Barnard Castle, Bowes Museum, Durham City, Durham City, Raby Castle, Darlington Railway Centre and Museum
Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is a working market town and has a flourishing market held on 'the cobbles' in Market Place every Wednesday, the main weekday market is also supplemented with an occasional Saturday farmers market.
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Bowes Museum
Located just outside of Barnard Castle. The Bowes Museum offers a fascinating museum experience for all the family. Enjoy the greatest collection of European fine and decorative arts in the North of England and an acclaimed exhibition programme, alongside special events and children’s activities.
Durham City
Durham is a compact city yet offers a wide range of facilities. A wide range of shops and restaurants co-exist happily with the Victorian Market. Much of Durham’s shopping area is closed to traffic, making for a more relaxed atmosphere. Take time to sit in the cobbled Market Place and enjoy some of the street entertainment, particularly during July and August. The monthly Farmers’ Market is a welcome new addition to the events calendar. Here you will find fresh local specialities to take back home. In the Spring and Summer, stunning floral displays adorn the City for which Durham regularly wins prizes.
Yet within minutes, it is possible to escape the bustle of this thriving market town by taking one of the many paths that lead down to the riverbanks. Watch the river for rowers from one of the university teams, or take the ‘Prince Bishop’ river cruiser for a gentle trip along the river with stunning views.
The Racecourse backs on to the River Wear and is a favourite area for walks. Horse races have not been held here since the 19th century, however the country’s top athletics cross-country event is now a regular fixture here and attracts the best runners in the world.
Raby Castle
Built for the mighty dynasty of the Nevills, this great fortress stands proud and defiant, its history rolling back almost a thousand years. King Cnut owned the estate in the early 11th Century and may well have built the first castle here; the present building was begun by John, 3rd Baron Nevill in about 1360. The Nevills were the most powerful family in the north: renowned warriors whose ultimate goal was the Crown itself. At Raby, they built a stronghold of soaring towers and impregnable walls as a symbol of their power, wealth and ambition.
Darlington Railway Centre and Museum
The museum collection covers the railways of North-East England, with particular emphasis on the Darlington area. Of greatest significance is Stephenson's "Locomotion" (1825), which hauled the inaugural train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
