Recently Viewed
Durham Dark History Tour: Hauntings and Tragic Tales
5.0
28 Ratings
County Durham
Delve into the darker side of Durham’s past as we discover the gruesome, shocking and tragic tales of our city’s rich history.
From the medieval prisons, castle and cathedral to the city’s historic pubs, we explore the hauntings, crimes, deadly battles and saintly miracles that add mystery and character to our beautiful little city.
Delve into the darker side of Durham’s past as we discover the gruesome, shocking and tragic tales of our city’s rich history.
From the medieval prisons, castle and cathedral to the city’s historic pubs, we explore the hauntings, crimes, deadly battles and saintly miracles that add mystery and character to our beautiful little city.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Durham Market Place - Explore the intriguing social history of Durham, from its coal mining roots to its hidden cemeteries.
- Framwellgate Bridge - Discover stories of escaped prisoners and Prince Bishops during the harsh early Norman era.
-
Durham Cathedral - Uncover saintly miracles and the tales of the dungeon beneath the cathedral.
-…
- Durham Market Place - Explore the intriguing social history of Durham, from its coal mining roots to its hidden cemeteries.
- Framwellgate Bridge - Discover stories of escaped prisoners and Prince Bishops during the harsh early Norman era.
- Durham Cathedral - Uncover saintly miracles and the tales of the dungeon beneath the cathedral.
- Palace Green Library - Listen to ghost stories from the castle, medieval burial grounds, deadly rebellions, and modern miracles, all while enjoying stunning views of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the castle and cathedral.
- Kingsgate Footbridge - Delve into the gruesome story behind this site’s namesake while appreciating some controversial 20th-century architecture.
- Durham - The 200-year-old prison in Durham has housed some of England’s most notorious criminals. Discover how prisoners exercised, escaped, and faced execution.
- The Dun Cow - As the city’s oldest pub, it’s the ideal spot for locals to enjoy a day out and witness a hanging from the gallows.
- Elvet Bridge - The tour concludes beneath Elvet Bridge, where you can hear the tragic tales of some of the city’s former residents, some of whom are still believed to linger today.
What's Included
- Provide City center recommendations.
- Provide City center recommendations.
Location
Market place
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(28 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Chantel_d
Mar 4, 2026
Great tour - The guide was very knowledgeable and the history of Durham was amazing.
Very enjoyable, definitely recommend
Review provided by Viator
Sarahen534vq
Mar 3, 2026
Interesing and suitable for all ages - The Dark Durham Tour was really interesting and Peter was entertaining. A great tour - we are local to Durham and we learned lots of things we'd never heard before. Saw Durham in a new light! My 11 and 13 year old enjoyed it to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elviet2026
Jan 27, 2026
Great tour - Lovely walk around Durham with some interesting history. Not too ghoulish which I was pleased about! Atmospheric in the dark and mild drizzle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P5264aqtracyg
Dec 6, 2025
Great evening guided walkabout Durham - Me and my sisters (after meeting up for a family reunion) joined this tour on a Friday night - meeting Peter in the Market Place where our tour started. There were two couples joining us.
We really enjoyed walking around Durham and listening to stories and facts - many of which I had never heard before ( grew up in Durham City! ) The walking pace was great - one of us is not keen on walking too fast! it was a cold evening (luckily dry) so we walked and stopped but didn’t get too cold. Peter lead us around a great picturesque route full of information - with a gentle manner and humour- thank you so much 😊 The tour took about an hour and a half. Excellent value for the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Monax2019
Nov 18, 2025
Great tour and great guide(guy) 😄 - Peter is very experienced and the tour is also well structured. I was in town for work and this tour was perfect for me. Not only I’ve learned some “dark” side of Durham history but also some fun stuff. Highly recommended for anyone. Bring a torch for this time of the year will help as it gets quite dark in certain places.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aaron_p
Nov 5, 2025
The guide took us on a... - The guide took us on a tour around the city, stopping at historical points of interest. The tour also featured various tales throughout the city's history and some ghost stories. The guide was local so knew a lot of the history and was really entertaining
Review provided by Viator
Bxboo
Oct 15, 2025
Great tour, very informative - Really enjoyed the dark tour. Peter was a great guide. Learned a lots about Durham’s history that I never knew despite living in the area as a student.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Splitpin19
Oct 15, 2025
Interesting and informative - Lived near Durham all our lives and found the guided tour around the city centre very interesting and informative. Guide very knowledgeable bringing to life the history of this beautiful city of which we’re very proud of . We will definitely be revisiting some of the areas on the tour to explore further.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynn
Sep 9, 2025
Dark tour of Durham is a must! - The guide, was absolutely fantastic. He was very engaging, answered all our questions with great knowledge and humour.I have less mobility and use a walking aide, and he checked in with me often. His background in geography was an added bonus. This is an absolute must when in Durham.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellecp3207ma
Feb 28, 2026
Dark Durham - Excellent tour. Lots of interesting facts. Lots of history. Don't like the Scot's!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
