We visited this museum for a special visit by the flying Scotsman. For a small payment, you could enjoy a short ride being pulled by this famous locomotive. The museum has improved a lot since we last visited, with a second hall now open with more trains and carriages inside. There also seemed to be more interactive exhibits than last time. Well worth a visit, especially as it's free (donation is welcome)

Lovely couple of hours spent here last week. Nice welcome, free but donations encouraged. Two large sheds with a good range of exhibits and plenty of details and information boards about the history of trains which began in the area. Smaller than their sister location at York, but much less busy with a dedicated free carpark.

Locomotion is a great experience. Coupled with the opportunity for me to cab ride Scotsman from the museum was a bonus. When I went there were plenty of people but enough gaps to video without people mostly. Well laid out with good interpretive signage. I appreciate the freight equipment being in its working clothes.

Great place to visit if you like trains. Very helpful and friendly staff, cafe for coffee and a snack. Ample parking. Lots train related for adults and kids. 👍🏻

Excellent railway museum. Lots of exhibits in two massive buildings. Check website for running days on short demonstration track. Good cafe and friendly staff.

Lovely clean and roomy place. Nice big carpark. Free to enter, we gave a donation. The trains are amazing. Lovely walk to see the old building (none are open) which is a shame. Overall super morning out.

Outstanding venue and will cost you nothing unless you want to make a donation (which everyone should even if it's only a pound or two). The staff were all very friendly, and the exhibitions were excellent. The flying Scotsman was there on our visit (see photos). A massive sandpit outside with buckets and spades for this kids was a excellent addition (only summer). And just a little walk away they have an excellent play area which is very well maintained.

Great craft beer bar with excellent food and a cracking venue for live events. All the food is handmade and cooked fresh with the great selection of beers brewed onsite. Everything from Belgian style sours to American IPAs. The staff are very helpful. Cheers!

Caps off brewery is very well laid out inside. Brewery on one side and then bar and kitchen on the other. Seating, there are tables and benches to sit on. There is also a sofa area as well. Inside there is plenty of patio heaters to keep the building warm. Bar wise, Caps Off own beers to chose from and they have a varied range and are always excellent beers. Food is rotational on a Saturday with different food vendors coming in. Saturday nights will occasionally host bands as well. It’s one of the best tap rooms around and is really worth the effort to find it.

1st night at Caps of for the Burns night ceilidh! Fabulous service sent a few messages and prompt to respond. Food was amazing and nice variety of unusual beers/ IPA's to try. Will definitely be back 😊

Enjoyed a visit to Caps Off brewery for their beer festival while staying in Witton-le-Wear for a holiday. A great selection of Caps Off beers plus some guest bears. A nice chilled atmosphere and good service from the bar staff. Would definitely return for more beer. Cheers 🍻

Lovely food, pool table and music 🎶 chill vibes 👌

Total chaos for the event on Saturday afternoon/evening, 35 minutes plus to be served at the bar..... Food queue was disgraceful and we waited/ queued over 30 minutes for a very small burger with no fries, utterly shameful, £10 for the charity event..... This company needs to rethink how it manages events. Only positive was the live band,Ded wrongenz, fantastic end to the evening.

Great little brewery. Visited for a family christening as the after church celebration was here. Plenty of choice for the ales. I had the pale ale and it was fantastic. The buffet they provided was a mix of hot/cold choices and it was delicious. Plenty of parking available outside and a great location away from town.

The show was very entertaining and incredibly well put together. It's amazing that everyone is a volunteer. The viking village was also entertaining but could do with allowing people to enter earlier to avoid the massive queue.

The show was absolutely fabulous, so well put together, the actors, the animals, the fireworks and lighting. The props and scenery was beautiful. lots of photo opportunities too! 100% will be coming to watch again and recommending every else does too! Take a coat or blanket as it did get cold later on. So I went bank holiday weekend so its no surprise it was rammed. Few points to mention on it being busy... - I'd get there early if you are wanting food and a table to eat at, gets very busy very quickly. - The seating is quite cramped and you are literally shoulder to shoulder and you have to keep getting up and walking off the row when people arrive to be seated as there is no room to walk by and certainly not safe enough to stand and lean over. - Make sure you get the shuttle so much easier to and from, especially as I took my 5 month old baby. Long ques but that is to be expected and made sure you drop a pin on maps where you're parked🫣 - The viking village was good, just wish there weren't so many people in, was really busy and hard to engage in anything as couldn't get close to the barriers to see much.

