Durham

Located in the north east of England, this widely diverse region has so much to offer groups with opportunities to discover fascinating heritage at award-winning attractions, explore breath-taking scenery with an array of natural wonders and enjoy a host of world-class exhibitions, festivals and events. Durham City is a majestic city with every bit of a timeless quality to it which you will want to explore to the full.

The winding cobbled streets and prominent peninsula of this English University City are crowned by one of the most recognisable landmarks in the UK, the majestic Durham Cathedral. Together with adjacent Durham Castle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dominates the skyline and is one of the most stunning city panoramas in Europe, and is also now home to Open Treasure, the Cathedral's world-class exhibition experience.

Watch the world go by in one of the city centre cafés, before you shop for gourmet treats, locally produced food or original crafts in an array of shops and markets. A wealth of cafés, artisan workshops, boutiques, galleries and living museums that radiate with industrial heritage all add to the allure.

Just metres away from the city centre, a walk along the river banks around the Durham peninsula is nothing short of a special experience, or think about seeing the city from on the water by hopping aboard a river cruise.

But Durham is not just about its great city. From the rolling landscape in the north and west to the rich agricultural lands in the south, the Vale of Durham is a diverse destination with bustling towns, exciting activities and enthralling attractions.

The market town Bishop Auckland boats 2,000 years of heritage and is also home to Auckland Castle, once the palace of Durham's Prince Bishops for almost 900 years. Now home to the night show Kynren - an epic tale of England which plays throughout the summer, the town is set for major developments over the next few years, with a new welcome building at the castle, a new Museum extension, an institute of Spanish art and culture, and the redevelopment of the 17th Century Walled Garden.

There is chance to experience what life was like in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times at Beamish - The Living Museum of the North.