Guided Walking Tour of Durham & its Infamous Characters: Discover a City Steeped in History

Join our guided walking tour of Durham and uncover the fascinating stories of its infamous characters. From Narnia to mining, dragons to saints, and even a serial killer, this tour is a captivating journey through the city’s rich history.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Durham Market Place - At the heart of Durham’s historic old town, your guide will tell the story of Lord Londonderry, whose statue dominates the scenery, and Durham’s mining heritage.
  • Elvet Bridge - Situated on the winding River Wear, above the former dungeons of Durham, Elvet Bridge sets the scene for the story of Jimmy Allen, the People’s…
What's Included
  • Local history and folklore expertise
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This excursion offers much more than a simple journey around Durham. It delves deeply into the narratives interwoven with its residents and their histories. From connections to the magical realm of Narnia to its traditions rooted in mining, from tales elicited by dragons and saints to accounts of a serial murderer, Durham offers a treasure trove of…

Location
Gala Theatre & Cinema
Millennium Place
Coming from Market Place, cross the bridge towards the Gala Theatre, then turn left onto Millennium Place and you will see your guide, usually equipped with an umbrella , and always with a backpack, standing by the statue of pilgrims carrying St Cuthbert's coffin, in front of Clayport Library.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(238 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Tom_h
Oct 26, 2025
Durham Dun Right - The guide Tom was fun, knowledgeable and engaging. A fun tour of Durham, learning about this ancient city.
Review provided by Viator
Danielfrancisco_p
Oct 25, 2025
I will never see Durham the same way - I came all the way from London just to hear the story about the man on the horse, and it was absolutely worth it! The tour went beyond my expectations, full of fascinating stories, and delivered with passion. Every stop brought history to life in such a way that kept me captivated. I’ll definitely be recommending this to friends visiting Durham. I will never see this city the same way again! And by the way, I got the magnet! Thanks a lot… also, chips, gravy, and cheese didn’t look very appetizing at first, but I loved every bite. I’ll definitely be recommending this tour to my friends.
Review provided by Viator
Steve_t
Oct 20, 2025
Well worth doing. A must do activity - Excellent guided tour. Tom was very knowledgeable and it was an informative tour. He really brought the city to life with his humour and dramatic approach to storytelling. The 90mins flew by. Would highly recommend. The tour is too cheap in our opinion for what you get and so we gave more in a tip!
Review provided by Viator
Janetsmith95
Oct 17, 2025
Excellent - An excellent walking tour led by Tom. Lots of fascinating information delivered in an amusing and engaging way. I would recommend it as a bit more than the usual ' and on the left is the cathedral'.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allison_d
Oct 2, 2025
Amazing tour ! - This tour was so good .Tom was extremely knowledgeable and made everything so interesting and fun .You can see he has a real passion about history . It's definitely one to book if you're in Durham .One of the best tours I've ever had .
Review provided by Viator
Kaye_b
Sep 30, 2025
👌 👏 NOT To Be Missed 👌 👏 - Incredible tour guide, passionate, animated and engaging throughout., The tour was both full of details and humour. Although he hadn't packed a brolly (so we would know who he was), and had forgotten his reward stickers, all is forgiven as we had such a great time !! I would recommend 100% and would definitely book again as apparently he has another 3 hours of interesting information. For reference he looks like Kieth Lemon so you'll know who he is, and please give him our love - he was brilliantly entertaining!
Review provided by Viator
Z8556rfpeterm
Sep 24, 2025
History walking Tour - A very informative historical tour. Well worth a walk with Tom he certainly new the History and Character of Durham. Tom interacts with his groups with warmth and humour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard
Sep 22, 2025
Great tour of Durham - Myself and my son went on this tour today, absolutely brilliant, highly recommend. Great knowledge and covered much of Durham centre at an easy pace. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kaz_z
Sep 22, 2025
3 Cows and Mustard!! - Our guide Tom was brilliant, giving us lots of information and love the way he tells the stories of the infamous characters of durham. He also draws the group together to join in with some Q&A as we meander through different parts of the city. The walk is a definite must do if visiting Durham
Review provided by Viator
Jbellard4
Sep 18, 2025
Clever, entertaining , fun! - Great guide. Good mix of entertainment and info. Good price. 90 minutes is the right amount of time. Felt I learned a lot about Durham!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $13
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).