This' a UNESCO world heritage site and it's a must visit. The experience was beyond words. I would recommend to walk from the Durham Market Place square, Sadler St & Owengate to experience the buildings of the old town. The Durham Castle is also accessible from the same route.

As someone deeply interested in Christian churches and cathedrals, I can confidently say this is one of the most impressive cathedrals I’ve ever visited. The design is breathtaking, and its location adds to its grandeur it's truly one of the largest in the UK. The historic architecture evokes a sense of awe and reverence, almost melting you into the past. This cathedral has witnessed many wars and even houses a copy of the Magna Carta, which adds to its historical significance. Entry is free, although some areas require a ticket to access. The staff are numerous and always present, maintaining cleanliness and offering assistance when needed. You can pray inside, and the inscriptions on the walls are genuinely enchanting. Just beside the cathedral stands Durham Castle, making the visit even more worthwhile. This place absolutely deserves a visit you won’t regret it. A heartfelt thank you to the staff for their dedication and care.

Visited in the day and in the evening of the Lumiere. Such an impressive building..awesome. Helpful guides. Lots of points of interest. Good signage and info. Large shop and cafe for welcome cuppa and browse. Lumiere lights were atmospheric although I missed a central installation insude the cathedral. Cloister lanterns were wonderful especially when swaying with the wind. Huge flowers outside face a terrific welcome.

Absolutely beautiful. I loved the stain glass window. The history. The chapels. The size. Really everything about it was magnificent. Magnifying God and revealing how much faith was important

Don't normally like to pay to visit churches, but it's a donation and felt like excellent value given the significance and history of Durham Cathedral. Paid extra for the Magna Carta exhibit and again, worth the money and a real treat.

Absolutely amazing spot for anyone interested in history, so much history inside it aswell as in the castle adjacent. Definitely worth making a donation too! I also would say this is a great spot for photographers because there so many beautiful things inside and out to photograph (provided the weather is nice of course)

WOW…. just wow…! Durham Cathedral is a “UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE”, and deservedly so.. Outstanding.. my only problem was that i did not spend enough time there… You need at least a few days in my opinion to take it all in.! The resting place of St Cuthbert and St Bede..! Cathedral cafeteria “ The Cloisters” was outstanding, very high quality food, fantastic surroundings and excellent staff. I had one of the best Scones in my life there.. what a taste..❤️ The Cathedral shop is also of a high quality and top end products.. Durham Cathedral leaves you with a feeling of “I will be back” Thank you for making this day so special Durham..

Durham Castle is well worth a visit! The route you can take is fairly short at around an hour but the price reflects this and you get some excellent information throughout. We were self guided but there are tours available. The guides are knowledgeable and bring the history of the castle to life, making it a fascinating experience in a beautiful setting. A great way to spend an hour in Durham!

Absolutely well worth the £5 entry fee, but book in advance as they sell out and don't run every day. The blonde lady who checked us in and gave us our lanyards at Palace Green Library was perhaps the nicest lady I've ever met. She talked us through where to go, what to expect and other parts of the historic UNESCO World Heritage site to visit to make a day of it. Our tour guide (I wish I could remember her name; I want to say Dia..? She was a Literature student), was very professional and knowledgeable, and guided us through a fascinating 45-minute tour of the Norman chapel, Tunstall Chapel and Gallery, Black Stairs and the Great Hall. No, you can't go in the Keep as that's a student residence, but I feel like if the people complaining on reviews did even a minute's research before they went, they wouldn't be disappointed. You could take pictures all the way around and tour groups are kept relatively small, so you get time to ask questions of your guide. We learnt so much about the history of the historic building. Well worth a visit, but do some research first!

The castle of prince bishops of Durham. Currently used as a university college. It offers guided tours during various intervals. Its good

Such a beautiful castle really recommend checking it out and getting a tour you learn so much about it and William the conqueror and much more

A castle with lots of amazing and eye-opening stories and a beautiful history that is reflected in the view. Tickets are available at the library next to the right side of the castle, with time slot booking and guided tours only. We had fun 🤩 and enjoyed every bit of it!

It was very good and reasonably priced. £5 per adult (not sure how much for a child) and £4.50 senior citizen. We went onto the 1.15pm tour of the castle, and it lasted approximately 4t minutes. The tour started at the gates and gave you a general background to the castle, then headed into the grounds and then into the castle itself. Some of the rooms were unavailable as the castle is still being used for college students. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but the only downside was that sometimes it was a bit quite and difficult to hear. I'd really recommend going on the tour of the castle 🏰 🙂 hidden gem in Durham. You also have to arrive slightly early to collect your lanyards for the tour.

Durham Castle is a very beautiful small castle. The key difference from typical historical landmarks is that it also serves as a university college—many students live here, and staff work on-site. This means that, on one hand, the tours are limited in time and access to the locations where visitors are allowed (really a few in comparison to overall premises). On the other hand, it is uncomfortable for students when a group of lingering tourists walk in their home, sometimes enters the dining hall (a large, beautiful space) at the beginning of dinner, walking around and taking photos. Since there are only a few tours each day, it is definitely advisable to book in advance online, especially during holiday seasons, school breaks, and weekends.

Our first time at Tangos warm welcome & best seat on the terrace. Quick service from Sofia who was very attentive. Food choice was excellent & delicious good portion size too. Highly recommend see you soon.

More staff than customers early Friday evening so was able to walk in without a reservation which is always handy but sometimes a red flag. We ordered several 'sharing dishes', four between two. It would have been cheaper to order a main course each and probably more filling. The food was unimaginative. The cauliflower wings were delicious although cold by the time they arrived. The cheeseburger spring rolls were terrible value for money at £9.50 for two small rolls which were eaten in two bites. That's nearly £2.40 a bite. Yes, I am fun at parties... The additional service charge is a joke for small tables. I understand it for large groups but all it does is lead to poor and lackluster service as we got today. We weren't served twice by the same person and each interaction seemed to be killing the waiter to complete. All in all I'm surprised by how highly rated this place is. Perhaps indicative of the lack of choice in Durham or how easily please residents are because of that lack of choice.

I don't usually write negative reviews, nor would I say this one is completely negative. The nachos with Korean brisket were great, meat was really good and well seasoned, the burger spring rolls were also okay - not to my taste but other half enjoyed them. Now, onto the burgers.... For a restaurant that advertises themselves as a hamburger restaurant I was really looking forward to their burgers! And maybe my expectations were higher than in relation to a restaurant that just serves burgers among other things. We had the Gaucho and Kiss me Deadly. Gaucho was very salty, the meat not overly tender and just not great. Kiss me deadly - both patties were burnt and overall it was just nothing exciting. Chips were also overcooked. No coleslaw or something on the side to break the meaty/salty taste. I would say let's give grace as it was a busy day, but it just wasn't great. If I were to compare it to Five Guys which is just a fast food restaurant, those burgers were closer to a pub burger. Price wise nothing crazy as for 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 drinks we paid around £60.

These burgers are definitely up there with my all time favourites and the loaded fries are amazing.

Had a delicious meal here. We tried the Korean Beef Brisket Nachos and the Uncle Sam burger. Both were excellent and really flavorful. Would definitely recommend!

Ducked in when the rain got really bad and ended up having a great lunch in this little gem. Staff were great and food was very tasty.

Nipped in here with no reservation whilst on the Durham University open day. Burgers (Tango and Uncle Sam) really good, as was the chicken flatbread. Skin on chips were poor though, undercooked and soggy with fat, but staff were v friendly and changed them for fries which were much better. Sticky toffee pudding for desert was decent.

I had a nice time visiting this city. The city centre was quite accessible from the station with nice walk along the river. People were friendly too.

Visiting our home town from Australia, i always tell people there about the atmosphere in Durham at Xmas. Everything you need in the shops, ample parking in car park, just need to be patient at this time of year. So sad to see so many stores going under though, like BHS😔 and empty spaces. I hope the new development plan does not take anything away from the heritage and culture here in Durham. The same has happened in Brisbane after Covid with rental issues and businesses failing. The ones that have survived had strategies in place and moved with the times. Durham is the most beautiful City in the world, please dont sell Its soul 🌎

Beautiful Durham. ❤️ Great views along the river with cruises,river walks, boat hire. Historic Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle. The city has plenty great shops, bars, cafes, restaurants. Student vibe/Durham University. Traditional cobblestone streets and so much history. Such a wonderful place to visit. Friendly people.

