1. Home
  2. ENGLAND
  3. 2023 - Heritage & History in Durham

2023 - Heritage & History in Durham

4 or 5 day tour

England's most beautiful Romanesque cathedral, a huge castle and a cobweb of hilly, cobbled streets, Durham is a beautiful city packed with history, culture and stunning architecture. The base for your holiday is the excellent 4* Redworth Hall Hotel, set in the beautiful countryside of County Durham and there is an included visit to Barnard Castle and impressive Raby Castle.

SPECIAL DEPARTURE - 11 August 2023 - 4 days for Kynren Click here for details

Share:

Highlights

  • Hotel for 3 or 4 nights with breakfast & dinner
  • Welcome tea/coffee & after dinner
  • Free use of leisure facilities
  • Visit & entry to Beamish Museum (5 day tour only)
  • Visit to Barnard Castle & entry to Raby Castle (all tours)
  • Day in Durham with river cruise (all tours)
  • Porterage 

Hotel

Redworth Hall Hotel, Newton Aycliffe

4* Redworth Hall is a stunning 17th century Jacobean Manor House situated in the blissful tranquility of its own 26 acres of landscaped grounds. The hotel retains many original features including the magnificent Great Hall, an ornate staircase and lounges.

Modern guestrooms are tastefully decorated and feature tea/coffee making facilities. The Retreat Spa features a fitness studio, an indoor heated pool, poolside terrace and lounge.

All single rooms are doubles for sole use.

Lift in the main building.

Itinerary

Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach, travel northwards with a lunch stop on the way.  Arrive at your hotel late afternoon for 3 or 4 nights dinner, bed and breakfast

Days 2 - 3 (or 4) -  At leisure with 2 included excursions (3 included excursions on 5 day tour)

Barnard Castle & Raby Castle (All tours)
Enjoy a visit this morning to Raby Castle, one of England's finest medieval castles. A seriously impressive fortress standing proud and defiant with a history of almost one thousand years. The Victorian and Regency interiors are as opulent as the exterior is imposing, showcasing porcelain and sculpture ranging form Victorian copper cooking utensils to The Raby Tapestry. NB there are steps within the castle (41 steps to the upper floor) and entrance is also included to the Deer Park where you may spot the herds of deer and Longhorn cattle. Head off to the charming Teesdale market town of Barnard Castle. The town is a haven for the discerning who are sure to enjoy the many antique shops, independent retailers and cafes. The ruins of Barnard Castle sit on a cliff above the River Tees and from here visitors can enjoy wonderful views (English Heritage property - entrance not included). 

A Day in Durham with River Cruise (All tours)
Bill Bryson called it ‘a perfect little city’, The Independent named it as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2020, and Condé Nast’s Traveller magazine readers voted it the ‘Best City in the UK’. Durham is a captivating city with winding cobbled streets and a prominent peninsula crowned with the dramatic Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site. Enjoy the unforgettable highlights of Durham on an included one hour cruise on the River Wear with spectacular views of the historic castle, cathedral and bridges. Enjoy time at leisure exploring the timeless quality of this quintessential old English University City, take some time out with a relaxing riverside walk or soak up the atmosphere with superb cafés, artisan workshops, boutiques, galleries and museums.

Beamish Museum - entry included (5 Day Tour only)
Touch, taste, hear, see and smell history on an unforgettable journey into the past at England's largest open-air museum.  Set in 300 acres of beautiful Durham countryside, Beamish - The Living Museum of the North brings 200 years of English history to life.  Hop on a tram and make your way around the vast museum: visit the 1900s town and watch traditional sweets being made in the sweet shop, then visit the dentist (if you dare!). Try a tasty treat from the Edwardian Bakery or a pint at the Sun Inn Pub, then step even further back in time to the 1800s and take a steam train ride through the Georgian landscape on replica locomotives.  Immerse yourself in the 1900s at the Pit Village by going down a real mine and enjoying a traditional fish and chips at Davy's Fried Fish Shop. Staff are dressed in period costume, which makes the experience truly authentic.

Return Day - Travel southward to interchange with a comfort stop en route.