Whether you are religious or not, Durham Cathedral has something for you. Beautiful architecture, movie history (some of Harry Potter was filmed here), medieval carvings etc. it’s lovely to see and brilliant that it is being restored and maintained so well. I visited during December 2021 as part of the Durham Lumiere and it was wonderfully lit up on the outside. My visit this week was to refresh myself on the beauty of the inside and it did not disappoint. I didn’t indulge in the cafe but there were plenty of seats and tables that were nicely already out and the prices seemed reasonable. You can take guided tours and visit the tower too. There are numerous staff/guides to help and inform you but if anything, there are so many at times I felt a bit watched! This filters into a criticism. The Cathedrals admission is free but you are encouraged to donate (they recommend £5). There are numerous payment points but the one I didn’t like was the desk where they took payment, and people weren’t able to donate or students with no money seemed to cringe past through the barrier system trying not to make eye contact! Having already donated cash into one of the boxes early on my visit, I had to wait my turn behind a queue of tourists making donations and kind of edge past them. I really think this could be made less intimidating for visitors.

Wonderful cathedral located in the centre of the city on high ground. The tower is magnificent and the 300+ steps to the top rewards you with superb views of the city and surrounding area. Also the Hidden Treasures museum is well worth a visit.

Very impressive building. Coffee shop, gift shop. Free to walk around inside just made a donation. You can also book to go up the towers for a small fee, maybe next time I visit I'd like to give that a go

We visited Durham for the day. We climbed the cathedral Tower & took some beautiful photos. The weather was amazing, giving us stunning views. We had a lovely scone, jam & cream at a little cafe called Cafe Dal, just down from the cathedral. Very friendly owner, it is obviously popular as people were queuing, but it's worth the wait. All the cakes are homemade 😋.

Worth visiting place. Magnificent well preserved cathedral. Once Was a shoot spot for several movies ( including few parts of Harry Potter ). Also there are few interesting old graves in front of the cathedral. Entry is Free but donations is advisable ( to support maintenance), also you can get some tour on payment basement.

Very beautiful views at night during the lights festival. The cathedral is really very ancient and historical with lot of engraved structures and carvings on the stone building walls. It is a fine example of ancient architecture and the creative calibre of the old artists. It should be preserved by the local authorities at all cost as it represents the history of Durham. Standing on the hilltop with excellent views from the riverside, it is one of the most beautiful monuments of the northeast. It is very near to the Durham city centre and car parking can be found at the Prince Bishop's car park.

A must see for everyone, no matter their proclivity to religion. The architecture is amazing and fortunately this is still being looked after and the upkeep is ongoing and specialist skills are being retained. The volunteers are very welcoming and were very knowledgeable when asked questions. The roof top visit is a must for those not acrophobic. The views are incredible but the stairs will be a challenge for some.

Lots of history here. If you book a tour, you get a lot of information. There is also a museum linked to the cathedral. Nice to walk around the site. Harry Potter 1 & 2 were filmed here too. Harry Potter tours can be booked.

We did the roof top tour and it was great - really interesting. Not sure how one gets to do this as a member of the public though, ours was specially arranged. On a clear day the views are amazing from the roof, and the tower visits are open to anyone who can manage the climb! (And Harry Potter movie fans will spot several familiar locations in the cloisters and chapter house.)

Great place to visit. Great architecture. Its free although they try their best to get a £5 per person donation out of you! Well worth an hour wandering around taking it all in.

A glorious space with a fascinating history. Extremely helpful volunteers to answer questions and guide your visit. The 300+ steps up to the roof of the central tower are well worth climbing!

A lovely Cathedral to visit, amazing art work and artifacts. A £5 donation gesture. But, be mindful that it's extra to go into the Tower and art gallery which will set you back £7.50 for each entrance. Overall a lovely few hours spent and the cafe was nice, too. My wife enjoyed the walnut and coffee cake. Would recommend it if in the area.

This was our second visit to this stunning Cathedral. It's so beautiful and lots and lots to see. It's been used in some movies too. There's a cafe (can get very busy) and toilets. It was very busy the day we visited as it was Easter Weekend but it wasn't overwhelming and it didn't spoil our visit. I'm limiting my photo posts so as not to spoil it for anyone.