The Kynren experience was amazing!! I went with my partner and family and loved it. We saw the live show/reenactment which was great. Seeing the volunteers riding the horses and charging them down the path and jousting the boards was fun to watch and the amazing water light show. Definitely going next year and going back in time watching the cast showing working and living life in past eras ❤️🔥✨️

I attended one of these shows last weekend, and while the performance itself was visually stunning and clearly the result of a huge amount of hard work, I felt very let down by the pre-show experience. The Viking Village — one of the things I was most looking forward to — had already closed well before the show began, which was really disappointing. On top of that, access to food and drink was extremely limited. What little was available either had very long queues or had already stopped serving. I also found it frustrating that the website states not to bring in a drink, reusable aluminium bottles are not allowed, so I was forced not to bring one. Once inside, I then couldn’t access a drink easily, which made the evening a lot less enjoyable. Be prepared to queue for almost an hour to access basic amenities. Another point worth mentioning is the seating. The stadium-style seats are very, very slim and uncomfortable, which made sitting through a long performance quite difficult. Finally, despite announcements asking people not to smoke, there were several e-cigarettes being used in the audience during the show. This was unpleasant and distracting, and it really took away from the experience. I completely understand that running large-scale events is challenging, but clearer communication about what is open and when — along with better access to basic amenities, more comfortable seating, and stricter enforcement of the no-smoking policy — would make a huge difference. I hope this feedback can help improve the experience for future visitors.

Absolutely brilliant.. probably best value for money ever.. good quality food reasonable prices .. gifts merchandise equally surprised at the prices... The transport from and took the car parks.. absolutely top noch.. couldn't fault anything at all

Kynren was hands down one of the most fascinating performances I’ve ever witnessed. From the moment it began, I was swept away by the colors, vibrancy, and sheer energy of the show. What amazed me most was how a simple, barren ground was transformed into a living, breathing stage full of life and history. The scale of the performance was breathtaking.The number of performers, the richness of the set, and even the real animals brought a sense of authenticity that made me feel like I had truly stepped back in time. The sight of horses galloping across the arena was simply spectacular and gave me goosebumps. Every detail was carefully thought out, and the production quality was outstanding. In totality, it was truly bang for your buck! A grand, immersive experience that stays with you long after it ends. A must-visit for everyone, whether you love history, theatre, or just want to be amazed.

Wow!!! What an amazing show. I want to come back every year. No ward work went unnoticed. To the actors, to behind the scenes, even the bin men! The fact this is all done by volunteers makes this even better!

Since moving here from London few months ago Never have I once liked anything I've bought in any take away shops in shildon till I went to this shop🫡 Food is great, my chicken wrap and chips was delicious. The staff is great each individual greated me with a smile and the wait wasn't long. Only regret is not getting a 3rd wrap. Unfortunately my nieces and nephew weren't asleep yet when I got in and my sister and I had to share😑

Always check your change i went there twice and both times they ripped me off. They dont tell you how much the oder is and hand yiubthe card machine to tap. I wish i had took a picture of the guys face when i pulled him for trying to rob me! £5.20 EXTRA these are con men stay clear

Great food tonight! We had a few different selections and they were all very good. Always good when the salad is fresh and crunchy. Ordered online and it was ready in the time specified. The shop was immaculate when we collected and the staff friendly.

This place is literally the cleanest food shop on the plant. The food is always really fresh, the chips are amazing and if you decide to stray away from the chippy menu, they do incredible pizzas. They put plenty of toppings on, oh and the chicken kebabs are honestly the best I've had in the North East

Excellent customer service, a lovely family run takeaway, they always serve the best fresh food, very clean premises, definitely recommend.

Ordered a donner calzone and got a thin layer of kabab meat inside and couple chips not be bothering next time isn't the first time it's happened and when you ring they don't care

ive only had one meal from you but would order again was lovely

Order food at 1am said food had been delivered at 1:50am but hadnt, so rang up and they said it was still on its way. Got to 2:30am and rang up twice said the order was still out for delivery and that the woman was looking for our house number but went outside and saw no one. 3am ending up having to get a refund but they were very apologetic.

