Durham, England is the sort of place that most people have never heard of , a rather unfortunate circumstance as it is a beautiful historic city full of medieval lore and legend. There is plenty to do and see in Durham and it makes a great place to book a UK holiday cottage to get out of the city and relax in the country side.
Durham Cathedral
My favourite and an absolute must see is Durham Cathedral. This beautiful Cathedral has been proudly positioned above the River Wear since 1093 and became a world heritage site in 1986. The Cathedral is both a fully working church and a tourist attraction and holds daily Church of England Services. One of the best things to do is to climb the Cathedral Tower. Climb the three hundred and twenty five steps to the top – the views make it worth each and every step, trust me! This is a great way to see the city. On a clear day you can even see as far as the Angel of the North!
Many films have used the Cathedral as their backdrop including the Harry Potter series. As you walk around the Cloisters most Potter fans will find it quite easy to recognize some of the locations used!
After all the energy climbing the tower, refuelling in the Undercroft Cafe in the Cathedral is a real treat. Enjoy a well earned rest with a cappuccino and a homemade cake before heading into town.
Shopping in Durham
For when you want to take it a little easier, a walk around the town’s beautiful cobbled streets to visit some of the unique boutique shops is a great way to pass an afternoon. The large student community has an influence on the shops so there is a wide choice of alternative and independent shops, ideal for picking up a gift as well as a great place to treat yourself. I particularly enjoy a walk around Durham Indoor Market. This thriving market is packed with prosperous and useful stalls, I think the best are tucked away towards at back of the market. The vintage stalls are really great and a unique place to pick up that special something that you can be sure nobody else will have. These stalls are packed full of vintage clothes and items for the home. Last time I visited I just couldn’t resist a very cute floral china tea cup and saucer!
Views on the Riverbank
Enjoy a quiet walk down by the riverbanks of the River Wear. Take in picturesque views of the Cathedral, travel under the beautiful historic bridges and watch students from Durham University practising athletics both on the river and on the adjacent playing fields. A firm favourite in my family is to hire a rowing boat from the side of the Elvet Bridge. You can row three bridges in either direction from the start area and benefit from views of the river not accessible on foot. Your sense of direction may be called into question when negotiating the arches of the bridge but that’s all part of the fun!
Photos of Durham Cathedral and Elvet Bridge via a Flickr creative commons license
Charlotte likes to spend her time exploring the United Kingdom and writing about her experiences
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