Discover Durham’s incredible developments

11th February 2019

If you think you know Durham as a group travel destination, think again, as a host of exciting new attractions, events and anniversaries make the county an unmissable group travel destination for 2019 and beyond.

#Durham19 is the county’s designated Year of Culture, with Lumiere - the UK’s largest light festival returning for its 10th anniversary edition in November, the ICC Cricket World Cup in Summer with three matches hosted at The Riverside ground, the incredible Auckland Castle reopening to the public and a programme of exhibitions commemorating the 100-year centenary of the birth of renowned mining artist Norman Cornish – just some of the unmissable additions to the county’s group travel offer.

In the historic market town of Bishop Auckland in the Vale of Durham, the transformation continues. In addition to The Auckland Project’s newly opened Mining Art Gallery and 29 metre Auckland Tower viewing platform and information centre, Auckland Castle, the 900-year-old former home of the Prince Bishops of Durham and one of the best preserved medieval bishops’ palaces in Europe, will once again welcome visitors in 2019. Further developments will also see the opening of a Spanish Gallery, Faith Museum, Walled Gardens and restaurant.

Some of the county’s most iconic attractions also have exciting new experiences for groups. Durham Cathedral Central Tower will reopen in Spring following conservation works to preserve it for future generations. And at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North the £18million Remaking Beamish scheme continues, creating a range of new ways for people to experience the heritage of the North East, and 2019 will see the opening of the 1950’s Welfare Hall - the first exhibit to open in the new 1950s Town.

The truly unique experience for groups, Kynren - An Epic Tale of England, listed as one of the top five performances in England by TripAdvisor, returns in 2019 with Year of the Viking, a brand new pre show guest experience that will complement the live action open-air journey through 2,000 years of history, myth and legend. The Viking Village will immerse visitors in the sounds and sights of everyday Viking life with an Animal Croft and Viking Blacksmiths.

For groups who enjoy a spot of retail therapy, Dalton Park, the biggest outlet shopping centre in the North East has undergone multi-million pound investment in recent years, providing shoppers with a unique retail experience, with 60 shops selling over 200 different brands and designer labels, including new additions Lindt and The Cosmetics Company. And for a festive shopping experience, the award-winning Durham City Traditional Christmas Festival has Christmas all wrapped up for groups, with three days of festive fun across the city from 29 November - 1 December 2019.

With so much happening in 2019 and beyond, plan your group visit today.