Paid just over £13 for this decided to take a photo after having one piece. I asked for an extra large kebab no pitta bread and some salad. I phoned up to tell them that it was more of a small or a medium and they said they cannot do nothing, because it’s how the boss made it. Took only 45 mins but still not enough food for the money. Used to be a ton for £9. Edit: gave me an upset stomach 1.5 hours after eating. Currently on the loo at 2.35am.

Ordered meat mix:….. DO NOT ORDER HERE You get the meat just dumped onto the chips so you get soggy, soaking wet greasy chips and they put your can of coke in the bag with the food After ignoring my special instructions on Uber eats to pack it separately I got them to redo it and they sent back a box of doner meat

Ordered a Parma and portion of kebab meat, both were nearly warm and the Parma how no béchamel sauce and large very large slices of onion under the cheese very disappointing

Have used this place for years. Ordered via their app as I’ve always done, this time no confirmation of order yet money taken from bank. Phoned shop and told “we don’t have an app”, let they advertise the app in their shop! The member of staff disbelieved me when I said I made order 6 days ago via the same app, he then hung up. Last time I got a pizza it was a stuffed crust, but all they did was make base thinner and roll it over on edges, there was nothing in the crust. Another time I found a big spider under a slice. Don’t use this place!

30 minutes late, the kebab pizza was burnt to crisp and looked like it was rushed or somehow forgotten it was getting made, the cheesy chips was rank, barely any cheese on and the cheese that was on was burnt to crisp as well, they were all stuck together and if I picked up one chip I’d end up picking the whole box. The worst ever. Do not order

Got a bolognaise pizza. It didn't look terribly appetising but did taste a little better than it looked. Service wasn't terrible but wasn't fantastic either. No menus on the walls or counter so didn't know the price till I'd ordered 9 quid for a large bolognaise of this quality, I don't think I'll have that again.

I got a takeaway because I didn't have time to sit in before work and omg deans dinners are actually better than I remember them. Only tiny complaint is the turnip needs blitzing a little more but that's personal preference and you can please everyone. Everything else was cooked perfectly

Spur of the moment decision to go out for a meal, we were not disappointed, we had the Chicken Parma and it was absolutely gorgeous, the wine and beer were very refreshing, atmosphere friendly and served by a lovely couple. Nice and clean (no tacky tables here) we will definitely be returning.

Very nice food for a good price. Very nice and friendly staff. Went here for a meal for my daughter's birthday. We brought a cake ourselves just in case. Was no problem for them. They brought the cake out and sang happy birthday for my daughter.

Just gets worse with everyone who takes it over atmosphere is not welcoming bar full of glasses and stock to put away and other stuff someone on 2 tables with a whole it suite printers etc. Chavy kids running in and out. And no welcome off bar staff at all didn't stay long enough for a drink the few minutes was a put off. Changes hangs cindtantly cannot see it being a pub much longer. A shame could be a good pub with right people

Steak and ale pie was first class. Chicken and chips was great value. Great news owners. Hope they do well

We arrived at 5.30pm today (Tues) to be told they were fully booked - it was Steak night! Then said if we could be out by 7pm they could fit us in - so glad they did. Service, food (Steak & Ale pie) were exceptional. The young staff were excellent. Definitely will be back, though will book to ensure a table.

Loved our meals today and the terrine was unreal with a great customer focused experience from the girl serving, easy 5 🌟 and defo coming back

No parking at the Palace, but parking available a short walk away. Beautiful building, amazing history, very enthusiastic volunteers (sometimes I felt pounced on), great cafe, large art collection. The lower floor of the faith museum was incredibly interesting, upstairs felt like a chill out rave experience when everyone else was on drugs and swept up in the atmosphere. Fortunately I wasn't invited to their party and made a quick exit.

There is no parking at the palace. There is no castle. The tower is just a big metal structure. There is only one door in and out of the large walled gardens. When I went to the Faith museum, I was told to go see the gardens first and then come back. This makes no sense. The palace is listed on the English heritage map, but they don’t accept it. They said they would give me a 10% off a yearly discount only. It should be taken off to English heritage map. Not cool.