Can get busy but went later in the day so most shops were closed. There are cobbles and some steap paths up to the cathedral. Plenty of pubs and places to eat. Some lovely views of the river if u find the right places.

Car parking excellent but shops are limited or closing. Needs a rethink - possibly to make the centre more approachable with good independent retailers incentivised to move there and create a contemporary 'lanes' type feel.

Very convienient for the river cruise, cathedral and castle. Prices were reasonable but the car park is quite tight in places if you have a larger vehicle.

Encountered few difficulties accessing and using this car park for the first time. We did struggle with poor signage from the car park and in the lift.

Lovely bars and restaurants sitting in sun watching world go by

Lovely, bright and clean walk, big variety of caffes and restaurants, cinema nearby, fairly clean public toilets nearby. Big applouse to County Durham Council and local redidents for clean streets. Have been in many UK cities and Durham just stand out very positively!

In the centre of the uni town. Several supermarkets n pharmacy stores for students daily necessities. Many restaurants with different cuisine to meet customer needs. Lunch time are usually packed.

Walk along river Wear giving best views of Durham Cathedral.

The Riverwalk at Durham sitting above the River Wear is a great little place now. Quite often bustling with activity, plenty of restaurants and home to The Odeon Luxe cinema. There is multistory parking, but the car park is very tight, just be careful. It is a pay on foot car park, you get a ticket going in and you pay at the machine on the way back to your car, then scan the barcode at the barrier to exit the car park.

Some great shops and places to eat, the pit was our favourite.

Beautiful scenery in autumn as the trees are turning many colours with the sound of water passing by. It has a lovely path for walkers and cycling. Many bridges and the castle and cathedral can be seen towering over the trees.

We booked for our Christmas night out, a party of 6. Booking on line was straight forward and food was pre ordered from the Christmas set menu and the regular menu. For starters I had the beetroot and Feta salad which was good but I felt it lacked some crunch, maybe severed on toast or with croutons. For main I had Turkey wrapped in pancetta, the meat was lovely and moist and veggies were perfect for me, not over cooked with a bit of crunch. For dessert I had the cheese board which unfortunately wasn't too impressive, 2 chunks of brie and some blue, maybe Shropshire? Oat cakes and chutney were nice but a little butter wouldn't have gone a miss. The staff were great and amazingly friendly, overall I would say I was impressed and would go back to try more of the regular menu.

Came here with my cousin while waiting for our friends to finish their marathon. Really nice looking restaurant with lovely staff. Me and my cousin both had bill breakfast brunch, it was really nice, with them we had a latte and a tea, bit gutted they didn't have different syrups for the lattes like caramel etc. Food was a little bit pricey but it was a nice breakfast though. Definitely worth a visit if your looking for something to eat.

We had a table booked for 10. We got good service on a hectic Saturday afternoon. Food was amazing from the eggs benedict, seabass, halloumi shawarmi to the classic burger. Classic burger - tea and profiteroles - passionfruit spritzer - lemon drizzle g&t

Very nice staff. Got free water as soon as seated but may be due to the heatwave. Very yummy and filling food!

Friendly staff and the best part is they are dog friendly! The pancakes are amazing just make sure they have them as the run out sometimes. My 2 dogs always get a bowl of water which is a nice.

a cozy place to have meal. i ordered mac n cheese and a lamb pie. food is good. staff are very friendly. but food is a little bit over-priced. there is 10% service charge.

Nice place for easy eating, everything was as expected and not too expensive. The tables were clean and the staff were efficient. There was hand sanitizer on the tables, which was a nice touch. I had the halloumi burger, which was very good.

Well… What a let down ˙◠˙ The service was good but the food not so much. Lacks flavour and we must have gone on a bad day because most of the dishes were unavailable. The food was mediocre at best. The price was acceptable for the amount of food (13 pound) but definitely will not be coming again.

We stopped here for lunch in between sightseeing in Durham (after the Cathedral and the Oriental Museum) and it was just what we needed! 🥢🍜 The food was fresh, tasty, and full of flavour, with a good variety to choose from. Service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere felt relaxed – perfect for recharging after a busy morning of exploring. Definitely a great spot to add to your Durham trip. I’ll remember this place not just for the food, but for saving two very hungry explorers! 😅

An all you can eat buffet Mainly Chinese dishes We went on Sunday so a lot of carvery items were also there Food was hot and fresh and staff was very attentive to the circulation of food They offer 10% off on blue light but only on cash Huge variety of drinks also being offered have to pay separately on that I have attached the menu so prices can be reviewed Very good location next to the river and the central attractions like castle and cathedral Definitely recommend

Absolutely mouthwatering food, thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. From being seated, orders taken, food and drinks, payment, atmosphere, staff readiness and friendliness, the entire visit was brilliant. I've never visited this place before but I will most definitely be returning regular. Fantastic day

Our absolute favourite chinese buffet. Whenever we're in the north east we always make a point of visiting InShanghai. The views of the riverside are lovely too!

Amazing service and great food. Lots of choice and everyone is so kind, friendly and welcoming. Been there with my family for dinner and we had a great experience. Definitely recommend and will be back again soon.

Tldr: if you like Chinese food, it's great to stuff your face for a reasonable price. £13.90 pp at printing. Lovely food, great selection for an afternoon buffet. The fact it was busy and keeping walk-ins waiting is a testament to its popularity. Service is casual, maybe a bit lax. However, the fresh food, being continually topped up, drinks brought to table, and various salads and starters more than make up for some deficiencies. We'll be back, if we're ever back in Durham. 3* LOTS of kids, but lunar new year and weekend, suppose it's expected 4* service, take it as it comes, some friendly some nor so. 5* lots of food options

The food is not ok not impressed. The price is fine for what it is. The location is excellent, next to the river, the view is great. Sitting by the waterfront is so relaxing. The restaurant is upstairs, highly recommend sitting outside the balcony area if the weather is nice and sunny. The view is gorgeous.

Gorgeous ambiance of the river, lovely place to dine with family. Kid friendly Food was great, had good selection of British cuisine, everything well cooked and seasoned. Staff were friendly and kind. It was a shame they weren’t serving steak that day. Overall pleasant experience would def recommend.

The venue was lovely, and the staff were polite. The steak was beautifully cooked and full of flavor. I recommend one of the sharing boards, whichever appeals to you. We had an early dinner, so the restaurant was very quiet as it had just opened, which was perfect for the children. There was a great selection of drinks, and the bartender who worked the day the King and Queen visited the Cathedral was exceptional.

Staff were friendly and attentive the view is amazing cute building. Food was nice however there was a bone in my parmo but food was still great and overall really nice experience

Brilliant food and service. Managed to get a table a short notice on a Saturday night thanks to the flexibility of the restaurant. We loved it all, especially the pepper sauce. thank you.

A great place to grab a few drinks early in the evening with a view of Elvet Bridge. The place serves a great Long Island Ice Tea.

The best steak I have had in a long while. Well worth every penny... ALL the pennies! 6 Stars for Gracie

Best restaurant in Durham (admittedly the City is not famed for its cuisine, but Finbarr's would be deemed good in any location). Great food, well cooked and a good wine list. Excellent venison and duck, local seafood and delicious haggis scotch eggs. Yummy souffle and mousse for dessert. Really good bread. Service not very slick and one waitress was clearly not having a good day, as she offered a frown from first meeting and was lacking a smile throughout the evening unless encouraged. We will return.

Main dish was a scotch beef. It was delicious. Starter is pigeon breast . Really good but other components on the dish were average. Decoration was very out dated.Room (up stairs) very claustrophobic. Ambiance is really very poor. If you close your eyes and just focus on meal fine, else look for a better decorated place.

We were a party of 9 at a work Christmas Dinner and were very well looked after. Restaurant is gorgeous inside, very elegant. The bar was cosy (a little too warm at one point with 9 of us, but we had fun). Drinks are reasonably priced for a place like this. Service was friendly and efficient (especially the lady looking after us in the room upstairs). Food was delicious - steaks were perfectly cooked, chips crisp and desserts tasty. Cheese croquettes - could serve a couple instead of one. Steak could be accompanied by a few more fries too (the fish cakes got lots though). Great meal overall and excellent service.

