20 Attractions to Explore Near Durham Castle

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Palace Green

Palace Green

0.11km from Durham Castle

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.

Museum of Archaeology • Durham University

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.

Framwellgate Bridge

Framwellgate Bridge

0.13km from Durham Castle

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

Elvet Bridge

0.19km from Durham Castle

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.

Durham Museum and Heritage Centre

Durham Museum and Heritage Centre

0.23km from Durham Castle

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

Durham Cathedral

0.25km from Durham Castle

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.

St Chad's College Chapel

St Chad's College Chapel

0.27km from Durham Castle

St Chad's College is a recognized college of Durham University in England, founded in 1904 as an Anglican hall for the training of Church of England clergy. The main part of the college is located on the Bailey, occupying nine historic buildings at the east end of Durham Cathedral. It neighbors Hatfield College to its north, while St John's College and St Cuthbert's Society are to its south. The college is named after St Chad of Mercia, a seventh-century bishop.

Prebends Bridge

Prebends Bridge

0.54km from Durham Castle

Prebends Bridge is a Grade I listed structure and a scheduled monument which was designed by George Nicholson and built from 1772 to 1778. It is one of three masonry structures on the loop of river that surrounds the cathedral, and is now part of the Durham World Heritage Site.

Wharton Park

Wharton Park

0.73km from Durham Castle

A beautiful park, which was created by William Lloyd Wharton. It includes a new Heritage Centre, cafe, new play areas, and improvements to the park's amphitheatre, miniature car track, footpaths, signs and main entrances. One of the iconic location where you can spend some good leisure time.

Oriental Museum

Oriental Museum

1.33km from Durham Castle

From Ancient Egypt to modern China, This is the only museum in the North of England devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia. The museum was founded due to the need to house an increasing collection of Oriental artefacts used by the School of Oriental Studies, that were previously housed around the University.

Old Durham Gardens

Old Durham Gardens

1.43km from Durham Castle

Old Durham Gardens provide a charming public space for everybody to enjoy. The gardens lie less than a mile from Durham city centre, and can be reached through a number of pleasant woodland or riverside walks. Here you will find a beautiful walled garden with structured planting and terraces running down to a restored orchard.

Botanic Garden

Botanic Garden

1.45km from Durham Castle

Durham University's 10 hectare Botanic Garden is set amongst beautiful mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham city. Open to the public, the Botanic Garden offers a wide variety of landscapes to explore and discover, with guests young and old visiting throughout the year. There are wonderful glass houses. Walk through the desert house to see the collection of cacti that thrive in this arid climate.

Herefordshire Trail

Herefordshire Trail

3.09km from Durham Castle

The Herefordshire Trail is 154 miles around the Herefordshire countryside, passing through market towns and picturesque villages. It starts in the ancient market town of Ledbury and passing through the most picturesque black and white villages, spectacular rural scenery and a variety of characterful small towns, each with individual and fascinating histories and buildings.

Finchale Priory

Finchale Priory

5.27km from Durham Castle

The very extensive remains of a 13thC priory, founded on the site of a retired pirate's hermitage. Part of it later served as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham Cathedral. Beautifully sited by the River Wear, it can be reached from Durham via a delightful riverside and woodland walk.

Brancepeth Castle

Brancepeth Castle

6.85km from Durham Castle

Brancepeth Castle is a medieval castle near Durham. First constructed in the mid-12th century, it has a dynamic history, constantly changing hands and use. The current building is a combination of the Neville’s medieval towers with early 19th-century additions by the Russells, who employed Edinburgh architect John Paterson to sensitively create a grand stately home within the walls and extensions.

Diggerland Durham

Diggerland Durham

7.02km from Durham Castle

Diggerland is the UK’s most unique construction-themed adventure park where children and adults can drive, ride and operate earth-moving machinery in a safe and family friendly environment. Diggerland also has a team, The Dancing Diggers, which operates every other year and features large diggers doing stunts. In 2017, they performed at several county fairs, including the Royal Bath and West Country Show.

Waldridge Fell

Waldridge Fell

7.55km from Durham Castle

Waldridge Fell is a Site of Special Scientific Interest located immediately south-west of Chester-le-Street in the northern part of County Durham, England. It is one of the largest areas of lowland heath in County Durham and contains the only lowland valley-mire in the county. The fell is home to a number of plants and insects that are scarce to rare elsewhere in the county.

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve

7.76km from Durham Castle

Rainton Meadows is a nature reserve just to the west of East Rainton, Sunderland, north-east England. The reserve, which covers 60 ha, and the adjacent Joe's Pond Site of Special Scientific Interest, are managed by Durham Wildlife Trust. It provides a wide variety of habitats including grassland, scrub, mature woodland and several ponds.

Emirates Riverside

Emirates Riverside

8.3km from Durham Castle

The Riverside Ground, known for sponsorship reasons as the Emirates Riverside, is a cricket venue in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England. It is home to Durham County Cricket Club, and has also hosted several international matches.

St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church

St Mary & St Cuthbert's Church

8.96km from Durham Castle

This 13th Century church stands on the site of a 2nd Century Roman Fort and the 9th Century foundations of a wooden shrine to St Cuthbert. This was home to the Lindesfarne community from 883-995 AD and where in c. 960 the priest Aldred produced the earliest surviving translation of the gospels into early English.

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Know more about Durham Castle

Durham Castle

Durham Castle

Durham DH1 3RW, UK

Sitting at the heart of Durham's World Heritage Site and occupied continuously since the 11th century, the Castle is now home to the students of University College, part of Durham University. Designated as a cultural World Heritage Site in England, along with Durham Cathedral, since 1986. The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham's peninsula.