Phenomenal. Breathtaking. Spiritual. Spectacular. So much to see. The cathedral is free to enter however donations are voluntary (they help so if you can please do). Wheelchair friendly. On the grounds of the cathedral is a car park for blue badge holders only. There is public bathrooms. Old surrounding buildings including library, museum and Castle (£5 entrance for tour one every 30min). The cathedral hosts daily services as well as evening prayer. The cathedral is at the top of the hill. It is a fair incline. Lovely walk up to the church passing Lovely shops, restaurants and coffee shops along the way. Great place for all ages. Phenomenal history. Can spend anywhere for 30min to a few hours here.

Lovely Cathedral it was quiet when we walked round but it was New Year's Eve and Durham itself isn't busy. I'm guessing that's down to fears of omicron. Well worth the suggested donation.

Amazing pieces of history and to just walk around this whole place is just mesmerizing, getting to see all the artifacts and knowing a few movies where filmed here make it that much more special. Really enjoyed the time here with the family and exploring.

Simply amazing and spectacular on all fronts. From stunning architecture that makes you think how on earth they built the cathedral, to stunning stained glass windows and Harry Potter staring cloisters. You have to find to time to visit.

Beautiful Cathedral, inside and out with fascinating history. The cathedral has many volunteer local historians who, when available can provide fascinating insights into history of the Cathedral and its construction. Cafe is good and toilet facilities well maintained.

Its a beautiful cathedral. No ticket fee but one can donate if you like so. The structure itself is 1000+ years old and find many tombs inside the cathedral. One of the most spectacular thing and must see is the musical organ. Also movies like harry potter, snow white and the huntsman & endgame took locations from the cathedral.

Beautiful and splendid cathedral. Durham cathedral is full of history, and was built in the 11th century. It’s the most typical Norman cathedral in England. The space inside the cathedral is large, and there is a huge model of the earth hanging in the middle of the cathedral. It also includes a courtyard surrounded by corridors and was used as a filming place for the Harry Potter movies.

Durham is an amazing cathedral. Easily one of the most impressive in the country. We paid to climb the tower. It was £7.50 each and well worth it. We'll be visiting again

Great to visit. Museum well worth the £7.50 p/p. Lots of interesting things to see. Look for the stone mason marks on the limestone bricks.

What a beautiful place to visit. So much to see in the Cathedral. Amazing architecture, carved wood everywhere I looked. Please if you visit don't forget to look up. The bats had been distributed by the storm a few days earlier and they were flying around the cloisters I couldn't believe how many people hadn't noticed them. There are on this video.

Captivated by this building and it's history. So grateful I knew so little about it before my visit. I was totally unprepared for the impact it would have on me. You have to go to this place, it is an unmissable building if you are are resident or visitor to the uk. Thanks to all the wonderful, friendly and enthusiastic guides, particularly the young man by the huge doors who explained so much about the building's use and architecture, and monasteries in general. Entry is free but please leave a healthy donation if you can. Please note that if you want to visit the castle that it is a university and as such has specific times for guided tours. Although don't let that stop you going to the cathedral if you can't make the castle opening times!

Amazing place to visit. No charge for entry but there is a suggested donation. You can also book on to go to the top of the main tower. Massive cathedral, full of history with so much to see inside.

We only had time for a flying visit today but made sure that we got up to Durham Cathedral. As a building it is very striking, standing above much of the city; inside the stonework is so beautiful and the stained glass is breathtaking. Whilst you are exploring the surrounding ding areas see if you can find the medieval pilgrims route upto the Cathedral as we did. It is marked, but you’ll have to look closely! See the photos for a clue.

This place is absolutely stunning and so magical. It really is a must-see for any Potterhead as Philosophers Stone and Chamber Of Secrets were filmed here in parts. It was also used in Avengers End Game. There are no words to describe how beautiful the exquisite architecture is, and there is plenty to explore. The walk-up to the Cathedral is very steep, but there is a bus from the City Centre that drops you right outside. The staff are all volunteers who are incredibly friendly and welcoming and full of stories about the many features inside the building. There is a lovely cafe and shop inside which is well worth a visit too 😀 It is free to visit but donations are welcomed and you have the opportunity to purchase a candle to light for £1. You can film inside the building but no flash photography.

