Durham Cathedral and Castle

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Durham Castle And Cathedral (1986). The Finest Romanesque Cathedral In Britain, Begun In 1093 With The First Rib Vaulted Ceiling In Europe And The Shrine Of St Cuthbert And The Venerable Bede. Beside It A Norman Castle Now Used As A University College. Closes To Sightseers At Services · Durham, England

Durham Cathedral and Castle stand together on a rocky bend of the River Wear in the north-east of England, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Norman buildings in Europe. The cathedral, begun in 1093, has a vast Romanesque nave with chunky carved pillars and some of the earliest rib vaults in Europe. It holds the shrine of St Cuthbert and, in the Galilee Chapel, the tomb of the Venerable Bede. Visitors can climb the 325-step tower for a view over the city, and the cloisters will be familiar from the Harry Potter films. Beside it, Durham Castle is now a university college, so it is open only by guided tour at set times, not for wandering. Palace Green, between the two, is a quiet lawn with the old library. The cathedral is a working church and closes to sightseers during services. Durham is about three hours by train from London, and the hill up from the station is steep. The city is small, and the cathedral is the main draw, so a half day is enough.

Palace Green, on the rock above the River Wear in the centre of Durham, in north-east England, Durham, England, United Kingdom

The cathedral is open most days, usually from morning to late afternoon, but it closes to sightseers during services, so a visit can be cut short; confirm the daily timetable before you travel. Entry to the nave is commonly free, with a donation requested. The tower climb, the treasury and the exhibition are ticketed and close earlier, and the tower may be CLOSED in bad weather or on busy event days. Durham Castle is open only by guided tour at set times, and is CLOSED to wanderers; tours may stop in university term events or exam time. Palace Green, the riverbank paths and the cloister garden are FREE to enter in daylight. Confirm all hours close to your date.

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