Durham Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Palace Green is an area of grass in the centre of Durham, England, flanked by Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. The Cathedral and Castle together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is situated on top of the narrow, high peninsula formed by a sharp bend in the River Wear.

The Museum of Archaeology is a museum of the University of Durham in England. Its collections range from prehistoric to post-medieval. It includes Victorian Antiquarian excavations, such as the 1880s excavations at Binchester, along with some archives from research excavations carried out by the University’s Department of Archaeology since the 1930s. There are also donations from members of the public and objects acquired through the 1996 Treasure Act.

This, Durham's oldest bridge, was constructed in 1127 by Bishop Flambard, a man who did much in the way of constructing public 'buildings' in the city. As a strategic entry point into the city, it was well-defended by the castle to prevent it becoming a military weak-point. The current bridge is of two shallow arches, each with several reinforcing ribs.

Elvet Bridge is a stone bridge that crosses the River Wear connecting the peninsula in central Durham and the Elvet area of the city. The bridge has 10 visible arches and further arches hidden under the road. The present Elvet Bridge replaced a slightly earlier one that was in the same location and is one of only three bridges left in England with buildings on them.

The Durham Museum and Heritage Centre is a fascinating museum of local history covering Durham and the surrounding area. The museum contains a variety of objects, models, pictures and audio-visual displays. These exhibitions provide the visitor with an overview of life, labour and leisure in this ancient fortified city, centre of pilgrimage and capital of the Prince Bishops of Durham.

Durham Cathedral is a Christian Church of the Anglican Communion and the seat of the Bishop of Durham. It was founded as a monastic cathedral built to house the shrine of St Cuthbert, replacing an earlier church constructed in his honour. . It attests to the importance of the early Benedictine monastic community and is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England.