One of the most beloved and monumental cathedrals in all of England. As an American I am constantly in awe of the sheer variety of immense and majestic buildings here that exist in the United Kingdom. Yet even in that tradition, Durham cathedral is quite special, particularly because of the combination of Gothic and romanesc architectural styles. Heavy and solemn arches inside the nave contrast with soaring vaulted ceilings that represent some of the first experimentations with what would become the early Gothic style. Even if you are not an architectural obsessive or a person who finds serenity in being relieved from the myopia of routine through absorbed into the mystical vastness represented by ancient cathedrals, I still greatly recommend coming here. The museum is unpretentious and quite informative, depicting the lives of the monks who lived here before the Reformation, and I also highly recommend the elegantly serene cloisters that are striking enough that movies like Harry Potter were filmed here.

Being my first time at a cathedral, this experience certainly sets a high standard for future cathedral visits. The details in the sculpting and crafting of this edifice is magnificent. Spent about 4hrs touring this venue and just couldn't get enough. I'd say go there for yourself and find out how fascinating this cathedral is- so much history too!

Lovely Cathedral with a great history of Church of England. Lovely organ. The service was excellent with great memories of Anglican Communion. Proudly Anglican

Truly beautiful and absolutely worth a visit. I was not aware that the Venerable Bede was buried there (as well as St Cuthbert). I will definitely come back for another visit.

A marvellous historical place hold the history of 1000-2000 years ago. Wonderful architectural design. Graves of people from history nearly 2000 years ago infront of cathedral . Historical place must visit. Peaceful quit and clam . Secure

Nice castle set in a bend in the river at the heart of Durham. Sadly most of the castle is student residences so only part of the castle can be viewed and only on the official tour. It was still worth the money for the parts you do see and the informative guide.

It was free entry for the day when we visited, our first time. We had our two grandsons with us, one of whom is studying history and the other likes history too. The guides in each room were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and informative. A fascinating visit.

It brings Harry Potter back in memory, good place to spend time. While going the castle bit of walk is needed in case not using Cab but otherwise fine. Pleasure to visit this place during my visit to Durham

Guided tour is only option but was informative. Book ahead as they have limited numbers. Looks bigger than it is but worth seeing. Interesting to see a castle used for modern day purposes I.e uni accommodation and dining hall.

You can visit with guide there. This castle is really beautiful.

Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been fully occupied since 1840 by University College, Durham. It is open to the general public, but only through guided tours, since it is working as a work building and houses more than 300 students. The castle sits on top of a hill above the River Wear on the Durham Peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral. The feeling of being in a historic place and at the same time full of life was fantastic.

It’s a wonderful historical well looked after site… it’s worth a visit. You pay a 5 pound tour with a tour guide… ours was a Masters student who was truly very knowledgable and was able to answer all my questions…the tour was so interesting! Go for it! It’s worth a visit

booked the castle tour easily from the visitor centre, the tour guide was really informative on the history of how the castle was formed and reformed by various other people 👍🏻 felt like a very interesting history lesson through the times, seeing how different parts were added to the castle for its different purpose over time definitely worth putting on your visit list ✅

What a great visit, very interesting castle and such good value (£5 per adult ticket)! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and it's got a lot of interesting history. Recommend visiting, just a heads up though you need to buy a ticket as it's only visitable through a tour as it's lived in by the students!

Fantastic tour. The guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. Tour takes about an hour and costs £10 well worth it!

We had a 45 minute guided tour of the castle which is part of the University. The castle is 950 years old. It has been added to over time. It was a gun informative guided walk on a well used castle. We really enjoyed it.

The cathedral is the main attraction, but if you have time, I recommend taking a tour of this stately mediaeval castle. It is a picturesque structure on a hilltop, seeming to stare across the lush green wilds that surround Durham. I recommend arriving here in the morning before the swarms of crowds, which do not practically impair the capacity to visit the castle but do diminish its picturesque qualities. There is something secret and solitary about this castle, this relic of a vanished world, that greatly benefits from being seen in relative isolation. Even if you do not have the opportunity or the inclination to take a full tour through this Castle, which is the only way it can be seen from the inside, I highly recommend walking around Durham in the early morning and looking at the form of the castle on the hill looming with grandeur and majesty over the city.

