Durham



Durham is a compact city yet offers a wide range of facilities. A wide range of shops and restaurants co-exist happily with the Victorian Market. Much of Durham’s shopping area is closed to traffic, making for a more relaxed atmosphere. Take time to sit in the cobbled Market Place and enjoy some of the street entertainment, particularly during July and August. The monthly Farmers’ Market is a welcome new addition to the events calendar. Here you will find fresh local specialities to take back home. In the Spring and Summer, stunning floral displays adorn the City for which Durham regularly wins prizes. Yet within minutes, it is possible to escape the bustle of this thriving market town by taking one of the many paths that lead down to the riverbanks. Watch the river for rowers from one of the university teams, or take the ‘Prince Bishop’ river cruiser for a gentle trip along the river with stunning views. The Racecourse backs on to the River Wear and is a favourite area for walks. Horse races have not been held here since the 19th century, however the country’s top athletics cross-country event is now a regular fixture here and attracts the best runners in the world. For over a century the Miners’ Gala has taken place here on the second Saturday in July. Despite the closure of all pits in County Durham, ex-miners, their families and friends still gather to hear speeches, socialise and attend a special service in the Cathedral. Colliery bands lead processions and banners are proudly paraded through the streets. The stretch of river by the Racecourse is well known for the annual Durham Regatta which is held in June. The regatta was founded in its present form in 1834, making it the second oldest in the country, even older than Henley. The Regatta has grown enormously in recent years, attracting over 600 crews from all over the world. Work has started on a major new development in the City centre: The Durham Millennium City Project. By 2002, the city will boast: a new multi-purpose hall for concerts, drama and conferences - The Gala Theatre, a Visitor Centre showing a film about the history of Durham as well as a new Tourist Information Centre and craft workshops. A further development, Walkergate, next to the Millennium City project, will add further leisure facilities: a multiplex cinema; health and fitness club; family entertainment centre, as well as cafés, bars and restaurants. Dozens of regional attractions are easily reached from Durham, making it an ideal touring base. The largest open-air museum in England is to be found at Beamish where you can see life as it was at the beginning of the last century. Fine art treasures can be seen at the John and Josephine Bowes Museum, a French-style chateau in Barnard Castle. Combine funfairs and shopping, all undercover, at Metroland, the biggest indoor theme park in Europe and the MetroCentre, a huge shopping centre. Both are in Gateshead, half an hour by car from Durham. Look out for the Angel of the North above the motorway - a huge welded structure which has become a symbol of the region.

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