Durham History Tour: A Guide to the City’s Landmarks and Legends

(158 reviews)

Durham audio tour: Durham History Tour: A Guide to the City’s Landmarks and Legends

This is a 1.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Durham

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

This walking tour takes you on a journey through time to explore the dramatic peninsula of Durham city. You’ll make your way from the bustling heart of the city, along tranquil riverside footpaths and medieval bridges, to the world-famous Durham Cathedral. You’ll see some of the most spectacular vantage points around, and hear tales of St. Cuthbert and his miraculous journey to the city roughly 300 years after his death! Along the way, you’ll encounter the legendary kings and ferocious rivalries that have shaped Durham since the Anglo-Saxon times.

From wealthy and eccentric Prince Bishops to humble locals, you’ll meet the people who have made the city what it is today. Allow an hour for the tour without any additional stops. There are, however, plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants near the start and finish where you can pause for refreshments.

Tour Producer

Peter Groark

2 tours

I was born and raised in County Durham, in the north east of England. I'm a geography teacher by trade and set up my first walking tour business- Walkabout Durham- in 2019. Inspired by a trip to Florence that year, I decided that I would create a walking tour of my native Durham to bring to life the amazing history of a place that Bill Bryson calls 'A perfect little city'. It is so full of character, stories and architecture, I never get bored with guiding people round.
My ambition was always to expand my tours outside of Durham and when I revisited Paris in 2024, I knew that this was where I wanted to expand to. I set about creating my first Parisian walking tour under Walkabout Paris, which will launch in 2025.
Aside from tours, I love to go hiking in the hills and countryside with my wife and we spend as much time as possible travelling.

Preview Location

Location 2

The Man on the Horse

Let's stop here beneath the statue of the black horse.

The man on the horse is Charles William Vane Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. Here, he is dressed in his hussars uniform which depicts him in his early days as a cavalryman in the British army. Nicknamed ‘figh... Read More

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Major Landmarks

Durham Market Place
Framwellgate Bridge
Prebends Bridge
North Bailey
Palace Green
Durham Castle
Durham Cathedral

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Durham Market Place, Durham DH1 3NJ, UK
Total distance

2km
Final location
Durham DH1 3EH, UK
Distance back to start location

411.24m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins in the Market Place which is in the centre of the city. Follow footpath signs from the train station and bus stops to the Market Place. The closest car park is Prince Bishops (DH1 3UJ) which is less than 5 minutes walk from the starting point.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

For authentic Italian coffee, breakfast, snacks or even dinner stop off at Coviello Coffee and Barber. Located at 24 Silver Street, Durham, DH1 3RD- it is on the tour route and close to the start. Open from 9am till 6pm.
For a traditional Durham Pub call into the City Tavern, Market Place, Durham. DH1 3NJ. Located right at the start of the tour or within 5 minutes walk back from the finish of the tour. Real ales and quality pub grub.

Best time of day

Dusk is a great time to capture some spectacular views of the Castle, Cathedral and riverside. Weekends are busy at the starting point of the tour but on Saturdays you can catch the best of the Outdoor Market stalls. The tour can be enjoyed all year round but be mindful of some wet or icy riverside paths during winter.

Precautions

The unique hilly and cobbled streets may prove to be a hazard for some visitors and there are some steep steps that make the tour inaccessible for wheelchair users. The riverside path can become wet and a little muddy in places.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”