Durham Monks Miners and Castle secrets
5
( 6 reviews )
$6.99




Explore Durham on a short self-guided walk through cobbled riverside paths, a commanding Norman cathedral, and a city shaped by faith, learning, and centuries of northern history.
Highlights
Trace how one saint's wandering coffin gave birth to an entire city and still rests beneath the cathedral today
Learn why Durham's bishops could mint coins, raise armies, and rule independently of the English crown for eight centuries
Walk the riverside loop that the BBC named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Northern England
Hear the story of the first person ever to escape the Tower of London, hidden inside a barrel of wine
Discover how Durham's coal miners built a welfare state from pennies and created the world's largest trade union gathering
Preview Stop
About this activity
Free Cancellation
Cancel up to 2 hours in advance for a full refund
Valid 365 days
Tour is valid for 1 year and can be used multiple times
Language Options
English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Dutch | Polish | Russian | Portuguese
Duration
1 hour and 30 minutes
Itinerary
8 Millennium Pl
The Journey Sculpture – Stand before the wooden figures bent under a coffin that sparked an entire city into existence.
Durham Market Place
The Market Tavern – Step into the birthplace of a movement that outlived the very industry it was built to protect.
27 Market Pl
The Market Place – Spot the hidden clay animals scattered above the square where severed heads once hung on poles.
Durham Town Hall
Durham Town Hall – Meet the three-foot-three celebrity who charmed European royalty and won a grave inside the cathedral.
Durham Cathedral
This tour begins at the entrance of Durham Cathedral, where you'll discover its remarkable history and architectural journey. You'll then explore the knockers on the portals, uncovering the stories they depict. As you step inside, the tour guides you through the cathedral’s awe-inspiring stained glass windows, sacred relics, and the tombs of influential bishops—each with its own story and significance. You’ll learn why these figures were laid to rest here and how they shaped the city’s past. The tour concludes at the very place it began: the humble entrance. In total you will go through 25+ stops on this tour.
Statue of Neptune
Statues of Neptune and the Soldier – Trace a granite timeline born from a ten-year-old boy's letter to the local newspaper.
Durham Riverside Walk
The Riverside Walk – Follow the river gorge where a shepherd boy's vision set off a chain that shaped northern England for centuries.
Framwellgate Bridge
Framwellgate Bridge – Cross the bridge built by a man who escaped the Tower of London hidden inside a barrel of wine.
South Bailey
The Bailey – Walk one of England's finest medieval streets, once held by soldiers whose rent was paid in loyalty.
Palace Green
Palace Green – Weigh the power of bishops who minted coins, raised armies, and answered to no king.
Silver Street
Silver Street – Search for the plaque marking where a raven dropped a gold coin at the feet of a penniless boy.
12 S Bailey
The Watergate and City Walls – Pass beneath the medieval gate that helped a castle stay unconquered for nearly a thousand years.
Durham Castle
Durham Castle – Enter the oldest inhabited university building in the world, haunted by a student who misread a notice board.
Shakespeare Tavern
Saddler Street and Shakespeare Tavern – Hear why Durham's most haunted pub still rattles a sewing machine no one has touched.
Prebends Bridge
Prebends Bridge – Pause where a saint's coffin suddenly refused to move — and a lost cow showed the monks where to go.
Top Reviews
Lennox
Amazing way to explore Durham
29 May 2026
Marley
Essential guide
23 September 2025
Kathlyn
Guided tour Durham Cathedral
22 August 2025
Full Description
Important Information
Instructions with link to app and how to access the tour will be sent to your email post checkout
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