The Highlights of County Durham

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF COUNTY DURHAM

10 – 14 August 2026

Monday – Friday

5 Days

From £679

A new tour of County Durham and explore its top attractions. Visit Auckland Castle, one of Europe’s best-preserved bishops’ palaces, and learn about the region's powerful Prince Bishops. With your all-access pass, you can also enjoy other sites managed by The Auckland Project. Discover Raby Castle, a stunning medieval castle with a newly designed walled garden. Finally, step back in time at Beamish Open Air Museum to experience life from a bygone era.

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Durham | Beamish Open-Air Museum | Barnard Castle | Raby Castle | Auckland Castle | All-access ticket to The Auckland Project

DAY ONE – Arrival

We depart from your home and travel north to Durham where tea and coffee await you on arrival, time to relax before dinner this evening.

DAY TWO – Beamish Open-Air Museum

Today we visit the famous Beamish North of England Open Air Museum, capturing the spirit of the North East in the 1800s and 1900s. Attractions include a restored tram and replica bus rides, an authentic town street, a colliery village, a trip down the mine, an old-fashioned sweet shop, a working farm, steam locomotives and much more. From here we make our way back to the hotel.

DAY THREE – Barnard Castle and Raby Castle

Today we make for Barnard Castle. In this little town you can see where Dickens immortalised ‘Dothboys Hall’, take a look at Cromwell’s refuge, browse around the antique shops or visit the castle itself, high above the Tees.

This afternoon we visit Raby Castle one of the finest Medieval Castles to remain in Britain and the resident home of the Vane family since 1626. Raby has recently undergone a redevelopment termed The Rising with a key feature being a fabulous new walled garden.

DAY FOUR – Auckland Castle and The Auckland Project

After a leisurely breakfast, we make the short journey to Auckland Castle. This proud home of the Bishops of Durham stands as one of the best-preserved Bishops’ Palaces in Europe. Over the last decade, the site has undertaken major renovation work to bring the castle back to its former splendour.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore the castle with staterooms designed to tell the history and story of the Bishops that lived here. Outside in the grounds, there is a 17th-century walled garden to explore.

This afternoon we have included an all-access ticket to The Auckland Project’s other attractions in the town centre. You are free at leisure to explore. The Mining Art Gallery provides a truly unique insight into the lives and souls of this area’s coal miners. The Spanish Art Gallery is linked to Auckland Castle’s heritage as home to Francisco de Zurbarán’s series of Spanish paintings for over 250 years. The Faith Museum looks to contemplate the ideas, implications, and impact of faith in Britain.

DAY FIVE – Departure

After breakfast we leave our hotel and make our journey home with comfort stops en route.

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

• Luxury coach travel

• Home pick-up

• 4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

• Porterage on arrival and departure

• Tea/ coffee and biscuits on arrival

• Auckland Castle including Faith Museum

• Raby castle

• Beamish.

REDWORTH HALL HOTEL, DURHAM

The Redworth Hall Hotel, Durham, is surrounded by landscaped gardens and woodland. It is a stunning Jacobean House offering a traditional atmosphere with a modern twist. Features include restaurant, bar, lounge, and leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool, gym, spa pool, steam room and solarium. All bedrooms are en-suite and have television, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel has a lift.