Absolute gem, beautifully restored and presented, excellent information panels, but the room guides are quite exceptional - so well informed and interesting. The cafe and shop are first class too, and there’s so much more to see and discover, including the magnificent walled garden and Faith Museum. There’s so much more to see in Bishop Auckland market place, too. A whole day, minimum, is required!

Such an iteresting place. The palace itself is a gem, the faith museum is unbelievably well designed and thought-out, the grounds are lovely (particularly the walled garden) and the staff couldn't be friendlier, more helpful or more knowledgeable. At first I thought £18 was a bit steep but I was proven wrong, it turned out to be very good value for such a great place. My only regret is that I didn't allocate more time for the visit (I spent 3 hours there, I could quite easily have spent another 2)

Home of Durham prince bishops for centuries. Second most powerful person in the country after the king, visit here to get the full story!! Still the bishops residence and now open to the public with large deer park attached and stunning interiors with incredible antique contents. Entry also includes access to two art galleries in town which are also not to missed

Interesting house, garden and grounds to explore. Cafe had limited choices when we visited on a Saturday lunchtime and no gluten free options as they had run out of jacket potatoes so we went into town.

Fabulous Cultural Visits. The Auckland Project is a world-class group of attractions, including the Auckland (Bishops) Palace, formal gardens, Faith Museum, Spanish (art) Gallery, & Miners (art) Gallery. These are located off the central town square of Bishop Auckland, within 5 minutes flat walk from the North Bondgate car park (£4 for all-day parking). Entry is £18 per person covering all the collections (except the Miners Gallery, £8) - reasonable for such a range of attractions. This is a full day visit (or makes a good weekend trip). Located within the Palace complex is the new Faith Museum (the focus of this review), a beautiful new church shaped structure made from local natural stone. This explores the history of religious belief in Britain, from prehistory, Roman Britain, medieval times, the Reformation, the Great Revival of the 19th C, to the growth of multicultural Faith in the last 50 years. The curating is thoughtful & all the exhibits (drawn from across the UK's best collections) are really top quality, & the displays are modern & clear. The top floor houses special exhibitions of modern collections, including currently a video art installation. There is a nice cafe on the ground floor serving drinks, snacks, & light meals (£6 each for a home made quiche with salad). The Faith Museum is unique in the UK - & the Auckland Project as a whole is surely one of the best Museum complexes. Overall 10/10 rated.

Park is free to the public and a lovely walk through a tranquil setting unfortunately we didn't see any deer which I'm not sure if that was due to the time we were there, but definitely recommend if you want a dog friendly park in a quiet location.

Aglow event - amazing evening we will be returning. We loved it all from the lights to the Santa village. It was clean and tidy and staff were friendly and helpful.

Lovely place we walked around the grounds & along the river we had our dog so didn't go into the castle. & didn't get to see the deer this time but it's a really good day out & would definitely go back again

Lovely place to wander amongst veteran trees and riverside grasslands. Deer house offers an interesting glimpse into the history of the place.

We recently visited Auckland House – also known as the Deer House – and it’s an absolute hidden gem nestled within the beautiful grounds of Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland. Whether you’re a local or just passing through the area, this spot is well worth a visit — peaceful, historic, and surrounded by nature. The Deer House itself is a unique Grade II listed building, originally built in the 18th century to provide shelter and feeding for deer, but also to serve as a charming viewing point for the Bishop of Durham. It has a fascinating blend of practical function and architectural elegance, and it’s great to see it so well preserved and accessible to the public. The surrounding parkland is stunning — ideal for a relaxing walk, picnic, or simply to enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle. There are clear paths, scenic views, and plenty of wildlife, making it a lovely day out for families, couples, or anyone who enjoys the outdoors. It’s brilliant to see heritage like this maintained and appreciated. Auckland House (Deer House) is a testament to the rich history of the area, and we’re lucky to have something so special right on our doorstep.

Beautiful little building in a historic setting. It's well maintained and there's some wonderful walks nearby.

Beautiful walk by the river, loved the Deer house...

The staff were exceedingly friendly and courteous. The delightful decorations truly evoked a sense of stepping back in time. It was disappointing that my poached egg was overcooked, and that the full breakfast included only one sausage and one rasher of bacon.