Great tour, very interesting and informative. Lovely castle

castle tour will cost you 5 pounds for an hour. Don’t need to prebook. you can choose a slot and then book your tour in front of the castle entrance.Please bring student ID to get discount.

The castle is worth to visit, but noted that not all rooms are available for public visitors, because this castle is used as student accommodation, so only guided tour provided. There are 6 zones to visit, including the entry gate, several chapels and the great hall. The student guide was really friendly and patient, shared many knowledge about the history of castle. Strongly recommend to visit when the weather is good.

It's on a guided tour basis but still £5 is the entry free for such a beautiful castle with a guide tour which lasts for 45mins and gets your access to some parts of the castle :)

I wasn’t expecting the castle to be owned/managed by the University and couldn’t understand why all the websites linked back to the university but that explains it! I had a guided tour by Katy who was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. She explained the rooms, the university use of the halls etc very well. The castle was unlike most castles I’ve visited previously. Less about armour and keeping villagers safe, more about the reformation and uni students. What a gorgeous place to have as your halls! Definitely book tickets days in advance. I only had the choice of one tour (at 16.15) on the day of my booking. About 25 people per tour.

We had booked a guided tour of the castle which lasts around an hour. You get enough time to explore the castle and take pictures. I found it fascinating that the castle is also a student accommodation. The tour guide was very friendly and had good knowledge about the castle. The guided tour costs £5 (you can ask for student discount).

I was staying in Durham and whist there I could not miss paying a visit here. It is my first visit and one I will no doubt return back to at different times of the year. The gardens are beautiful... lots of different areas/rooms with plenty to see in each including a walled garden, a maze, orchard, pools with many seating areas to admire the views. It is a little gem of a place and well worth a visit.

Lovely site I was so glad to have come across. 10-15 minutes or less walk from Durham centre city. We got there near closing time but I would have easily spent hours here! Absolutely beautiful gardens and so glad that I can access it with the National Trust. Beautiful place for a venue also, and kid-friendly areas.

Our first ever visit . Recently acquired by the National Trust. The spring buds were just starting to emerge in the gardens, with lots of daffodils about. A pleasant walk around the various gardens with a view of the cathedral. We'll be back again to experience it in full bloom. The medieval hall is a beautiful piece of architecture and info boards give lots of history on the site. The on site cafe had a good selection of food and the coffee was great. Well recommended.

Delightful place the gardens were small themed and all followed into one another. Weddings are held there and i can see why because there are so many places for photo shoots. We were here in feb but there were still many plants flowering . The white and silver garden was full of snowdrops. I really liked that every part of the gardens had benches or seats so you could sit and enjoy the plants. The resident cat came round with us. The teashop is worth a visit even when the gardens are closed. Reasonably priced we had tea and cake but they also do breakfasts and lunches and lightbites. Would love to come back later in the year for a different take on the garden.

Free parking for national trust members. Cafe with delicious cafe , snacks, cakes, Friendly staff. Beautiful views from garden to the Durham cathedral. Lots of fruits, vegetables and plant's to show kids. Lovely paths with colourful plants, trees and shrubs, few small fountains😁 Definitely worth the money!!

I loved Crook Hall when Maggie and Keith had it, exploring the house as well as the gardens, and enjoying a relax in the lounge, with the fire blazing and reading the letters to the White Lady ghost. Obviously, I was gutted when it closed, but was super excited to see the National Trust had taken it on. Visited today and was a little disappointed that they still charged £8 entry, but you can no longer look around the house, apart from the medieval hall and there are no plans to restore the house to be more representative of it's era, and open to the public, but instead turn it into a holiday let. Such a shame that a once public place will be limited. Though I know the National Trust does lots of great work I still felt £8 was a little too steep an entry fee, versus what you now get at Crook Hall. I think £6 would have been more fair, but that's just my opinion and I was informed the money goes towards an ongoing green corridor project, which sounds a good project. Must have caught the cafe on a low stock day, due to the coronation, as cake selection was unappealing, compared to before. Cookies, brownies and flapjack. No nice sliced big cakes. 😕 Ended up going elsewhere for cake and coffee. The lady working the reception was really friendly and informative though, as I'd expect of a National Trust place. The gardens were lovely and colourful, as I'd expected.

