Best Hotels in Durham
Durham is compact, but its hills and its river make where you stay matter more than the map suggests. Here is how to choose a base.
The centre and the river
Staying in the centre puts the cathedral, the Market Place and the riverside paths within a few minutes of your door. The hotels nearest the river are the most scenic choice, and the busiest; ask for a room away from the street if you want a quiet night, particularly at weekends in term time.
Staying in the centre puts the cathedral, the Market Place and the riverside paths within a few minutes of your door.
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Near the station
The station sits on high ground west of the centre, on the main line between London, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Staying close to it suits a short trip by train: you can drop your bag and be on the platform the next morning in minutes. The walk into the centre is downhill, which means the walk back is not.
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Somewhere to book a room or a table for the evening, in Durham itself.
The edge of the city
Around the outskirts and in the countryside beyond, there are larger hotels and country houses in their own grounds. They suit a visitor with a car who wants space, parking and a quieter arrival, with the centre a short taxi ride away.
Around the outskirts and in the countryside beyond, there are larger hotels and country houses in their own grounds.
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If you drive
The streets on the peninsula are narrow, parking in the centre is limited, and a daytime road charge applies on the approach to the Market Place and the cathedral. If you are driving, choose a hotel with its own parking and ask about it before you book. The A1(M) runs east of the city and is the main route in from north and south.
The streets on the peninsula are narrow, parking in the centre is limited, and a daytime road charge applies on the approach to the Market Place and the cathedral.
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Arriving and leaving without fuss
Book in your own name, let a friend know the address and check whether reception is staffed late. Graduation weeks, Regatta weekend and big university events fill rooms early, so book well ahead if your dates fall near them. As everywhere on the site, this guide is for adults aged 18 and over.
Book in your own name, let a friend know the address and check whether reception is staffed late.
- Optional identity check, by a person
- Every photograph reviewed before it goes live
- Free to join, free to list
Frequently asked questions
For a short trip by train, near the station is simplest. For a longer stay, or if you want to walk everywhere in the evening, the centre and the riverside are better.
Not especially. The streets are narrow and parking is limited, so a hotel with its own spaces is worth choosing if you are driving.
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