Located somewhat outside the city & in a farm house. But understaffed that Sunday we went. Food was ok but quite competitively priced especially for set.

Nice atmosphere, friendly but somewhat slow service. High quality tasty food and lots of screens between tables. Would recommend!

Good Sunday roast - the meat was fantastic although everything else slightly paled in comparison. Staff were great and one of the best COVID set-ups I’ve seen.

We went spur of the moment on Saturday they were very busy but we still managed to get us a table excellent service and nothing too much trouble excellent food as normal.

Beautiful clean beach, practically empty. A lovely cafe at the top of the road near to the entrance/exit, lovely cuppa and food is nice at good prices, the staff are always really nice.

Visited the marina at Seaham with pebbly beach which is dog friendly. Free, clean toilets next to various food places. Everywhere in Seaham is clean and tidy with friendly people. Asda ,Aldi ,B&M next to sea front.

Great walk and views, free parking opposite Costa for a slightly longer walk.

This is a really beautiful part of the country and a good walk to do with the dog. It can be challenging in parts as the path goes up and down the Denes on it's way but it can be done in short sections and it's always worth keeping an eye out for the dolphins and seals who are regular visitors.

Outstanding natural beauty. That many southerners have to experience!

Great place to go for walks and to find some sea glass if your lucky

I love to walk along the cliff top and admire the scenery at anytime of the year. It is also a great place for my dog to stretch his legs and have a play with his animal friends without disturbing anyone. This area is very popular with locals and a lot of foreign visitors.

We went here to find Glass beach, we found it, but I think looking back on it, the tide was in too far and getting to it, is not for the faint of heart..... It was cool as we were the only people on this beach, but we didn't find any glass 😮‍💨 the beach further up looked really nice and was easier to access but we didn't go there 😔

Wot a great little town,lots of parking and near the harbour opposite the main shopping mall there is free parking and overnight stays in camper van or motorhome,we stayed 1 night on route home from a little tour round the Scottish Borders and Lothian and Midlothian area.Good clean beaches too.

Seaham is such a beautiful seaside spot! The atmosphere is calm and refreshing, with a lovely pebble beach that’s perfect for photos or just relaxing by the water. It’s easy to get to and not far from the city center — definitely worth a visit!

Busy location with people from all over the country looking for sea glass (weather and tides applicable) so I recommend using an app to monitor the tide so you can make the most out of the experience. Parking £1 per hour.

Lovely little spot to go for a walk, we spent a bit of time looking for sea glass. The kid loved it.

Very clean, spent a few hours there collecting seaglass- definitely worth the trip. Carpark had space for a motorhome and although we didn’t use the cafe/restaurant there it looked nice

A good accessible beach for a lazy afternoon beach walk cafe and toilets available but they close at 1600 on Sunday

Great place to spend a couple of hours . The grounds are beautiful and well kept. The priory is amazing , especially as it was built in the 1300 century . There are plenty of areas to have a sit down and have a picnic or if you want you can buy something at the little cafe. We noticed a few families down by the River Wear. With some play in the water.

Really nice heritage site recommend for families and any adult interested in English religious history. There's a nice coffee shop next door too.

Lovely walk thru the woods to the priory. Beautiful scenery and well kept paths round the ruins. A few boards to explain what each section was. Free heritage site. Only downside was the cafe ( not heritage) I asked clearly for lattes and a kid served me blacks. I politely asked to exchange them and the woman was quite rude and then just splashed a bit of milk in. Maybe a bad day perhaps but it left me quite deflated. Don't think I want to return with my family. Scones were nice though and prices reasonable. Parking is $4 onsite or free on cockton road.

Definitely worth the trip. Very interesting place to walk around and read about the history. Beautiful river scene, very pretty. Fairly accessible to some of the ruins.

Loved it. Tall wide stonework structures with vaulted cellars underneath, nestled next to the bubbling river. A lovely place to visit

Worth a visit if you are in the area, we called in whilst on our adventures, you can look around the priory and then go on a woodland walk, it was about a mile circular, there's also a cafe on site you can get drinks and home cooked sandwiches from.

Gorgeous place, well worth a visit, nice walk through the woods and around the ground. Toilets are out of order.

Gardens are beautiful although not that extensive. There is a gorgeous walled garden, an orchard with a nice shrub border and large pond, a veg patch, a hedge maze and another garden area that was being renovated when we visited but still had some parts to see. Lovely tranquil places to sit. I have to admit I thought there was actually a house to visit not just gardens, but there is just the medieval hall (an empty stone-walled room).

A ten minute walk from the Market Place . And worth the effort. The Hall itself has some striking features but is very limited. It has an utterly charming room devoted, in the main, to books. But full of lovely little nooks and crannies. The gardens at first glance seem hardly worth exploring. But they, too, are full of some delightful items. There is much here for children as well as adults to enjoy. The whole, mildly shambolic, gardens feel somewhere one can sense a personal involvement . One of the most enjoyable strolls round a garden we have had. It's very informality and little surprises...a Wendy House, and somewhere to pretend cook silly menues, for example ...are the basis of its charms. After the vastness of the Cathedral this place will restore a sense of perspective, and everyday reality.

This National Trust property is a must see! It’s not too far from the railway station (downhill) and maybe a 20 minute walk from the Market Square. There’s a good cafe near the entrance with some gluten free options. The toilets are here too complete with a second child size toilet seat, baby changing facilities and wheelchair access toilet. I visited today, halfway through October and couldn’t believe the number of plants still in flower. There are a number of smaller garden areas but my favourite was the one created by the volunteers which was just a riot of colour. An unusual feature is the maze which is created using cotoneaster-I did briefly get lost in there because a) I was on my own with no point of reference and b) I’d forgotten that I have no sense of direction…😹 It was an interesting experience but as the passages of the maze were quite narrow it’s definitely inaccessible to wheelchairs and I would not recommend attempting with small children. I met a number of volunteers working on the gardens; it is obviously very well loved. A really lovely space; highly recommended!

A hidden gem in the heart of Durham, Crook Hall Gardens is a beautifully preserved historic site that offers a peaceful and inspiring escape from the city. Managed by the National Trust, the gardens are immaculately maintained, with a charming mix of formal planting, wildflower meadows, and secluded spots that invite quiet reflection. Each area of the garden has its own unique character, from the romantic walled garden to the tranquil moat pool. The historic hall itself is a fascinating glimpse into medieval and Georgian life, and the knowledgeable staff are always on hand to share interesting insights. A lovely café on site serves quality refreshments, making it easy to spend a full afternoon here. Highly recommended for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a relaxing day out

Spent a lovely few hours here with family. So many lovely areas to explore, the children loved the games area and the bookshop was so cosy and inviting. All the staff we spoke to were super friendly and helpful and we appreciated being able to bring our puppy. We will definitely come back.

Great garden with lots to see. We also did the free Durham tour with David. Very interesting facts and places pointed out you would not find on your own

A lovely national trust garden perfect to escape Durham city center. Little cafe on-site. We had a great few hours roaming through the garden.

My family and I attended a live dinosaur production, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The children were captivated, and the show was the perfect length to maintain their interest. I highly recommend seeing this show.

Beautiful venue with parking right underneath, fantastic prices & top comedians from around the country 10 out 10, was Jack Dee tonight 👏😂

A great place to go to see films at the cinema and theatre productions. We went to see the 50th Anniversary showing of Jaws and had a great time. Car park is right next to it, which make's it easier if you are driving there.

Great to have this kind of facility in the North East. We visit regularly for comedy or theatre shows, and most recently for TEDX. Staff always friendly and efficient. Seats are comfy and you're not squashed in like sardines as you find in some auditorium. Parking is plentiful close-by too. My only negative is that they need a bigger bar area/capacity to deal with large numbers of people during intervals as there is always a queue.

Visited the theatre many times now. Every time is a pleasant experience. Staff are friendly and very welcoming. I love the theatre and this one gives a very cosy vibe with great acoustics for any show. We will be back for panto!

I love the gala cinema. It doesn't have the fancy seats or whatever, but at £5 for a film, you can't go wrong! The only criticism is that the screen in the huge theatre is a little discolored, which I found slightly annoying during some scenes of "Jaws".