First time visiting Crook Hall with my National Trust Membership. On entry there’s a large car park, which is free for National Trust members. £3 for 3 hrs non members. The gardens are absolutely stunning and at this time (end of may), there is so much in Bloom. Beautiful mixture of ancient woodland, huge old trees, wildflowers and cultivated plants and flowers - all wonderfully maintained. Several gardeners on site keeping it all in check. There are kids areas, duck pond, vegetable garden (which was sadly closed today), the old medieval hall and a cafe. There are plenty of outdoor seats dotted all around the gardens and amble space for picnicking. All in all a lovely few hours spent. Pray for decent weather as it’s all outdoors!

2023 The entrance fee to non members is £10 per adult. Whilst the attraction is classed as hall and gardens, it is the gardens that are the main attraction. They are, even on a damp August day, very beautiful and well maintained. The Hall itself is mainly not open to the public, with only the mediaeval hall and minstrel gallery along with a servants corridor and one other room being accessible to visitors. The second hand book shop is in this additional room. The books are priced and you pay on the way out at the ticket office. Due to the steepness and uneven nature of many of the paths this attraction is not suitable for people with mobility problems. Dogs on leads are welcomed, there is an additional field in which dogs are allowed off lead.

A lovely little find on our visit to Durham. A short walk from the city centre over the river and you find this little haven. The Medieval Hall is small and doesn't take long to explore and the gardens aren't huge but enough for tired legs that have been walking the city and Cathedral all day. There's a little cafe and a fun maze to lose the kids in 😁

We bought a yearly family pass so no entry fees... car park on a Sunday is £1.40 all day so great place to visit. On a sunny day like today was great walking around... so so many different gardens with so great variety of flowers bushes and tress. I'm not into gardening but it's lovely to see how a space is transformed with hard work. 2 coffee shops to enjoy tea and cakes and also light bites. Definitely worth visiting if you are around that area. Every so often there are themes that you can enjoy and take part, the first time we went there were fairytail stories and treasure hunts etc, this time just had an art exhibition. Great place to visit and enjoy with your family.

13th of July 2022. The day when National Trust opened the Garden for public and Durham appeared on National Trust map! This medieval building added another reason to visit Durham. At the moment the house itself is still closed but you can visit the medieval hall. Not much but still quite interesting building. To me the garden is a real pearl! There is a couple of sections of this lovely garden. We have orchard full of apple trees, pond surrounded by trees, water plants and beautiful views of meadows and fields. Section with vegetables, berries and edibles is really well kept and impressive! Fantastic features everywhere not omitting this part of the garden. Small and bigger ornaments and statues are keeping you in "look for" mode. Great abundance of plants everywhere so no room for any single weed! Lovely planned paths with all shapes of benches here and there gives additional reason to stroll and soak in atmosphere and calmness of the place. The cathedral view is not something extraordinary but still nice as the best place for it is designed as kind of rock plants carpet. I love it! Coffee and cake available in the spotless café and fantastic staff members ready to help is a cherry on top!

Beautiful gardens that includes a maze. Great place for children. Hall itself is just 2 rooms. There's free parking if you're a member of National Trust, a cafe and toliets.

We spent any enjoyable morning here, starting with Coffee/Cake inside the Cafe and finishing off with Toasted Sandwiches/Cold Drinks for Lunch outside the Cafe - both of which were enjoyable. They loose one star because we asked at the Kiosk for a map but the only one he had was his, no other copies available! It may not be huge as gardens go but it is quite convoluted and unless you peer around every corner and through every gate, you will miss something. Please print more copies. There are some slopes involved but nothing too difficult. Def one for those who like “cottage style” gardens. Only really the old Medieval Hall available to look in but still worth reading the info they have displayed. N.T. have done well since taking it over in 2022 but could do with a bit better signage.

Gardens were beautiful all the spring bulbs are out, only small but well worth a visit. cafe was good, had gluten free sausage roll. Staff very friendly

Newly bought by national trust, house not yet open but established large gardens are a hidden gem in the heart of the city. The walled gardens are not to be missed. Good national trust coffee shop and free parking for members.

Beautiful gardens, looked after, mostly, by volunteers. Even at this late stage in the year, there was plenty of colour and a wide variety of plants. We had a warm welcome in the cafe, good coffee and I can recommend the cheese scones. It's a hidden gem in a busy city.

