Durham, UK

Tours

The History Tour starts in the Market Place- the beating heart of the city. We take in two of the city's historic bridges and tranquil riverside walkways where we encounter tales of the city's founding and it's tumultuous medieval history. There is a stroll along the South and North Bailey, home to Durham University, before finishing in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palace Green. We will finish at the doors of Durham Cathedral which is only a 4 minute walk back to the starting point in the Market Place.

Market Place- The darker side of the social history of Durham. From coal mining to hidden cemeteries. Framwellgate Bridge- Tales of escaped prisoners and Prince Bishops in the brutal early Norman period. Durham Cathedral- Learn about saintly miracles and tales of the dungeon that lay beneath the cathedral. Palace Green- Hear stories of ghosts from the castle, medieval burial grounds, deadly rebellion and modern miracles, all whilst witnessing magnificent views of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the castle and cathedral. Kingsgate- Learn the gruesome story behind this site’s namesake whilst enjoying some divisive 20th century architecture. Durham Crown Court- Durham’s 200 year old prison has been ‘home’ to some of England’s most infamous criminals. Learn about how prisoners exercised, escaped and were executed. Old Elvet- The oldest pub in the city. The perfect location for locals to have a good old day out and enjoy a hanging from the gallows. Elvet Bridge- The tour reaches it’s finale beneath Elvet Bridge. Hear the tragic tales of some of the city’s previous occupants…some of whom are still believed to be around today.

Market Place- At our meeting spot in the historic Market Place, in the heart of the city, we will see the 19th Century Town Hall and Guildhall, St. Nicolas' church and the statues that commemorate the city's history. We will learn about the figures who have helped to shape the city and county. From here, we will take a short walk to Framwellgate Bridge. Framwellgate Bridge- The oldest of the city's bridges with a magnificent view of Durham Castle and Cathedral. Here we will explore the history of the Castle and famous Prince Bishops of Durham before heading along the picturesque riverside walk to our next stop. The walk from here to the next stop will take approximately 5 minutes. Prebends Bridge- Along the way to Prebends Bridge we will explore the city's mills and riverbanks before taking in spectacular views of the Cathedral from Prebends Bridge. South Bailey- On our way to the South Bailey, we will encounter the medieval city wall and explore the historic rivalry with the Scots before heading into the Bailey, which is the home of Durham University. Now affiliated with St. John's college, St. Mary the Less, has some fascinating connections with Durham legends. We explore their stories here whilst taking in the interesting architecture of the Bailey. Kingsgate- Learn the gruesome story behind this site’s namesake whilst enjoying some divisive 20th century architecture. Durham Crown Court- Durham’s 200 year old prison has been ‘home’ to some of England’s most infamous criminals. Learn about how prisoners exercised, escaped and were executed. Elvet Bridge- At the historic Elvet Bridge, hear the tragic tales of some of the city’s previous occupants…some of whom are still believed to be around today. Palace Green- We enter the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site on Palace Green and explore the various buildings around Palace Green that are steeped in history. Here we will talk about the battles, tragedies and miracles that feature heavily in the Durham story. The climax of the takes us to the doors of Durham Cathedral.

Enjoy a round of golf at a cowboy-themed, 18-hole adventure golf course. Grab some putters and sharpen your skills. Each hole on the course presents its own unique challenges. Will you strike gold with a hole in one, or fail to hit par? Either way, this adventure golf is rooting-tooting fun for all the family. The use of golf balls, clubs, and complimentary scorecards are all included with admission to the mini-golf. From sand traps to doglegs, there are lots of features trying to stand between you and those all-important birdies. Saddle up and get yourself down to the adventure golf course at Adventure Valley in Durham.

Discover why Adventure Valley in Durham is the North East’s BIGGEST & BEST Family Adventure Park! Delight in farmyard fun, where you can meet llamas, pigs, rabbits, and more! Embark on an adventure through 6 HUGE play zones, packed with slides, tunnels, and scramble nets! Experience indoor and outdoor excitement, from Wild West Play Town to our thrilling 3D Net Climb! With Adventure Valley the fun never stops! The Valley Express mini locomotive is now in operation, a fantastic train ride for kids and adults alike. Hop onboard and wave to passers-by as you feel the wind in your hair. Head to Action Creek for our scheduled tractor rides that take place throughout the day! Travel around the park and along the River Wear on the back of a tractor trailer. Play Town is the perfect indoor children’s activity; hours of fun whatever the weather. Covering over 18,000 square feet, this area is jam packed full of winding slides, tunnels, ball pools and scramble nets. All kinds of activities to promote lots of running around, climbing, jumping, crawling – getting lots of exercise while the grown ups relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. All weather indoor fun – The beauty of soft play areas is that they are full of equipment and features which are safe and reliable, as well as the fact that they can be enjoyed rain or shine. Play Town is housed within the main building right next to our cafe, and a short walk from Bertie the World’s fastest tortoise (Guiness World Records 2014). The dragon slide and swing and already some of our favourite attractions in the park. You simply cannot miss the slide or the swing thanks to the bright colours and height of the slide which towers over Adventure Valley.

Market Place- We will explore the stories behind the buildings and people that have shaped our city's history in the Market Place. From here, we will walk a short distance to our first pub stop. Saddler Street- Whist tasting some ale, we will share stories of history and folklore in and around Saddler Street, including this historic pub. Palace Green- Whilst strolling around Palace Green and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, we will learn about the founding of the city and the legendary Prince Bishops of Durham. We will walk across the iconic Kingsgate Bridge whilst on our way to our next pub stop in the borough of Elvet. Hallgarth Steet- A drink and tales in a classic historic pub in Elvet whilst learning about some of the borough's history. Durham Crown Court- We will discover tales from the darker side of Durham's history including infamous criminals, executions and prison history. Old Elvet- We will walk to and explore out third pub on the historic street of Old Elvet. Stories and folklore as we enjoy a drink of local ale. Elvet Bridge- The tour finishes with a final drink in a popular and atmospheric city centre pub with access to plenty of food and drink options in the vicinity and only a short walk back to the Market Place.

From the moment you meet your guide, you will know you are in good hands. Our team of specialist guides will welcome you with open arms. After a short briefing, you will be issued with all specialist equipment; wetsuit, wetsuit socks, helmet and buoyancy aid. Don't worry, we have changing facilities for your comfort and convenience. Once kitted up, we will then have a short stroll along the Pennine Way to the main event. Your guide will teach you and give you the opportunity to practise your swimming white water skills (you're going to need them). We will then set you some swimming challenges, these will challenge you, but give you the confidence to deal with what lies ahead. Now that you are competent in swimming in white water, it's not time to experience the rapids in your white water tube, something we refer to as 'human hook the duck'. If the white water tubing wasn't enough (which it will be), we've got a 20ft cliff jump and something known as the 'green room', you'll have to participate to find out what this.

2.5-hour walking Tour from the Durham Passport Office along the River Wear, crossing the Framwellgate and Prebends bridges and up the South and North Bailey to view the cathedral and castle from Palace Green. Finally, we walk through Durham Market Place back to the Walkergate shopping complex. Learn about how Durham has resisted both the Scots and the Normans throughout its history. Discover a city that has developed into a regional capital and has been shaped by its beautiful Romanesque Cathedral in the city center. See other notable points of interest such as Durham Shire Hall and the Durham Marketplace.