Splendid event hosted here with great access, security and Front of House! Catering and Facilities also top notch. Well done Durham!

Really nice restaurant in the centre of Durham. The atmosphere is nice. A very buzzing restaurant with very friendly and professional staff. Alex the manager is very professional and gave mr the table that I asked for even though the place was packed. The pigeon starter was really good. Oysters were large and very fresh. I had the duck. It was well cooked and loved the apricot combination. The rest of the party had the beef wellington. Very soft meat. We were too full to eat desserts. There's always a next come.

Once we found the entrance, went down narrow stairs into recently refurbished and sparse dining room. Was dark so didn’t see any view out of window. Greeting and service was friendly and professional. Good gluten free options, simple small menu with good range along with a long, diverse wine list. We think the starters were sized and priced as sharers/small plates. Our fave was the truffled celeriac spiral/roulade. This whole dish really worked well. The excellent pressed lamb belly was a close second but a bit puzzled with comparing the menu description to the elements of the dish. This was a common theme throughout although everything on the individual plates definitely worked together harmoniously. Butternut squash wellington was very tasty, particularly with the Dukkah-like crumble/soil. Duck was expertly seasoned but could have done with a smidge more rendering/crisping for utter perfection and the fondant potatoes could have used both more butter and caramelisation for me. Chicken was tender and again the elements worked well together but presentation a bit fussy with the see-saw over an excellent piece of dauphinois. Lovely desserts, fondant disappeared very quickly. All sorbets are house-made. Overall the menu was imaginative and very well-executed with quality ingredients. Despite my picky criticisms. definitely a good value and service was optional.

Held our wedding reception at The Cellar Door after receiving recommendations on Facebook. My husband and I could have not made a better decision. The staff has been exceptional with the communication and help regarding the preparations as well as during the service. All of our guests were extremely impressed with the food including my dad (who is a professional chef with 20+ years in the industry). The food and experience is amazing value for money. Our wedding day could not have gone better, we did not expect to have such a lovely intimate wedding that we dreamed of, but yet it came true. Thank you so much to the wonderful team at The Cellar Door and the talented chefs for making our day so memorable! Extra details for reference, we booked "The Cave Room" for 12 people altogether. The pistachio ice cream is incredible, and beef shin is also highly recommended.

Absolutely wonderful place. The food is outstanding, service is friendly and the venue is cosy. Menu offers a diverse range of dishes, updated regularly, with some really innovative choices.

Stunning restaurant. Was here for our aniversary break in Durham, and cellar door did not disappoint. Food was exceptional, service excellent. Nice sitting out area overlooking river.

We had an amazing dining experience at Cellar Door! We were visiting Durham on a walkabout tour, and our guide Peter recommended this restaurant. Everything was fresh made, so it took a bit for us to get our food but it was worth waiting for! We highly recommend the poached egg, asparagus, and hollandaise starter; the steak; the supreme chicken (perfectly cooked!)and the chocolate fondant dessert with rhubarb (it was like a molten lava cake). We will be back anytime we are visiting in Durham! Be aware there are stairs to get down to the restaurant.

We went here as 2 couples and could not fault the place, staff so attentive, food amazing, atmosphere too! It is a bit more pricey than other places in Durham but if you want quality over quantity this is definitely the place to be… the a la carte menu is phenomenal they focus on having a few different dishes which are cooked to perfection definitely the tastiest meal I’ve ever had. I highly recommend that you book in advance as it was pretty busy but they have enough staff to cope with the demand. 10/10! ☺️

Overall: ★★★★★ Food: Brunch/Coffee Spot Most definitely Durham’s finest breakfast/brunch spot and it seems we were lucky to be seated within two minutes (a queue quickly formed) The breakfast was delicious and I felt worth every penny despite it not being that big. The service was slow but they acknowledged it before anything was said and the coffee was disappointing but neither enough to merit a deduction of stars overall. Such lovely place and the cakes whilst quite expensive (£3.95 a slice to take away!) were more generous in portion size and really, really tasty. Not dry and crumbly like most places. What I liked: • Good, friendly service • Really inspiring menu • Lovely presentation • Delicious food • Plenty of options What I didn’t like: • The Americano wasn’t hot enough • Service was quite slow Do I recommend going? YES Will I go again? YES Was it good value? REASONABLY Price Point: $$

The best breakfast in Durham? Very probably. Great place, my friend and I sat upstairs and were very well looked after by Siobhan, thanks Siobhan! And the food? Amazing “House Fry” which is their full English but wow is it good! Loads of other breakfast, brunch and lunch options to choose from including veggie and vegan. Oh and they have cake, lots of delicious homemade cakes! Finally have you seen the hot chocolate with separate mini jug of cream?! It was so good I didn’t can’t a chance to take a snap. Can’t recommend enough!

Lovely as always. Just wish to have more house syrup on pancakes otherwise you get charged £2 per pot of syrup to put onto your pancakes. Perhaps need more lighting inside. Staffs are lovely.

Love the cosy, natural, village style of the restaurant! The effortless cared pot plants have enhanced the charm of the place. The food was in good quality.

We came for a day out to Durham, we ordered the steak Benedict, iced strawberry matcha and pistachio Latte. The food was one of the best brunch items I’ve had for a while, quality food and flavour. Both drinks were perfect and the service from all staff was attentive, personable and efficient. The atmosphere was quirky and inviting. Just note when coming here there is a wait, we waited around 20 minutes but our experience was worth every second. It’s a high in demand cafe.

As the name implies, there’s good coffee here, but also good service, and really nice food. Right in the heart of the city, and spread across 3 floors, Flat White is a big step up from the usual tourist centre food. Pancakes are the specialty, but the fig and whipped ricotta on toast with Parma ham was a great combination.

It’s a pretty cafe. I had food and coffee in here in April and last week. The food is not bad but over priced. I had classic benedict and Korean fried chicken pancake. I definitely would recommend the Benedict, but not the pancake. You charged me £17 and only gave me two small, side pieces of chicken… Furthermore, can’t tasted pistachio in the pistachio latte… But their filter coffee smelled and tasted good. About their service, unstable and need more training! When I went in April half term, no student and not busy. The student and senior staffs who served me were friendly. However, they almost got my order wrong if they didn’t reconfirm it😅At the end I still paid the service charge as I enjoyed my time that day. Last week, I went again. There are students and kinda busy. Still, I got my seat pretty soon. After that, I didn’t enjoy my time in this cafe. No one came to take my order for like 12 minutes. The student staff who responsible for taking order on that day… feel like he ignored me. As he only chatting with other customers who came after me. But before I left we talked so I guess it was a misunderstanding. The pancake was disappointing. And when I asked to have my bill to a girl staff, she acknowledged it. And no one came to me for 10 mins. Bro I want to leave 😂! When I went to the bar, the girl didn’t look sorry at all. I guess is because most of them were making takeout orders at that time? But one of them could deal with it right? Why letting your customers wait so long??? I talked to the senior staff about it. He didn’t charged me the service fee. I think I would come again, but only for coffee and takeout.

The good: Food was nice. Arrived for an early meal so salad bar was fresh. Really a great selection. Staff were really good although towards the end when it was busy they did appear a bit rushed. Meats were really nice and the varied selection kept it interesting. The okay: As I prefer my meats more well cooked, getting a decent cut was not always great, the lamb on one occasion was probably not 100% ready. Also the size of cut, was a bit low when you really wanted to have a decent taste. The not so good: Probably just the price. Yes it’s all you can eat, and yes they did put in the effort, and the selection was good, but at the price and service charge (why do people do this????) I think it was steep. Maybe in London but not in Durham. Overall: Worth a visit just to try, as long as work is paying 👍👍👍

I recently had a great experience at this Brazilian steakhouse! Once we understood how the food and menu was organised we got stuck starting with the excellent salad bar The red-green card system is clever, although I think I missed out on a few meats because of it. The cheese breads were a highlight – simply loved them! This was a birthday treat for my wife so it was a perfect celebration. The service was top-notch, and I really appreciated the warm welcome. I can't wait to go back and better organise my meal next time!

