Welcome to Durham

The city of Durham is located on the River Wear, in the county of Durham, approximately 264 miles north of London and 16 miles south of Newcastle.

The city has a population of around 89,000. Administratively it is the seat of the local government district of City of Durham which covers an area of approximately 187 sq kms.

It is a beautiful ancient city of narrow winding streets and fine architecture whose skyline is dominated by its magnificent Norman castle and cathedral, which have been given World Heritage Site status. Unsurprisingly it is a major tourist destination, but it is also a thriving commercial and retail centre with excellent entertainment and leisure facilities, as well as being home to Britain's third oldest university. The city is a good base from which to explore the rugged scenery of the Durham Dales and North Pennines to the west and the 'Heritage Coast' to the east.

Durham was, in A.D. 995, the final resting place of the mortal remains of St Cuthbert, borne by a band of Saxon monks. The most famous saint in England for six or seven centuries, his body had been moved from place to place, for safety, since his death in 687. The easily defensible peninsula was already a settlement with a Christian history, but the saint’s presence helped to establish a larger community and encouraged the building of an impressive stone church – the predecessor of the magnificent cathedral of today. In medieval times Durham was a major centre of political and ecclestiastical power. The 19th century saw the founding of the University of Durham, and the growth of coal mining industry in the town.

Today the service industry, including tourism, is the largest sector of the local economy, employing around 70% of all workers.