Durham Favorites

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Favorite thing: My first view of the Durham Cathedral was on the evening of the day I arrived in Durham. It was a slightly snowy, overcast day, but I liked the look at night even better than the daytime.
In the full day you could see just how bleak everything looked that winter day.
The following day, which was almost sunny through the clouds, I followed a foot path across the Prebends Bridge on the south sidee of the semi-island where the cathedral is found and followed the River Wear back toward town to capture that last photo.
www.durhamcathedral.co.uk
The cathedral is a UNESCO site.

Fondest memory: http://www.thisisdurham.com/site/attractions

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Favorite thing: The river Wear runs through the town of Durham and then makes a loop and comes back for another pass through the city, making a peninsula of the central area of the town. Along both banks of the river there are walking paths and numerous foot bridges that cross. You can begin your walk downtown at the market place, walk across the Framwelgate Bridge, stroll the banks of the river and then return to the castle or cathedral over the Prebends, Kingsgate or Elvet bridges.

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Favorite thing: When you approach Durham Castle from the Palace Green that it shares with the cathedral it is not an impressive castle, the walls are not overpowering, nor does it seem unfriendly. Yes on the day I visited it was late in the afternoon (remember I was here on business and it was of course "business first") after work and it was closed to the public. Its hours are from 10:00 to 16:00 and entrance is by guided tours ONLY.

Fondest memory: The castle is located at
Palace Green
Durham City
County Durham
DH1 3RW
www.durham.ac.uk/university.college/tours
Tel: +44 0191 334 3800

Fax: +44 0191 334 3801

http://www.thisisdurham.com/site/attractions/search-results/durham-castle-p22901

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Favorite thing: As well as the grand architecture of the Cathedral and Castle, Durham also has a maze of medieval streets winding up and down hills. Some are lined with red sandstone buildings while others have colourfully-painted houses.

They include Fleshergate which was the flesh hewer's street or butcher's quarter (this was the name of the part of Saddler Street that joins the Market Place), Souter Peth, the shoe maker's street, the old name for the street at the western end of Elvet Bridge from where the bridge joins Fleshergate, Owengate, possibly the oven gate, close to the site of a medieval bakehouse, Saddler Street, where saddles were made or sold, Framwelgate, the street leading to the fram well which once supplied the market place with water, or perhaps the street leading from a well, hence from-well-gate and Dun Cow Lane, from where the carving of the Dun Cow can be seen on the Cathedral.

Alleyways in Durham are known as vennels.

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Favorite thing: Durham is definately worth a visit. It's wicked!
It's definately the England that most non-english people conjure up in their imaginations prior to coming. Although it's one of my favourite spots in the country, i wouldn't say that you would need more than a nights stay, especially if you are moving on to newcastle afterwards. However, if you have no plans on traveling on to stay in newcastle, i would easily recommend two to three nights in durham. this way, you can have the grand experience of lodging in durham, yet taking the ten minute train ride to newcastle in the evenings for boozing, and comin back to durham on the last train. that way you get the best of both.

Favorite thing: The classic view of the cathedral, down by the riverside, is everyones favourite classic shot - but I was happy to get a reflection of it too :-))) Dave scrambled up and down a muddy bank to see if there's was a better angle but the one I took originally was the one for me!

Favorite thing: We arrived in Durham on a really sunny Sunday morning - it was a surprise part ot the our "Tilly Tour" as I though we were heading straight for Newcastle. Anyway at this hour before the shops opened we virtually had the place to ourselves. The cobbled market square of Durham was quite impressive with the town hall, the church of St Nicholas and two stautes - a bare bottomed Neptune and the third Marquess on Londonderry on horseback - more of this in the next tip.

Favorite thing: Fleshergate is now called Sadler Street - but this is not strictly correct as Sadler Street really begins where it splits into two either side of the Magdalen Steps. On the left hand side the street leads to Elvet Bridge whilst on the right Sadler Street proper leads up to the cathedral square. So here we are arriving at the cathedral - info on that and the castle can be found in the "must see" section.