Wonderful collection of small themed gardens centred around a medieval and Jacobite house. The cathedral and castle are World Heritage sites but this is a gem not to be missed, just a ten minute walk from the Framwellgate Bridge. A good clean cafe and bookshop on site too.

Great place to explore with children on a dry and/or sunny day. Lovely gardens. Small buildings to explore. Cafe and plenty of toilets. Lovely bookshop and plenty of places to sit and read. We took our time and left after an hour. Not big, but beautiful.

Interesting grounds and a nice location. Visited here on a Friday morning and enjoyed a lovely walk around the gardens, complete with pretty spring beds, calm ponds, interesting vegetable plots and a wandering cat. The hedge maze is a fun addition but a few too many flies in early spring. The cafe was of a high standard, clean and friendly. The location was very convenient, being able to couple the visit with a quick trip into the town centre within the three hour parking window.

Loved it! What a great day out, huge play area outside and another inside in the cafe, loads of animals to feed, sinks dotted everywhere to wash your hands. We took our 3yo niece and she loved it bottle fed the lambs, held chicks and a rabbit. Everything was clean and tidy, very busy but it was during the school holidays staff running about all over and all of them where friendly. Plenty of toilets about and the gift shop is fab reasonably priced as was the cafe. Highly recommend!

It a lovely day out for all the family. Lots of animals to see and to feed. I got to feed the Highland cows which was amazing!! Plenty of place for the kids to play the play park is really good.

Who doesn't love a farm! Fantastic family day out! The kids can have cuddles with Rabbits, Guinea pigs and chick's as well as feeding goats, sheep and Llamas. There are shows as well as tractor rides. Great way to support your local farmers.

First, I want to say thank you to all staff, you are doing a great job so that our children can get to know nature better. This is a great place for family, you can spend all day here. There are many playgrounds and most importantly, very cute animals. We will definitely go back there again and again.

An absolutely amazing place! So much to see and do! Set in beautiful countryside. The staff are fabulous and so friendly. There is so much to do and the sheep grand national is such a hoot! The children always love it and we have been a good few times now. The food is great. The crazy golf is crazy and the tractor rides are fab. Charlie the Highland cow was a huge hit. You must go and highly, highly recommended!

Amazing day out with my boyfriend. 🚜🐄🌾 not just for kids. My fave bit had to be seeing the hairy Coos

We spent 4 hours here, we had so much fun. I ended up buying 10 food bags because I know what the greedy goats and sheep are like. My son and I held a guinea pig and a bunny too, I think I went mostly for me more than my 8 year old son 😅

Took our granddaughters aged 3 and 8 FANTASTIC place. Clean, friendly, so much to do and definitely not out to rip you off like many places. Never been to a better family place. Only regret is we live too far away to go regularly. We had been on holiday and wanted something to do on the last day before 3 hour drive home. Will definitely return at some point. Huge thank you to all their staff for an amazing day

Just can’t thank Farmer Richard and all the workers on the farm including the ticket office/ shop crew, petting area crew, tractor ride crew, cafe crew, and the lady who hosted the lamb feeding, every aspect of this farm was superb, members of staff were engaged and friendly. Food was good quality, fresh and well presented at reasonable prices, Facilities were among the best I’ve seen with sanitisation stations all around with staff and notices to remind to wash hands. Toilet facilities were in excellent condition and very clean. Being able to stop over after hours in the motorhome in the car park allowed us to also walk with the cattle in the big field. Superb attraction Dave and Rosie x

Received the adoption pack for a highland cow as a gift so we made a trip up from Birmingham to visit. We were told at reception that the cows weren’t available to visit as they were out in the fields during winter, however when we told them we travelled 4 hours, they made arrangements straight away with no issues at all. Richard took us out in their car into the fields where all the highland cows were so we had a very special, unique and personal experiences with just us and the cows, a sheep and even 2 donkeys 😁. We got to feed them and spend a good amount of time out there. Once in a lifetime and very special! I’ve wanted to be close to highland cows for years, so stroking them and feeding them without barriers was beyond expectations. Thank you Richard and Rachel for organising!

