Durham

Durham city has a well-connected railway station for both local and nationwide destinations. Train services are provided by four companies: London North Eastern Railway (LNER), CrossCountry, TransPennine Express and Northern Trains. You can phone the National Rail Enquiry Line for up-to-date information.

Durham, typical of Northeast England, experiences quite a bit of precipitation, particularly from November to February. Spring or late winter are excellent times to visit, offering an alternative to the summer peak temperatures. July is also a great month to explore the city, especially during the Durham Brass Festival. This event features string bands and orchestras performing in open-air concerts, alongside a variety of street carnivals and music workshops for both adults and children.

While the station is on a hill just a 10-minute walk from the city centre, there are regular buses between the two. Durham Cathedral Bus service links the Cathedral, Rail Station, Bus Station, Car and Coach Parks and operates every 20 minutes.

There are few of the famous Black ‘Hackney’ taxis in Durham, but plenty of mini cabs to choose from. There are taxi ranks at the Rail and Bus Stations, outside the Prince Bishops and Gates Shopping Centres, and at Market Place.

Electrical appliances are connected to the UK mains supply using a three-pin plug known as plug type G. The sockets come with on-and-off switches, unlike in many other countries. The average voltage of a UK power socket is 230V or slightly higher, so check the voltage of your device before plugging it in.