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
(255 Ratings)
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Aziz506
Apr 6, 2026
Engaging and fun tour - We had a good time on this tour with Tom. Was able to learn plenty of stories about Durham history and origination. Tom was a great guide and an engaging storyteller. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested Thank you Tom. Aziz,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nja64
Apr 5, 2026
One of the best city walking tours ever. - We struck lucky with this one. When we met Thomas our guide he told us we were the only two people on the tour. What followed was a really personal, funny, entertaining and very informative tour of the city. Amazing guide, great value and very highly recommended.
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Jamesta4544oe
Mar 28, 2026
Fun and engaging tour - Brilliant tour! Tom is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Tour is very well thought out and informative. Would heavily recommend to anyone, well worth the money :)
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H9855wvmelissah
Mar 14, 2026
Amazing Tour guide! - My teen son and I went on this tour and it was absolutely amazing. We come to the area regularly to visit family so know the area a bit but this tour brought Durham to life with the stories and history. My 13 year old still talks about this tour so thank you. It was so engaging and interesting. The tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable and kept us entertained with stories of Durham and its historic people. The tour guide was so good he should be hosting his own history show on TV!!!
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Th0mas_brand
Feb 20, 2026
A fascinating introduction and look into Durham's storied history - My guide was very informative and insightful. He provided a stellar introduction to the history of Durham and many of the curious inhabitants who've walked its cobbled streets. Absolutely a must do if, like me, you're new not just to Durham but the whole region. I did an evening tour in February so some areas got a little dark but that made it atmospheric for me.
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Jamesparksie
Feb 19, 2026
Family trip to Durham - A really enjoyable and knowledgeable tour of Durham. Great to get to see places we would not have stumbled upon. Great value for money!
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Barbarask5621xs
Feb 1, 2026
Durham - interesting places and characters around every corner - Tom is very knowledgeable about Durham's history and quirky, often infamous, characters. He is great company and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour which is great value for money.
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Sheila
Jan 29, 2026
A great experience - A great walk. Tom was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I would certainly recommend him. He told some lovely stories regarding some great characters.
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Matthiasschilf
Jan 26, 2026
Brings the history of Durham alive! - Tom is fantastic. His knowledge of Durham and its history is encyclopedic and he is extremely engaging and delivers the tour in a friendly and amusing way. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gedfan
Jan 27, 2026
Walk? - Just walk around yourself and save £10. Read up on sights and shops and restaurant before you go. Google is your friend, my friends. 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $15
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).