I've been following Hall Hill Farm on Facebook for a while and since being in the area thought I'd go visit. Absolutely amazing! I loved every minute! Tickets are a Good price, Cafe prices are Good too and the food was really good. There was so much to so, including a free Tractor ride and obviously my favourite part was seeing the Highlands in person. They are incredibly beautiful. Would definitely recommend and whenever we are in the area, we will be visiting time and time again.

There are plenty of things to do at Hall Hill Farm, my children had a fantastic day. My children loved all of it, but they especially enjoyed petting guinea pigs and rabbits. There are many animals to feed and they organise sheep racing through out the day. My daughter also enjoyed the barrel ride which was £1.50 per ride. It’s a really well run farm and the staff were all excellent. I will be recommending HHF to friends and family if they are ever near.

Superb place for all ages. We sat for a good couple of hours while my granddaughter played in the park. The Highland coos were amazing 🥰 our favourites, especially Cheeky Charlie 😍. The handling sections are fab, chicks, rabbits and Guinea pigs 😊Staff could not have been any more pleasant and helpful. Will definitely be going again 👍👍👍👍👍

To Chris and Wendy, We had a great stay in your lovely apartment, which was of a very high standard, and was was really comfortable and cosy. The facilities were superb, and our first breakfast being provided was a lovely surprise. Thank you, Alison and Duncan.

Kingsgate Bridge View apartment is a great place to stay, overlooking the river and a couple of minutes walk into old Durham. Large and very well appointed apartment with excellent facilities and secure parking. Highly recommended.

Can’t be faulted in any way. Great location for city; beautiful apartment with terrace overlooking the river. Personal welcome and lovely extra touches make this a top class place to stay.

Highly recommended - we had a lovely stay in apartment no 5. The apartment is fitted out to the highest specification with everything we wanted and more, including secure parking and all very close to the centre of Durham. Chris and Wendy, the Hosts, have thought of everything, including many personal touches to ensure our stay was first class. We stop in similar accommodation around the UK on a regular basis and standards vary drastically, often falling short on some of the very basic requirements, despite the cost and rating. Riverside has proved to be the best, and all the little extras make such a difference. Thank you

These apartments are the ultimate. More expensive than some but the quality and where they are situated is out of this world. Words cannot describe the ambiance. The owners go way beyond what is expected of hosts.

Located just a few minutes from the town centre so great for visiting the cathedral and castle. Fantastic apartment & superb river views. Very considerate and friendly owners. Will definitely be returning.

What a fabulous apartment! Perfect location, beautifully decorated, spacious and airy, we couldn't have wanted for a better place to stay for our wedding. Highly recommend!

The apartment will very well equiped, the host met us to show us around and explain how everything worked including giving a rundown of places to eat. We were very comfortable and will return staying in the apartment. We would recommend it to anyone, great location and excellent value for money

My partner and I stayed at the Durham Riverside apartments for 4 nights. Wendy and Chris were amazing and very helpful and responsive hosts. The apartment was beautifully presented to a high standard with everything we needed. It had a balcony that overlooked the river, which was a fabulous place to sit and watch the rowers and the ducks. We very much recommend this accommodation and our hosts.

Lovely spacious apartment, centrally located with secure parking. It is equipped with all you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Chris and Wendy have added a thoughtful touch with the welcome pack provided. This was our first visit to Durham and we would have extended our stay if both apartments weren't already booked. We will certainly recommend and hope to return in the not too distant future.

Excellent apartment for a short stay in Durham. Perfect location on the riverside just a short stroll to the main sights and many restaurants and pubs. Amazingly tasteful and comprehensive decor and equipment made it the best short stay we’ve had - in many places over many years. Double glazing ensures quiet nights. The kitchen and the bathrooms are delightful and the beds are very comfortable. Highly recommended.

Absolutely first class - accommodation, parking, facilities, cleanliness, location and a very helpful host. Perfect in every way! We’d have rebooked immediately for the gala in July but unfortunately there was no availability.

Excellent location for the city center, easy to find with parking included. The accommodation is spotlessly clean with every modern facility. The view of the river from the apartment and balcony would be hard to beat. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to stay around Durham.

Lovely place to wander through , a bit uphill in places but also lots of seats to rest on! There's plenty to see and they offer puzzle sheets / hunts for children to do. Cafe and gift shop with nice seating area both indoors and outside.