I can't say enough good things about my recent visit! The service was exceptional, with the staff being super friendly and welcoming. The food? Simply outstanding—everything from the meats to the salad bar was delicious. The quality and taste of each dish blew me away, especially the Picanha and the Pudim de Leite, which I had to order for takeaway. If you're looking for a great meal and a warm atmosphere, this place is the one!

Went for tea and was ver very pleased with the service the atmosphere and the food was fantastic. The salad bar was out of this world with so much choice. Not the usual rubbish. And the different selections of meat that was on offer was unreal. Everything so tasty and a ridiculous amount of it. Am a big eater and they beat me. I left with my belly so full i could hardly walk. Highly recommend and this is now my most favourite restaurant.

Had a great time for my partners 40th birthday. The staff are all great. The food is unreal. Thank you all we will be back

Great restaurant in central Durham with awesome steak selections brought around and carved at your table. Delicious Caiparinha and Pisco Sours to kick things off. A chatty and friendly waitress - Sohini - looked after us, with lots of helpful suggestions about how to navigate what was on option.

We are walk in customers- initially was looking for cooler spot and was suggested the upper level by young man receptionist. This would have been a fatal suggestion and would ruin the whole experience. We were then placed at the right place where both my son and I had the meat experience and my wife had seafood ala carte. Everything is then turned up well. Shout out to manager and perhaps senior captain who knows how to handle customers service. Also shout out to all the staff who carries out meats. All well done. My advise - receptionist should been trained in hospitality and customer service better. You never know who your customer would be.

I just had the zinger burger; I was a little hungry. It was very dry. If it wasn't for the taste of the chicken, it would be eating bread. Less than teaspoon mayo. Only 2 serving needs more staff.

Must be the worse kfc ever!! It’s actually warming outside than it is inside and the super charger burger is lacking in sauce!! Horrific for the cost.

I ordered a family meal for £30. Chicken was so salty that me and my kids couldn’t eat it. When I phoned to complain I was told there is nothing wrong with the chicken. I had to toss the whole bucket into the bin.

Incredibly cold. Is there no heating? I am freezing to death trying to eat my chicken. Food was sound to be fair, but the chips were cold and stodgy feeling. And as for the service, the food was pretty quick but we did come at a quiet time. Staff weren't really very friendly or pleasant, just a bit grumpy. It is also pretty clean in here. Overall, nothing remarkable but does alright for what you need.

What a treat. A visit to the colonel and his collection of chickens. We queue to place an order (there's only two screens but it's a small place so that's fair) and we wait for the food. The chickens arrive in a paper bag after a little while and we make our way out. There's not a lot of seating so your best option is to sit and eat in the car, or stand by the bins outside and chow down on your dry hen. Unfortunately, it's rare that the food you receive actually corresponds to the order you made. There were items missing, despite there being a printed receipt with a list of our ordered items in the bag. Quite how they manage this is a mystery. Real shame. I can only imagine Colonel Sanders would be spinning in his Kentucky fried casket.

Staff were friendly polite,it was clean the Chicken was nice the chips or fries were rubbish I've never seen anything so disgusting there were slug holes in them and the potatoes they came from were rotten see photo, I wouldn't care I paid £2 extra to upgrade the chips. Never again.

Batter on the chicken was soft fairly sure it has been microwaved. Would have been a lower score but the chips were decent.

TLDR: If you are in the area you should change your plans and go spend the day feeding and cuddling animals (It has a lot of well maintained areas for the kids to play as well) 😃 ................................. This place is amazing. I like feeding animals because it is very therapeutic. My husband comes with me 🙂 The place is not very big but it has a lot there. The space has been well thought out. There are a lot of play areas for the kids. There is a barrel ride - first time I have seen anything like that at one of these places. On the 'not seen it before' trail. I have never seen sheep racing. It is a short course and 2 x per day they race 4 difference sheep. So funny. Animal feeding - the layout is circular which makes it nice and easy. All animals were very friendly. They have 2 barns one has chicks in and the other has rabbits and guinea-pigs. You can go and sit in either barn and hold the animal for as long as you like. No queuing for a 2 minute hold and moving on. Never seen a set up like this before and think it's awesome. A great day spent recharging batteries by feeding and cuddling animals. Only negative is the cafe seemed a little over priced. They do have picnic tables if ya want to take ya own food though.

We loved it here! The kids can hold guinea pigs and chicks as well as stroke rabbits, bottle feed lambs and hand feed sheep, goats and more. The play area is brilliant and the addition of tube slides, toboggans, jumping pillows, a climbing wall, water shoot out, ball gun fort, tractor ride and indoor soft play make this a great value day out. You can tell they've worked really hard to make this an attraction rather than 'just' a farm and as such it appeals to families much more. We went in the school summer holidays but it wasn't crowded and wait times were minimal. Well worth a visit.

Thus is not just a farm where children can learn about the different animals and feed them which is wonderful in itself. It has crazy golf, trampolines, barrel ride, bouncy pillows and an amazing slide. It's a wonderful place for a day out with the kids.

Took our Newrly 2yr old Grandson. He loved it and tbf so did we. Its been at least 10yrs since we have been with our own kids. Loads to do and majority of things are free once you have paid you admission. Will definitely return.

I’ve heard a lot about Hall Hill Farm over the decades but I've never been. Today I took my Grandson and I was blown away by it. The value for money, the sheer quantity of excellent things to do, the reasonable prices once inside, but most of all you have acquired the most wonderful staff. I can't recall ever been so well looked after outside of 5* hotels. They are so young, enthusiastic and amazing.

What a brilliant place, the animals seem really well cared for. The staff were amazing, the food was good and fairly priced. We got to feed some highland cattle so my youngest daughter was over the moon. Will definitely be going again

Staff were lovely and friendly, and all the animals were amazing. There is plenty to do and lots of opportunities for interactions with the animals. Overall, it's a great day out.

This is a quirky place. Our room was spacious and clean. The bathroom was set up for invalids to use but we ignored this. The rooms are not serviced whilst you stay there. We stayed 4 nights but you can get milk tea coffee and biscuits replenished from the reception. The house is set in peaceful surroundings and only a short drive from Durham. There is no cooked breakfast but a good continental breakfast ham cheese toast cereals pastries and cereals. I would recommend a stay here.

This place is absolutely gorgeous. There is so much history here. The Chapel rooms are eye wateringly beautiful. Lots to look at. Nice walk around the garden. Staff really polite and helpful. We'll worth a visit. Cafe food is limited but nice. Visited for the day on one of the heritage open days.

Wow Amazing place, beautiful gardens and breath taking views. All staff expecially Mark are warm and welcoming and make sure your needs are met. Nothing is too much trouble. Nice tea and coffee and water in rooms and perfectly clean mugs and glasses. Rooms & en suite bathroom are clean and comfy beds with fresh bedding and towels all perfect for a good night's rest. Very calming and peaceful . The history is fascinating with lots of rooms to look at and a well stocked reading room that books can be purchased for a small or large donation and beautiful knitted toys dotted around the house. Of course the Chapels are just out of this world and again a feeling of peacefulness alludes you whilst taking in the splendid scenery and history. My only problem was I didn't stay long enough and for certain I will be returning in the new year Thank you to Mark and crew for this wonderful opportunity to visit Ushaw xx

Me and wife don’t live far from Ushaw Historic House, and having recently been to Japan, they announced a special Japanese exhibition which attracted us to visit. The price you pay is for a full year admission which in itself has really good value. The chapels, and if you exhibitions inside are really cool and beautiful to look at, along with a fantastic garden outside. Ushaw Historic House also has a café which we didn’t visit and a small gift shop, with accommodating people via an Air bnb. There is some really good things to say about this place if you want to come and visit, but unfortunately for me, if you really think about the yearly membership, how many times will you use it? It is the same exhibitions with a slight change every now and then. Is it really value for money? I think that is the question that you need to ask yourself before you visit if you only intend to come the once it may not be worth the money. However, if you can see this as a place you would visit many times, it would be worth it

The actual historic house and chapel are well worth seeing. It used to be a school and also a seminary to train catholic priests and the rooms reflect the austere nature of its previous use. There is no restaurant or kitchen and the rooms have a shower with no base so the water floods the entire bathroom. All the window frames have been painted over numerous times so none of the windows open. However it's cheap and serviceable and worth the sacrifice of comfort to see the incredible chapel and historic house.

