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Guided Walking Tour of Durham & its Infamous Characters: Discover a City Steeped in History
5.0
105 Ratings
County Durham
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:
1 day
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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 Piper, who had a nightclub named after him.
- Old Elvet - Home to the stunning Hotel Indigo and Prison Green, where convicts were executed in Durham, the historic street of Old Elvet is where travellers will hear about Britain’s first (and most notorious) female serial killer.
- Durham Castle - Part of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham’s impressive Norman castle is now home to students, but also allegedly to two mysterious ghosts…
- Durham Cathedral - Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site landmark is located opposite the castle. The Cathedral IS Durham’s skyline and your guide will tell you about one peculiar saint, who is buried there, and had a college named after him.
- Prebends Bridge - With a view once painted by none other than William Turner himself, Prebends Bridge leads the travellers to an inconspicuous object, which might have inspired a certain C.S. Lewis one cold winter…
- River Wear - Along the banks of the River Wear, a famous local legend was spun, involving a knight, a dragon, a witch and a curse. Here travellers can enjoy one of the postcard views of Durham Cathedral and the Old Corn Mill by the Riverside.
- Framwellgate Bridge - Leading up to Silver Street, your guide will tell the story of Durham’s own Dick Whittington and his shiny fortune. Just mind the seagulls!
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 unforgettable tales. The tour ensures that everyone from explorers, scholars and natives will unearth something unprecedented about Durham, all while taking in magnificent vistas of the cathedral and the timeless city center. Designed to be accommodating, the tour is suitable for families and maintains a completely accessible route. Your tour leader is a passionate local inhabitant, a graduate of Durham University, and a connoisseur in everything pertaining to Durham’s history and current affairs.
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 wearing a beige coat, 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
(105 Ratings)
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Philg801
Jun 6, 2024
Great Storyteller - Will was a great storyteller, it was just the right length of time for Durham, and superb value for money. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Di_b
Jun 3, 2024
Excellent tour not to be missed. - Excellent tour. Tom is a wonderful guide who brings the characters to life with his expert knowledge and storytelling. We saw parts of Durham we would not have visited and learned a lot about the history of the city. This tour is full of interest from beginning to end. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Lucy_s
Jun 2, 2024
Great tour of Durham with a great guy - Tom was excellent, really knowledgeable and humorous. We had a great time and learned loads about Durham and its historical characters. We would highly recommend this to anyone.
Review provided by Viator
Roger_t
May 30, 2024
Good experience - All good, very knowledgable guide and amusing, not too many on the tour which made all the more enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
G4470mzsharonw
May 29, 2024
Extremely interested and entertaining tour of Durham - The guided tour was very interesting and you got to see parts of Durham that you wouldn't normally walk pass. Tom was such a nice person and extreming passions about the infamous chartacters we learnt about on the walk. I would recommend anybody who is visiting Durham to book a tour with Tom.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nick_m
May 24, 2024
Fantastic tour in the pouring rain! - Despite being a terrible wet day, our guide was brilliant, told some good stories and took us to places we would have missed.
Review provided by Viator
Kay_a
May 23, 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, thankyou Tom 🙂 - Tom was a very animated guide, we loved the passion of his storytelling about the characters he brought to life.
Review provided by Viator
Notties
May 22, 2024
The wettest day in Durham! - Even though it was pouring the entire time, Tom made it fun and interesting and went out of his way to make it an awesome experience. A fabulous guide with a genuine passion for his city. Informative and entertaining. Thoroughly recommend it. Cheers Tom.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maggie_f
May 22, 2024
Wonderful tour, great guide, highly recommend - My mom and I were only in the city for a day while visiting from the US and booked this tour as a way to get to know some more about the area. Tom was a really wonderful and knowledgable tour guide who took us on a very nice tour around the peninsula while telling us very entertaining stories about the history of the city. I highly recommend going on this tour, it is a great way to get to know more about the area and spend a couple hours, especially if your time in the city is more limited.
Review provided by Viator
Sharonenpatrick
May 21, 2024
6star walking tour in Durham: JUST DO IT! - Go with Tom as a guide on a walking tour in Durham, guaranteed you will get information, drama and fun. Tom is BY FAR the best guide I ever encountered in my many travels around the globe. His way of presenting the information to his guest(s) is not only informative and pleasant, but true drama and captivating from very beginning until the very end. A great guy with fantastic knowledge, interactive, dramatic and good sense of humor, and just a very pleasant person.
I can only use superlatives about him and his tour, running the risk of becoming untrustworthy. My advice: JUST DO IT!
Review provided by Tripadvisor