Durham

The beautiful university city of Durham is a well worth a visit. Situated within easy reach of the Northumberland coast and Newcastle, it makes the perfect place to visit whilst on holiday in the area.  With so much to see and do, here are some ideas to get you started on your holiday to Durham.

Beamish Open Air Museum

Beamish is a massive open air museum situated in the picturesque countryside of County Durham. An extremely popular tourist attraction, the museum recreates life from a bygone age, complete with actors dressed in costume, telling the story of life over a hundred years ago. Buildings from all over the UK have been moved to the Beamish site to be preserved and remembered for years to come.

At Beamish you can wander round the working farm, visit the Victorian school, pop into the pit workers cottages, take a trip to the dentist as it was one hundred years ago and even go down an old mine. Take a walk down the Victorian high street and even stop to make some purchases in the shops, just like it would have been one hundred years ago. The museum is set on a massive site and you can catch old fashioned public transport, like trams and trains, between locations. There is so much to see at Beamish that you need to devote a whole day in order to make the most of it.

Angel of the North

The Angel of the North is a dramatic steel structure that has become an icon of the north east of England. Situated between Durham and Newcastle, the twenty metre tall sculpture is positioned on a small hill overlooking the A1 and the train lines, towering over the local area. If you are on holiday nearby the Angel of the North is well worth a visit!

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral dates back to 1093. Situated on a peninsular of land, surrounded by the River Wear, Durham Cathedral enjoys spectacular views across the city and beyond. Taking a trip to the top of the Cathedral tower, via 325 steps grants visitors fabulous views across the city. The tower costs just £5 for adults or £2.50 for children to access. Afterwards, reward yourself with a delicious coffee and cake from the Undercroft cafe. What could be better?!

Shopping in Durham

Durham is a great place for shopping, with all the usual chain shops, as well as a number of unique and individual shops, which serve the funky student populations. The undercover market is a great place to head to pick up a bargain. Saddler Street links Durham Cathedral and the city centre and is home to some really lovely shops including The Georgian Window, a long established location for picking up great gifts to take back to your friends and family, or treating yourself!

Looking for holiday accommodation for a trip to Durham? Visit Sykes Cottages for holiday cottages in and around Durham and all over the UK.

Photo attribution: Durham Cathedral http://www.flickr.com/photos/68259253@N00/1535660501/