Beautiful location with lovely grounds to explore. We've been before and explored the college and chapel. The college is used by the local community and I noticed that they had regular classes for babies such as singing bunnies and art classes for adults as well as a programme of talks and events. They also have B&B accommodation. We went to see the Japanese exhibition inspired by Lafcadio Hearn, a former pupil at the seminary. The exhibition was advertised as free entry, but you had to pay full admission price to the house and chapel, which is £14 per adult and £8 per child over 5. There are no day pass concessions for seniors, disable people or families. Membership, giving admission for a year, is £28 per adult and £18 for a child and £57 for a family (2 adults + children) which allows unlimited entry for a year. Again, no concessions.

We spent a night in Ushaw Historic House. It was an amazing unique experience. It was so tranquil and quiet. You can go in the chapels before it opens to the public. It’s a really amazing place and we highly recommend it. We will definitely go again when we travel up there.

Great food at great prices! Warm and friendly staff and I was lucky enough to have a gold envelope from Xmas dinner, we won 50% off a meal in January and we just used it!! CASH BACK!! Would highly recommend! Also you can take your fury friends ! 😍😍

The 5 of us had a lovely meal and a few drinks while staying in the area on holiday. Everything was cooked perfectly, presented well and tasted lovely! The service was also great, everyone was very polite and friendly, and the prices were really good considering the amount of food we got! Would definitely recommend to others and would return.

We had a delicious Sunday roast dinner here, enjoying roast pork belly with crackling (also on the menu - gammon, chicken, beef…), which came with Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, mash, roast potatoes, veg, abundant gravy and sauces. The food was very well cooked and presented, and the service was attentive and timely. Not many ales available, but the one I had was tasty. We were also next to a really cosy log fire stove… Really recommendable and we will be back, many thanks!

I’ve been here numerous times for the Sunday roast. I’d avoid the chicken as it’s dry but the feather blade beef is unreal. What had brought me to leave a 5* review is the Monday night £11 for 3 course Italian. You couldn’t buy the ingredients for that!! It’s amazing price in today’s economy. I’d say it’s a menu you have to know to get an amazing meal for £11. The bruchette and potato skins starters are amazing. For the main I’d stick to pasta and avoid the pizza and bolognaise. The desert is a coffee or ice cream. The pastas are delicious and the chef special Cajun chicken pasta is amazing.

Great meal enjoyed here. attentive friendly service, food choice was good, with generous portions and good value, everyone was very friendly and we were made to feel welcome. A nice family meal out thank you 😃

Most gorgeous pub. Excellent food, super nice staff. Great atmosphere. I would love to live there and visit every day. We had the most amazing evenings! Please visit!!! ( We spent a lot, because the food and beers are so good!)

Just had a really nice Saturday lunch here and if I could have given 6 stars I would have done. Only wish we'd found it earlier. The garlic mushroom, prawn cocktail and sticky pork belly bite starters were generous and super tasty, and our main courses of Featherblade Beef, Mixed Grill, and Steak and Ale pie were cooked to perfection. Great staff, and a nice friendly atmosphere. Barney, our Shih Tzu enjoyed it too. Very dog friendly. Great place, and if you want a cracking meal just off the main A691 Durham to Lanchester road in Witton Gilbert don't miss it. Nice big car park at the back of the pub too.

This is an excellent market. Great selection of produce and products. Prices are excellent value. We visit every time we visit our children. A special shout out for the fishmonger/s who extremely knowledgeable and supportive and the cheese shop. Excellent selection of cheese, and the plant shop tucked in the corner.

Quirky indoor market Something for everyone So much to see Coffee shops available too upstairs with a lift access too Well worth a mooch around

Wow! What a pleasant surprise to go into a bustling busy traditional market hall with a true variety of stalls. Pleasant friendly stallholders, and, you have a choice of food and household goods, without the excess of throwaway tat that blights so many market halls. Also, it was very noticeable that there were very few empty stalls - a sign that the local community support them. A good café upstairs also.

This is exactly how an indoor market should be! The Market Hall is a beautiful old building chock full of wonderful stalls selling all manner of things: fruit and veg, freshly ground coffee, seeds, knitting wool… and there’s a great cafe on the first floor. One of my favourite stalls was right at the back selling beautiful cushion overs, throws, embroidered bags and mosaic lights. We visited on a grey March Wednesday and the place was busy with shoppers of all ages. I didn’t get a photo but did see a blackboard near the entrance detailing the different specialist events scheduled. Will definitely be back to this Market when we are next in Durham.

Very nice very centrally located market. Has very good range of second hand records, pet provisions, gifts, hardware, stationery and books and more The nicest aspect is the cafe come restaurant on the first floor very nice range of dishes well and prepared. Order at the counter and they come and deliver to your table. Public transport links excellent accessibility good well worth a good look around

Nice indoor market hall featuring a wide range of shops, from food to household items including textiles, cards/stationery, vintage and new age. It has a café upstairs with toilet facilities.

Had a lovely breakfast at Cafe Cenno yesterday and browsed around the market while visiting Durham. The market was bustling and has a large variety of stalls selling everything from pet supplies, jewellery, toys, coffee and haberdashery. Lovely looking fruit and vegetables of course. Good to support local, independent traders.

3 of us entered Mr Borrowdale's Study and managed to escape with less than a minute to spare. Great experience working together to try and solve the clues. Our host was brilliant. Definitely recommend trying this.

We had such a great time at the Lumley Castle escape room! Joe was brilliant – really funny, friendly, and made the experience even better. Definitely recommend!

We done the Lumley castle escape room as our very first escape room and it was absolutely amazing! Our host was so lovely and gave us little hints that we couldn’t have completed in time without! It was challenging, exiting and better than I could have ever expected. Fantastic story line, can’t recommend enough!

Exciting Adventure at Lumley Castle escape room! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had a blast at Lumley Castle's escape room! Immersed in Lily the ghost's tale, the atmosphere was perfect with challenging puzzles that kept us engaged. Our host was incredibly friendly, offering just the right hints to keep us on track and even gave us extra time when needed. Overall, a well-designed, thrilling experience we can't wait to repeat! Highly recommend for a fun outing with friends or family!

Bought the online Treasure Quest walking puzzle and it was terrible. We were stuck on the first question and it was 'Victoria' but wouldn't register because you had to enter it without a capital. Then, after a few further questions which weren't very challenging, you are told to walk 'downstream', which we did and then got very lost. When we clicked on the clue, it said to walk upstream - so the question was entirely incorrect! We gave up playing after this. Don't bother with this. Edit: I was given an apology and refund.

From the moment we arrived our host Matt was fabulous. Really enjoyed our experience, highly recommend

Played the escape room tonight with my partner and 3 of our children (21,16,15). We had an amazing time. Our host really set the mood with tales of ghosts still roaming the hallways and hinting as to what was to come. You really have to work as a team to work out the clues. The castle is an wonderful sight, especially at night. Would recommend anyone to give it a go...10/10

Prebends Bridge was designed by George Nicholson and built from 1772 to 1778. The bridge was built on the instructions of the Dean of Durham and served as a private road for the Dean and Chapter of Durham, giving access from the south through the Watergate. Prebends Bridge is a one of the finest Grade I listed structure and a scheduled monument.

