Durham: Cathedral City on the River Wear With a University Older Than Most
Durham is a small city with an outsized reputation. The population of the city itself is only around 45,000, but Durham University brings in roughly 20,000 students, and the cathedral and castle (a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986) pull in over 700,000 visitors a year. The city is built on a tight loop of the River Wear, with the cathedral and castle perched on the peninsula above. It is genuinely dramatic geography. The East Coast Main Line stops here, putting Durham 15 minutes from Newcastle by train and under three hours from London King's Cross.
County Durham as a whole has a mining heritage, but the city itself has always been more ecclesiastical and academic. The Market Place in the centre dates back to the medieval period, and Elvet Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge are both ancient crossings still in daily use. The Walkergate complex near the river handles cinema and leisure. North Road and Silver Street form the main retail spine. Beyond the university and tourism, the local economy includes the council (Durham County Council is a major employer) and a growing tech sector around the likes of NETPark in nearby Sedgefield. For those interested in adult companionship in County Durham, the city's position on the East Coast Main Line makes it well connected to both Newcastle and Teesside.
Show more
Durham is a small city with an outsized reputation. The population of the city itself is only around 45,000, but Durham University brings in roughly 20,000 students, and the cathedral and castle (a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986) pull in over 700,000 visitors a year. The city is built on a tight loop of the River Wear, with the cathedral and castle perched on the peninsula above. It is genuinely dramatic geography. The East Coast Main Line stops here, putting Durham 15 minutes from Newcastle by train and under three hours from London King's Cross.
County Durham as a whole has a mining heritage, but the city itself has always been more ecclesiastical and academic. The Market Place in the centre dates back to the medieval period, and Elvet Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge are both ancient crossings still in daily use. The Walkergate complex near the river handles cinema and leisure. North Road and Silver Street form the main retail spine. Beyond the university and tourism, the local economy includes the council (Durham County Council is a major employer) and a growing tech sector around the likes of NETPark in nearby Sedgefield. For those interested in adult companionship in County Durham, the city's position on the East Coast Main Line makes it well connected to both Newcastle and Teesside.
Country selected
Region selected
City selected
