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Welcome to Walkabout Durham! We are Peter and Annmarie, your guides, and we've developed six guided walking tours to help you discover this beautiful 1,000 year old city.
Whilst strolling along cobbled streets and riverside footpaths, you will view some of the world's best architecture and encounter gripping tales of the kings, Prince Bishops and local people who have made Durham one of England's most fascinating and historically significant, cities. Choose from our tours below - all set against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral.
Our detailed tours are a perfect way for tourists, day-trippers, students and locals to learn more about our wonderful city. An ideal way to start your break in Durham.
This year, we've also launched our new North East Tours. These private tours help visitors explore the stunning and hard to reach areas of our region.
Customers who book an in-person walking tour in Durham will be sent a link to download our free app.
Available to download in Apple Store and Google Play.
Our Durham Tours
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1 hour 30 minutes
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£13 p.p. / Under 12s free
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Mon-Fri: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
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Sat-Sun: 10am, 12pm, & 2pm
Take a walk through time as we explore the stunning peninsula of Durham city. From some of the most spectacular vantage points around, we will discover the tale of the man who started it all – the miraculous St. Cuthbert – and his journey here 300 years after his death! Plus, we’ll hear the stories of legendary kings, ferocious rivalries, wealthy and eccentric Prince Bishops, and humble locals that have helped craft Durham from Anglo-Saxon times into the city it is today.
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1 hour 30 minutes
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£13 p.p. / Under 12s free
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Mon-Fri: 6pm
Delve into the more sinister side of Durham's past on a tour filled with gruesome, shocking and tragic tales. As we stroll the winding streets and illuminated UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll hear of deadly battles, haunted pubs, historic crimes, executions and saintly miracles, revealing a darker side to the city as night falls.
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8 hours
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From £179 p.p. inc. lunch (based on 2)
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Durham Cathedral & Auckland Palace
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Private Transport & Guide
Explore the 'Land of the Prince Bishops' on this full day private tour of Durham and The Auckland Project at Bishop Auckland. From their creation under William The Conqueror, the Prince Bishops of Durham enjoyed immense power and control in the North East. On this tour discover two of the most important locations in their colourful history. In Durham, you'll take a short walking tour and find out about the Norman Conquest and the building of Durham Castle and Cathedral. The tour continues inside the cathedral as you discover tales and see artifacts from some of the more interesting and controversial Prince Bishops. At The Auckland Project, you'll see one of the best preserved bishops palaces in Europe and gain an understanding of how these 'kings in the north' shaped the country we live in today. Walk in the footsteps of these fascinating characters as you explore highlights such as St. Peter's Chapel and the Throne Room. You can also experience some amazing art here - from the fascinating story of Zurbarán’s 'Jacob and his Twelve Sons' to the Spanish Art Gallery and (our favourite) The Mining Art Galley.
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2 hours 30 minutes
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£30 p.p. (Age 18+ only)
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Mon-Thu: 5pm
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4 half pints included
Combine two of the best things about Durham in one tour - its history and its pubs! See the stunning architecture in the heart of the city centre and discover the tales of conquest, miracles and tradgedy that made Durham truly unique. Add to this four stops in historic pubs, each with a half pint of real cask ale (or a soft drink) included in your ticket, and you have the perfect evening walking tour.
Why book with Walkabout Durham?
Highly Rated and Excellent Reviews
6 years of delivering walking tours
Historically accurate and thoroughly researched
Dog friendly on all tours
Amazing views and photo opportunities along the way
Hints, tips and recommendations for food, drink and entertainment
Reviews
What are people saying about Walkabout Durham?
Best way to start our city break
Fab full city tour.... The best mix of history, myth, legend and local custom. Peter was very
entertaining and informed and gave us tips on how to get the best from the rest of our trip.
This was a delightful way to get oriented in this wonderful city.
About Us
I'm Peter, your tour guide and founder of Walkabout Durham. I'm actually a geography teacher by trade, so I love being out and about and hope I'm pretty good at teaching people a thing or two about places.
Walkabout Durham is now in its sixth year and what a great six years it has been. Starting with two tours in Durham, the business has now expanded considerably and, after working behind the scenes, my wife Annmarie has also left teaching to join the business full time.
Why have I created Walkabout Durham?
I have always been an independent traveller - walking around cities and finding the odd bit of information here and there to quench my thirst, as well as stopping at random cafe's and bars to soak up the atmosphere. However, four years ago, we visited Florence for our first wedding anniversary and took a guided walking tour as paying customers. I was blown away by how much I learned within the space of two hours compared to exploring alone.
I decided that I wanted to help people have this kind of experience too, and what better platform than my beloved home city of Durham. Months of research followed and now we have multiple tours, not only of Durham but also the wider North East region.
Meet your guides
Peter
Annmarie
First memory in Durham?
Trying to row a boat at Brown’s under Elvet Bridge, and failing.
Favourite bridge in Durham?
Controversial, but I like Kingsgate. I love the contrast between it and the cathedral in the background.
Favourite time of year in Durham?
Autumn. The colour and views along the riverside are amazing. Each day is different.
One thing about Durham that never gets old?
The inside of the cathedral. You always find something new, no matter how many times you go in.
If you could meet one person from Durham’s history, who would it be?
Cuthbert, of course! He’s the star of the show in Durham.
What’s your guilty pleasure in Durham?
A pint of Dark Angel from the Victoria Inn and sat by the fire. The perfect winters’ afternoon.
What’s the most underrated thing about Durham?
The range of bookshops. There are some hidden gems.
Favourite thing to do when you are not working?
Long walks. We have explored a lot of the North over the years and I love the lakes, Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales, but I think Teesdale is my favourite place to walk. Always with a pint and a bowl of chips in the pub at the end!
First memory in Durham?
Going to Woolworths at the top of Silver Street for a ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ before sneaking in to Robin’s Cinema on North Road.
Favourite bridge in Durham?
Prebends – it tends to be the customers’ too. The tour always halts for photo stops.
Favourite time of year in Durham?
You can’t beat summer in Durham. It always seems to be warm and the atmosphere is fantastic.
One thing about Durham that never gets old?
Driving in to Durham and seeing the cathedral dominate the skyline, no matter which way you come in from. If you every get lost in Durham just look for the cathedral.
If you could meet one person from Durham’s history, who would it be?
John Duck. He is one of my favourite characters on the tour, but my question would be: ‘How did you really get that gold coin?’
What’s your guilty pleasure in Durham?
Blueberry scone with clotted cream with lemon curd at Cafédral. Always my top recommendation on any tour - if you know, you know!
What’s the most underrated thing about Durham?
The South Bailey. This my favourite part of our History Tour and customers always comment on how beautiful it is. Most people just go as far as the cathedral and stop.
Favourite thing to do when you are not working?
I’m not complicated. I love coffee & cake, a long walk and a beer (in that order). My favourite walks are along Hadrian’s Wall, especially the stretch between Housesteads and Haltwhistle.
Get in touch
Want to:
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Discuss group tours for your business/ group of friends/ organisation?
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Discuss customising tours?
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Talk about any special requests?
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Find out more?
Simply get in touch via the email, phone or contact form and I'll get back to you within 24 hours.
07546381644