What a hidden gem. From arriving the staff were really friendly and helpful. We didn't have the nicest weather but that didn't dampen our spirits. The garden is immaculate, great for any ages. We wandered for around 2 hours. If the weather had been nicer or warmer we would have stayed much longer. There's plenty seating dotted around to enjoy the sights.

Stunning, didn't complete the whole forty gardens. Plenty of benches to sit and reflex the scenery. Can't wait to go back in a couple of months for flowers to come out. Ideal for picnic, little cafe which sells tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes.

Gorgeous collection of plants and trees, easy walking trails, very well laid out. You find a map at every corner, so you can’t get lost. At £4 per person, this is fantastic value. Family friendly walking, fresh air and educational. Parking, cafe and lots of outdoor seating options.

Beautiful gardens to visit. The staff were lovely and friendly, there's easy access too, we paid for an annual ticket as we'd love to keep popping back as the seasons change. Everything is so well looked after. Well worth the visit.

I visited the gardens one wet and windy afternoon, taking someone I am carer for. We had difficulty in accessing the entrance because someone we work with gave us the wrong postcode (for the park and ride car park behind the gardens). The entrance to the gardens there was closed but on pressing the intercom, someone let us in. We went to the pay desk which I'd also the cafe and the staff there were lovely. The weather was awful so we enjoyed tea and teacakes first. Nice little cafe area with plenty of seating. The staff were very kind to the young girl we had took who has additional needs. The gardens themselves will be lovely in Warner weather and there is plenty to see. Sculptures, bamboo groves, tropical greenhouse etc. We will be back.

It's been a long time since we've been here. But from the lovely daffs by the entrance and the trees all around it was a lovely, spring walk. Sights, sounds and smells fresh and calming. Tulips starting to come out, blossoms fading and still to come, primroses and much more to enjoy. The white of the silver birch bark was eerily beautiful. Birds singing. A great time.

Beautiful any time of the year! A gorgeous place for a stroll and watching the wildlife. Also wonderful for small children, lots of places to hide and have wholesome fun in. The cafe is lovely, soup and a roll on a cold day is gorgeous, as is a sandwich on the veranda in the sunshine! One of my favourite places.

Smashingly place to visit. Great gardens to wander through. Lots of interesting parts such as the indoor bits with fish and cacti. Very reasonably priced too. And a canny little cafe too.

Annual chick hunt is one of the highlights of our year! It's a lovely walk, loads to see and the cafe is gorgeous. Staff are also always super pleasant and friendly.

Only had time for a short vist this Saturday 23/3 but really enjoyed the clever arrangements of flowers ( mainly tulips and daffodils ) and the marvellous cacti in the hot house. I didn't expect to find many staff on duty today so had to guess which examples of great horticultural work had been created by my friend Claire Pragnell. She proudly told me that she had dedicated more than 20 years' service to the Gardens and that she was the only person flying the flag for females ! Well done Claire ! ..... Was it really necessary however for you to donate some of your work boots for one of the displays ?!! ..... ( see enclosed photos). Best wishes ELLIS COXON.

This is such a fantastic place to visit with all the family. The staff were all very helpful on arrival we were given a map of the gardens and also informed about all the facilities on site. There is something for everyone and the children will love exploring the gardens, following the trails. There is so much to see and it’s really very good value price wise. There is a nice cafe and plenty of seating areas around the gardens great place for a picnic or just if you need a rest you can sit and take in the beautiful surroundings.

Absolutely amazing walk around this beautiful place! Plus enjoyed a lovely lunch at the cafe. Will definitely be returning

A university botanical gardens with many different areas that focus on different climates, some in green houses and some outside. Cheap entry ticket prices. We took a wheelchair and had some difficulties doing all the walking trails due to the steep paths (Durham is hilly) especially beyond the fungi arch which is not good for wheelchairs. The café served tasty cream tea and cakes and had friendly staff. Great place to let your children round around.

Lovely place for a peaceful walk. First daffodils are out 😍🌺 June Update: it's magical here with all the flowers out. If you can, come and have a walk. There is a lovely cafe serving light lunch and great cakes plus ice creams. You can get an annual membership to Friends of the Garden and come anytime you want. Love it here.