20 Attractions to Explore Near Hardwick Country Park

Locomotion, previously known as Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon or Shildon Locomotion Museum is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, England. At Locomotion, you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town. The town of Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the rail industry, making it the perfect place to explore the rich seam of local railway history and discover how the railways have

Auckland Castle, once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham. It is one of the best-preserved bishops’ palaces in the whole of Europe and is at the center of The Auckland Project. Previously a deer park, Bishop Hugh Pudsey established a manor house on the site in around 1183. Because it was near to his hunting estate, a successor, Bishop Bek, relocated his main residence from Durham Castle to Auckland and he later converted the manor house into a castle.

Bishop Auckland Town Hall is a multi-purpose cultural venue situated in the Bishop Auckland marketplace. The Hall with its theatre, gallery, library, and café has undergone a major refurbishment program and was due to fully reopen to the public earlier in 2020. The building held a prominent position in the town and dominated the area with its strong mansard pavilions, spires, and associated ironwork.

Apollo Pavilion is an iconic example of 1960s public art and designed by Edwin John Victor Pasmore (d. 1998) during his time as consultant Director of urban design for Peterlee Development Corporation. The design consists of large geometric planes of white concrete, the only decoration being two oval murals. The structure spans a small lake that frames a large geometric statue by Pasmore; in its original form, the Pavilion provided a pedestrian link between the two halves of the estate.

Castle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve in the Easington district of County Durham, England. It is located mostly in Peterlee, between the A19 and A1086 roads. The dene is the largest, and biologically the richest, of a series of deep ravines that have been incised through the Magnesian Limestone and overlying boulder clay of coastal Durham by streams flowing into the North Sea.

The Roman fort at Binchester lies above the River Wear just outside the historic town of Bishop Auckland (Co. Durham). Known to the Romans as Vinovia, it commanded the main road that ran from the legionary headquarters at York northwards to Hadrian's Wall. It formed a key element of the complex frontier system that lay both sides of the Wall that marked the northern-most edge of the Roman Empire for nearly four hundred years.

Kynren is a spectacular outdoor theatre experience that takes place annually, usually between August and September. The open-air extravaganza had planned to add even more to their attraction in 2020 with a new show, new attractions and new dining. This family-friendly event is a feast for all the senses and a brilliant way to enjoy the long summer evenings in the North East.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.