50s Tea room was stepping a bit back in time. The staff had great customer service, attentive & smiles. The dress & ration books used for the menus has a nice personal touch,with the decor. I had todays special of feta and red pepper quiche with sweet potato fries & hubby had smoked salmon & cream cheese sandwich with chunky chips. 2 diet cokes came to £27.30 The portion sizes are small compared to other cafes. In Market square, Bishop Auckland.

Called into Fifties Vintage Tea room while out cycling last week. It’s like stepping back in time. Service was superb, staff were super friendly and the scones were fab. What’s not to like😀

Excellent fifties themed tea room. Booked a day in advance to get gluten free afternoon tea which was so big we had to take some away. Great atmosphere with friendly staff even though they were busy on Saturday afternoon.

Visited the fifties tea room this afternoon to treat my friend to lunch whose birthday it was and what an undiscovered precious place this is. The decor is beautiful and has a timeless charm about it. The staff couldn’t do enough for us and the gentleman who served our food was just lovely and ever so pleasant. The food itself was absolutely gorgeous, piping hot and came with a stunning array of a colourful and fresh side salad. We were stuffed, but the various cakes on display looked delicious and more than tempting. We’ll definitely be back for that cake and I’d highly recommend.

Really friendly staff, live singer performing and food was good too.

Just had the most delicious afternoon tea. As afternoon teas go it is certainly one of the best. The lemon posset was to die for, alongside a huge selection of cake and dainties and obviously sandwiches. Top marks. Staff were wonderful and all talked round to ensure our mam was positioned comfortably in her wheelchair . All served in china crockery, fashionably mismatched. Wonderful afternoon.

Very nice, small area. 2 bathhouse but not much else. The bathhouses are very well preserved There were 3 other people there at the same time

This place is a little treasure! A small part of this huge Roman fort, which lies on the old Roman road Dere St, has been uncovered. You can visit part of two Roman bath houses and see typical features such as a hypocaust heating system and plunge pools. It is amazing to think that so many building still lie beneath the surface over such a large area. There are helpful information points and some fun activities for children in the holidays. Great stuff!

A great hidden gem. It's not a huge site, but they are excavating it still I think. There's loads uncovered in the last 20years and now can see the bathhouse complex from above and below. Well curated and some neat little insights with the footprints cast from the Roman era. Also happened to visit when there was a reenactment and that was great, so look out for days with events too!

A great little local attraction, that packs a lot on for such a small site. Without attractions being there you'd typically spend around an hour - an hour and a half per visit (children dependant). There is a shed for some children's activities to take place, such as mosaic creations. Entrance was £6 per adult and £4 per child. There is a concession for others too. There are toilets available at the site, but they are only portaloos, and not an enclosed brick building.

Great little place pa ked both history. Roman re-enactment on today

Absolutely ingredible place to visit. Visited this place as we where staying close by for the weekend. I have seen a few Roman fortifications over the years, including most of Hadrians wall. However this was just something else. It is the most preserved Roman bath house in the UK at almost 2000 years old. It really is an amazing place and so beautifully preserved. Mark the site manager is a pleasure to talk to, and has a wealth of knowledge about the site and its history. At only £5 per person, I can highly recommend a visit.

Quite an amazing experience. It is incredible the work carried out to achieve these finds. It's like walking into the Roman past. Highly recommended visit. There is currently an archaeological dig on site too which is most interesting. Thanks to all the lovely people on the archaeological site who made me feel so welcomed and to Stephen who showed me around the site.

Very lovely experience at Chang Thai, the staff were amazing and very accommodating to all little details and needs. Cater for coeliacs/gluten free, though I found the restaurant menu a little confusing compared to the one I saw online. The food was absolutely delicious! My friend said it was the best Pad Thai she’s ever had! Would recommend!

I don’t know much about Thai food but my brother does and it was his treat. Apparently very authentic. I know it was very tasty and fragrant. A nice lighter change to an Indian curry. Room was bright, airy and had a beautiful view of the market place. Service was spot on and it was good value. A must on any visit to Bishop. Their website needs updating.