Historical Bridge for foot traffic crossing the river Wier. Build in the late 1700s it's a stone arch construction with some little sticky out viewing points which are just fab for Instagramers. Nice round trip along the river to the next bridge and then up through the town and back to Prebends

The prettiest bridge in Durham, views across to the cathedral and castle on the western side, and beautiful riverside walks on either side. Recommend the one that leads down from St Oswald’s church to the bridge, and the famous western bank views heading towards Framwellgate Bridge. As a student, this was one of my favourite areas to walk and plan out my essays in my head, or just escape the desk and stretch the eyes for a while. I also recommend the lesser known South Street, which you can climb up to from the Bridge, and gives very rewarding views over the cathedral and the river. At night, it’s quiet, and magical. Pretends itself always came with a warning for students when I was there. My old department administrator turned out to be the Prebends Flasher (or at least one of them) - the source of much hilarity when he was found out. But there is a danger there at nights, as it isn’t well lit, so particularly if female, be aware of that danger. Assaults weren’t unknown, and sometimes, if you have to cross there, particularly at night, it can be worth holding on until you hear the inevitable noise of other students crossing there too. Such a shame as it’s a very romantic spot to be. Tourists rarely seem to get this far through the Bailey, so students tend to be the most common people you’ll see here, heading between the Bailey and the Hill Colleges. From the bridge, you can see the Old Fulling Mill, what used to be part of the Archaeology Dept., and the boat houses belonging to I forget which college - possibly Castle. Get down here in the early mornings during term and you’ll often see a few boats out doing lengths of the river. The bridge is set very low in the valley here, so it’s so peaceful. In summer, the Counts House is sometimes the outdoor venue for a student theatre production (e.g. Midsummer Night’s Dream) so look out for cheap tickets and notices in the student news about it - Durham has produced some good actors so you can be surprised by the quality. And if you can’t find anything, then maybe consider putting on a production yourself…

I stumbled upon this bridge whilst wishing to cross the river Wear toward the Cathedral and let me tell you it was a relief when I did. Placed conveniently over the river with one end on one side of the river and the other end on the opposite side, spanning the entire body of water. From the looks of it, the bridge has been there for some time so it seems that other people have in the past identified the requirement of needing to get across the river and some people more industrious than I took it upon themselves to craft this bridge. Not only does it perfectly perform its intended duty but it has spectacular views of the surrounding wooded area and cathedral. Today there was a young couple posing for photographs - they were dressed formally and the woman was wearing a blue skirt and striking blue shoes, her gentlemen friend - a handsome young fellow was wearing a nicely tailored suit. The scene to me was nostalgic of a period where everything in the world seemed so much better and we’d not yet been blighted by the pestilence of the modern age - all watched over by machines of loving grace. The sky was heavy with brooding clouds moving fast like Swallows skimming insects interjected with strong bursts of warm sunshine piercing through the gaps and giving warmth to my face. I guess the main bullet point of this presentation would be that yes! Indeed! It is a wonderful bridge and I would strongly advise you cross it.

Nice views of the river from the bridge. Also has a nice spread of grass near it alongside the river which is very nice for sitting on during warmer months (however it's clearly a known spot by the uni students so can get a bit busy)

A lovely place to just wander along taking in the beautiful scenery. Really good to spend a bit of time in the quiet before hitting the town.

If you ever get to Durham take the steps down from the shops next to the mobile shop and walk along the river banknto the bridge. You can cross over the top or go under and get some great photos. Try going when the river is calm so you get the mirror effect

This is a lovely little garden, not too far from the city centre. Entrance is free, but they have a donation box.

Nestled away a twenty minute walk down the river - these gardens are very quaint and beautiful. A wonderful place to watch the sunrise and sunset over Durham with a leafy dramatic view - and behind the gardens there’s a cute farm with alpacas. The gardens themselves aren’t open at predictable times, but that does not detract from the beauty of this place! You can easily peek through the gates and look at the enclosed gardens or wander through the rosebushes at the bottom of the stairs. Great for picnics.

I found ODGs on a walk along the River Wear it's very peaceful and perfect for days out during spring summer. Fortunately I had a blanket water/food and a good book/writing pad I sat just outside the gardens on a steep hill so couldn't comment on the actual garden's etc. I was next to a path and could over hear ppl which was was quite good, I heard a woman saying she regularly heard girls screaming on their phones and I wasn't sure if she meant screams for help or something else the woman was acting weird with a black man. I am looking forward to another visit.

Beautiful place of tranquility...well, you can hear the bells of Durham Cathedral. Nut mind you: The walled gardens are only open from March 31st through end October, at the times indicated (Sun & Thurs, 2-4pm).

Restored 17th Gardens, lots of heritage fruit varieties inside the walled gardens (open 2pm to 4pm every Sunday during the summer). Outside many varieties of fruit trees, Slow, Apple and Plum. Worth a visit as nice Riverside walk from Durham.

Lovely free garden worth a visit of you walk this way. There are pigs and sometimes I think alpacas at the farm past the top garden.

Very pleasant, charming outer garden with a long flower bed, lots of roses and a lovely orchard with heritage apple and pear trees. It is perfectly nested between the woods and the river and there is not even a door that would separate the gardens from the nature, so you feel so free there. Since there is no entrance fee, our family regularly goes back to relax whenever we are nearby. The walled garden is a formal garden with heritage plants, and is open during the opening hours.

I had a day trip in Durham and I chose to visit this place first - if I have another chance, I would do it again and spend longer time here. It is such a lovely, educational place. The museum seems small but if you slow down, you can easily spend more than half day here. They also have interactive activities or kids and special educational sessions for schoolers. The staff there are very kind and nice. Impressive!!

Underrated gem of Durham, the collection itself is phenomenal, with one of the best Ancient Egypt collections I’ve seen outside of London that deserves special mention. A large part of the museum is aimed at children, with lots of hands-on activities designed to make the exhibits relevant and appealing to kids. Compared to similar museums I’ve been to, I was impressed by how comprehensive the accompanying signage was, there was nothing on display here without considerable detail, which is something I appreciate in a museum. Each of the collections was a mixture of more and less traditional items, for instance the Korea gallery included items relating to Korean calligraphy and traditional religion as well as K-pop and modern Korean dramas, again a great way of making the museum accessible to younger audiences.

The museum is small, but there are many unique exhibits. I was in Luxor Egypt a few years ago, but there was nothing left there. Today I saw several mummies from this place. For the first time I saw art made of stone and ivory. Each hall has a children's area corresponding to the theme of the exhibition, which makes this place interesting for visitors of all ages.

Excellent visit with the Family something to do for all ages and interactive play for kids. Some excellent exhibits on show throughout

We went to the Oriental Museum after visiting the Botanical Garden. Wasn't expecting much, and really wasn't expecting it to hold the kids attention. The Museum is over multiple levels, it's not massive but there is a lot packed in. We started at the top and straight into 'toys and games' where the kids loved playing chess / snakes and ladders - as well as see some of the other toys and games in other countries. They also learnt a new game in another room, where we played using giant pieces! The kids did look round some of the exhibits but they were also kept busy with various colouring in areas and an area where they got to dress up and play with some playmobil! Myself and the wife took turns supervising the play whilst the other had a look round - some really interesting pieces as we explored. My son had a good look at the Samauri outfit and old armour. Whilst I started with not expecting much, I came away with being quite impressed. Even my son said it was a good museum - which is far better than he has said about some places!! With free entry it's a good place to nip in and take a look at - and I'm glad we found time to visit!

Wow! What a hidden gem. The Oriental museum based at Durham University is FREE ENTRY, but donations welcome. The size of the museum for thousands of artifacts you think you would find in a city museum. The artifacts are from thd neopolic to modern day from Egypt, China, Japan, India East & Far East Asia; all in their own sections and explaining well on each and the history of that time. I really enjoyed, so much I'm planning on going again. Just so much information. Disabled friendly on multiple disabilities! Has a lift for all 4 floors. The museum is very child friendly from colouring in, dress up & crafts. There are toilets sells coffee & a shop. There is a small car park which us free parking and 2 disabled bays.

Superb museum, well worth a visit. Excellent collections of Oriental, Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Indian art and artefacts. They are the best and most representative collections of any UK museum except the British Museum, IMHO. The displays are well laid out, with just the right amount of information. There is comfortable seating, to rest or to contemplate your favourite piece. The staff are helpful and friendly. It's free to enter, too.

Really nice Zizzi, located in the heart of Durham city centre and in a historical building, not the usual retail park type setting. Food was to a great standard, as was the service provided by Summer, a credit to the restaurant.

We ordered the artichoke pizza. It was tasty and the crust was thin, which we liked. However, the cheese they used had a strong smell that I personally didn’t enjoy. Also, the delivery was a bit late.

Beautiful restaurant. Our waitress Daisy was brilliant. We had the 3 course offer and all were delicious

Food was absolutely outstanding. Beers are a little pricey, could've been more smiles on faces 😉 will definitely be eating here again. The pictures say it all.

Popped in for something to eat after visiting the Magna Carta exhibition. We took advantage of the 3 courses offer and while all the food was lovely my pepperoni pizza was gorgeous

We visited Zizzi in Durham during our stay there Food was fab. Waitress Esme was very good too 😊 Would definitely return

Food was delicious, fast service, Summer served us and did a great job!

