What should I do in Durham?

[User57713]

2 days in Durham, just me. I'm staying centrally. I have absolutely no plans. What should i do?

I think I'd like some nice coffee shops, nice clothes shops, independent bookshops maybe?

Not so bothered about tourist attractions but I will probably walk round the cathedral.

All suggestions welcome.

Thank you

If you can travel locally I'd go to the beach. Seaham is a few miles away and has loads of lovely coffee shops, the marina and there's an artists network gallery with art from local people.

Durham city is gorgeous as well, quite small but lots of character. There's a lively walk along the riverside and the castle as well as the cathedral.

Durham is great!

Botanic gardens
Walk along the riverside
See the castle and cathedral
Pint at the Victoria Inn
Lunch at Zen
Champagne at Ebony Champagne Bar
Visit Crook Hall if you have National Trust membership

Also Houghall Woods is beautiful for a walk this time of year - just outside the city centre

See if you can get a bus from Newcastle to go and look at the Angel of the North at close quarters. Google maps suggests one runs every 15 minutes.

I've heard Seaham is lovely but I won't have a car so I'm not sure how easy it is to get there by bus.

And we do have NT membership, can I walk to Crook Hall?

Vennels coffee shop, it's tucked away down a vennel off Saddler Street.
It's a lovely city but really tiny, I went to uni there and recently went back to visit and was shocked at how much smaller it was than I remembered! You should be fine to walk to Crook Hall, it's not far out of the city centre.

Yes Crook Hall is just a short walk along the river from the city centre (5-10 mins max) - worth a visit. Botanic Gardens also nice for a wander.

There's a new independent bookshop called Collected on the Riverwalk, as well as Waterstones.

Lots of restaurants to choose from (I would add the Rabbit Hole to the list - it serves dim sum / Asian and has great cocktails. It's a nice spot if you are eating alone).