Durham Overview
Durham is a small city located in the north of England, the city is just a short drive south of Newcastle and is home to one of the best universities in England. One of the most famous buildings in Durham is the cathedral, built in 995AD the cathedral is the talking point of the locals and is currently used by the Church of England as a place of worship, the cathedral is free to enter but donations are encouraged. One very calming place to visit is the Durham University Botanic Gardens, with over 25 acres of natural woodlands the gardens are very peaceful and idyllic and the perfect place to escape the stresses of university life without having to travel. The Gala Theatre & Cinema is one of the more popular attractions in Durham, with a modern theatre that stages comedy, music and drama events, there is always something new on at the Gala so make sure you keep up to date. The best place to go shopping in Durham is the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, there is a wide range of shops ranging from your typical high-street stores all the way to Independent boutiques, some shops also offer student discounts so keep an eye out for the student only deals.
Escape Durham
A short drive north of Durham will bring you to Newcastle, Newcastle is a fantastic place to visit as there is so much to do there, from shopping, restaurants, bars and an incredible night life the city has it all. For somewhere that is a little bit more chilled out head west to the North Pennines, here you can go on long walks or ride bicycles through the woodland. Roughly a 20-minute drive away is Sunderland which has a great beach which is very busy in the summer but very quiet during the winter. Scotland is not that far from Durham so if you would like to visit Scotland for the day it is really easy.
Transport in Durham
The A1 motorway runs just past Durham, the A1 starts as the M1 in London and travels the whole length of England all the way to Newcastle, from this road you will be connected to the national motorway network. Direct trains run from Durham to Newcastle and from Newcastle you can get national rail services to most parts of the UK. National coach services also run the same way.