Overall experience: just okay Food quality and taste: okay - fairly mildly seasoned Food portion: good Staff service: okay Ambience: okay Food options: great including vegetarian options

Had a very nice meal i was a little confused when I ordered a prawn bhaji I expected a crispy deep fried dish it looked more like a prawn in bhuna sauce but it was very nice as was my main sorry to say it was a bit to much for me I couldn't finish it. I tried my hardest lol

Just based on delivery, enormous portions and tangy food. Very much appreciate the liver starter and the exquisite chicken tikka. A bit greasy for my taste, but that's personal preference. Speedy preparation. The menu is a tome, so difficult to select or know what top dishes.

The worst Indian food restaurant in the UK without a doubt. Our chicken tikka masala was tasteless, sweet and had a tone of artificial colouring. It was bright red! The other dish we ordered was also tasteless and an unnatural bright orange (photo attached). The paladins were good, but again the chutney was super artificial (bright red), sugary and worse than what you buy at the supermarket. Save yourself money and health issues and don’t go there.

words cannot express how good this place is. i ordered the paneer bhuna and by the end of the night my plate was completely clean! the wait was a little long but i take it to mean that the food was cooked fresh, so i didn’t mind. will be coming again!!

Amazing food and brilliant staff. Food was amazing so was the vegetarian food it came out hot and quickly. Highly recommen for non meat eater. Very reasonably priced

The food was delicious, the service from the staff was brilliant, although they cleared the table quickly when finished with plate's etc you weren't to feel rushed. We went as an off chance to get a table and they made one up for us.

The Whitechurch Cafe: Good Coffee, Confused Operations - 3 Stars I'd heard great things about the Whitechurch Cafe in Durham. Being a bit of a coffee enthusiast, and seeing the consistently glowing reviews, I decided to brave the crowds on a particularly busy Sunday, smack in the middle of University Welcome Weekend. I was hoping for a sanctuary of excellent espresso. What I found was a case study in operational confusion, which unfortunately overshadowed a genuinely excellent cup of coffee. The chaos started with the ordering process. A queue snaked around the counter, blocking the ingress and exit of the staff, and after a good twenty-minute wait to finally reach the counter, I, and several others, were abruptly informed that we needed a table number first. This meant being redirected to a completely different member of staff for seating, only to be told to go back to the exact same counter we had just left. It was a pointless, frustrating loop that easily added ten minutes to the start of my visit. When I finally did place my order, I was told there would be a reasonable 20-minute wait for drinks due to the volume. I accepted this, but after 30 minutes, and no sign of my coffee, I gently enquired. The server, who was lovely and clearly trying their best, confessed my order had been misplaced and promised to expedite it. When the coffee finally arrived, it was, to its credit, excellent quality—rich, balanced, and clearly made with care. But the long, confusing wait had soured the experience. From a hospitality management perspective, the operation was fundamentally flawed. The poor person on the counter was trying to do far too many jobs: taking orders, processing payments, managing the sprawling queue, and directing other staff. Meanwhile, the staff member dedicated to seating seemed surplus until a customer managed to present themselves, table number in hand. The whole system was utterly disjointed. If I were advising the owners, I'd suggest a total overhaul. I would clear the counter completely, dedicating that space solely to expediting drinks. The crucial 'meet, greet, and seat' function needs to move into the dining area. Servers could then be equipped with POS tablets to take orders right at the table, sending them directly to the barista area. This would let the baristas focus purely on the art of coffee, while the front-of-house staff focuses on the guest experience. The coffee is worth five stars, but the chaotic service dropped the overall rating to a generous three. The product is there; the process is not. I will return in a couple of months and re-review. Fingers crossed I'll have a better experience 🤞

overall food and coffee is good but not of great value — portions have been disappointingly smaller since my first visit (look at the pathetic amount of hollandaise😭) recommend the brunch items over lunch/dinner: pulled ham croissant benedict, shakshuka and coffee 👍🏼 overpriced but nice to indulge once in a while.

The pancakes here are super delicious and reasonably priced! It’s the perfect spot to stop by for a treat after class.

Eaten here a few times now and it’s usually been alright, came a couple of weeks ago and after paying the bill and leaving a tip I mentioned the chicken supreme dinner was very small but I ate my girlfriends as she doesn’t eat much so wasn’t an issue, categorically said it was constructive feedback and nothing more, hence why I said it after I’d paid. Fast forward 2 weeks, this is the amount of chicken in the chicken sandwich, I only looked as the first half I could only taste salad but didn’t really want to start de-constructing my food in a restaurant. Anyway the lad behind the counter assured me this is the size of the fillet. Well guess what, it most definitely shouldn’t be the size of the fillet, and if it is use two, the sandwich was £16. Not only this, the chicken was wafer thin and was more batter than chicken. I could not believe the way he handled it. Anyway I eat out multiple times every single day and can’t think of a time I’ve ever left a review so that’s saying something.

Fab people looking after us Superb Tynemouth Company coffee Excellent choice of breakfast items .

Lovely venue and enjoyed our brunch food on a Saturday. Looks like a pub but more stylish than an ordinary pub inside and very nicely decorated. Came here around 10.30 on a Saturday and by time we left the place was full. We both had the hot smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, cress and beetroot. Very nice and a generous portion of salmon. Staff friendly and efficient. We didn’t have their cakes but they looked delicious. Lots of seating including garden area for when it’s warmer.

Location is great. Right in front of Durham Uni campus. Prefect for hangout. Due to costing, food portion is not as generous before the acquisition by a chain group. Quality also less tasty than before. Staffs turn over is high and obviously facing shortage.

This is the first time in my life I’ve had such a strange roast duck and Kung Pao chicken. The waiter said they were trying to adapt to the local eating habits! The result was a very untraditional Chinese meal — a bizarre experience that anyone would never expect. If you’re really looking for authentic Chinese food, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place. But if you just want to experience something different, you absolutely should come here, because they can really cook up dishes beyond you expect. I wish there is some real Chinese food here.

My family and I and two friends went to the Rabbit Hole last night to celebrate my ‘significant’ birthday. The service was impeccable, the restaurant is opulent and the food was absolutely amazing! Generous portions, cooked to perfection and the presentation was fantastic! The staff were attentive, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Just to top the night off I was presented with a surprise birthday desert and serenaded by all the lovely staff! I can’t wait to go back and do it all over again. Thank you to all the staff for making my birthday feel even more special.

This is no authentic Cantonese food, very strange fusion , taste is weird. If you re looking for a real Cantonese food , this is not the place. Although the environment is very cozy and nice decorated.

Went here for a birthday and it was incredible! The atmosphere is dark lighting with candles, with lots of booths so feels very private and luxurious. Food was excellent, we had everything from the monkfish, belly pork, lamb shank to house special fried rice and everyone really enjoyed their meal. One person said it was the best soup they’d ever had and another said the same about the house special fried rice. The portions were generous, too. I got 2 different cocktails both of which were excellent and different to the usual cocktails restaurant serve. The menus also light up with LED lights which I have never seen before. Little things like that made it a special experience. They brought me over an ice cream with a candle, sang happy birthday and gave me a birthday card. The waitresses was fantastic, she was so attentive ensuring everyone had everything and they re-filled our waters multiple times. One of us has a nut allergy and they were brilliant in dealing with allergies. Prices are expensive but for a treat or special occasion I would highly recommend this! Worth every penny. It’s one of the only restaurants I’ve been to recently where I didn’t mind the prices as it felt worth it. 10/10!

One of the best ambiences I’ve visited in the North East. Delightful food, cocktails and service. Highly recommend!

Truly an opulent place. Made us feel very special. I will definitely go there again if I go to Durham. The oysters were huge. What Truly stood out is the monk fish ghai red curry. Highly recommend it. By the way the main courses are huge it's worth sharing. Very nice staff We did go again second time and had a blast. Bryan the waiter is super friendly and gave us excellent recommendations. The wanton soup is a must have. I had the cod it was really great

THE best food in durham. had the honey walnut shrimp as a starter, a tad spicy which we didnt expect. for main we ordered the lamb shank and the duck fried rice, portion is very filling. we couldn’t finish the food, so i would recommend skipping the starters or sharing mains.