The food was very good. The restaurant is on the second floor of the building, located in the centre of Bishop. The staff is from Thailand and the food tastes very similar to the food you can eat in Thailand. I spent a month in Thailand and I was missing some Thai food and I would recommend this place. Prices are reasonable, and the portions are big.

We dined here this evening and it was most disappointing given the outstanding reviews. The main issue for both of us was the extremely dry chicken in both dishes. We ordered a red curry and a stir fry the red curry did taste lovely but the stir fry tasted of zero flavour which was supposed to be a ginger dish which was totally lacking in ginger. There was zero atmosphere and the room was lovely but not very cosy. We also had to pay on leaving as no one came with the bill. Overall very disappointing

Good Food, But Unacceptable Wait Time I ordered takeaway an hour in advance, expecting to pick it up at the time they advised. However, upon arrival, I was made to wait another 45 minutes before finally receiving my order. I understand that they were busy, but if they give a specific pickup time, the expectation is that the food will be ready—or at least close to ready—when I arrive. Instead, there was just a quick apology, and that was it. That being said, the food itself was great, which makes it all the more frustrating. If they could manage their timing better, this would be an easy recommendation, but as it stands, the long and unpredictable wait dampened the experience.

Delicious and flavoursome food which came quickly. .Staff are very friendly and helpful. Our meal was really good value.

We were a group of 8 and there was no wait for any of us getting our food. Very friendly staff serving very tasty food. Thank you.

I thought I was in a different pub then wetherspoon. The food was actually tasty and well presented ( Burrito salad bowl) I had. The tables were clean. Staff made conversation & polite. The seating area separately from the bar. I will definitely come back here again. All for £26.26 with drinks.

Love spoons but when someone is clearly drunk, they shouldn't be served any more - as the law states. It was made worse when he randomly came over to talk to us. I don't want random drunks talking to me while I'm eating ffs Staff were great, Food was what you expect and the place was lovely. Just lose the drunks.

Great value for money, a meal and a drink for less than a tenner. There's a garden out the back for warmer weather. Food is OK. I have never seen CCTV cameras in a public toilet, if youbwant some privacy, while you use the bathroom, I suggest using the cubicles as the cameras are just above the urinals. What do they do with the footage!?!

Large spacious Wetherspoons in the Market Place at Bishop Auckland. Quiet in the mornings for breakfast, but they have some breakfast deals and food deals which other Wetherspoons do not. Staff are pleasant and the food is served fast. My only issue is the heating is not as warm as it should be.

I’m 17 with a child I came to Wetherspoons to get some food however was told to leave due to needing a parent even though I am her parent. It was around 4pm on a Monday we weren’t doing anything at all just sat eating my food she wasn’t crying. Will never come again yes it’s not ideal being a young mam but being segregated because of it is ridiculous I do well raising my child and I’m extremely offended by this

To be fair the service that was provided was prompt & professional. The table where we sat was rotten, as was about 5 or 6 tables in the same area. We cleaned our own. Ordered the food and drink accordingly. Sat & waited a short period of time. While we drank our coffee. The coffee from the machine was only a tad more than warm, which in all honesty was a dam sight warmer than the breakfast. Beans, were stone cold, fried eggs, were more raw than cooked, sausages, cold, black pudding, warm, bacon, cold, the toast was the warmest thing on the plate. I ate half a slice of toast, half a sausage, 2 fork full of beans and left the rest. It was awful. The other breakfast was left after a mouthful of toast, a mouthful of sausage, (then put back on the plate). Half a piece of bacon eaten. By far the worst food I've eaten in a long time. Absolutely dreadful. Defo not recommended. Even the people were on the dirty tables waiting for their services were wishing they hadn't ordered. This was the parting comments between us, as we left the venue. It cost us nearly £15 to clean a dirty table, order some dreadful food, then leave. We left Wetherspoons and went to Sainsbury's, to which I made a hasty retreat for the toilet where I got to say hello to my breakfast again. Absolutely awful.

We visited here , en route to the kynren , which was right by the shuttle bus pick up point , the food was delicious , succulent flavoursome boneless chicken , raman noodles served quickly & piping hot , was pretty busy but for such a large establishment ,it didn't feel overly so ,we couldn't get over the prices , such value for money . Staff friendly & cleared the table from the previous diners swiftly when asked . Bar staff friendly & very efficient .