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BEST RATED DURHAM, UK PLACES TO VISIT

3 Best Places To Visit in Durham, UK

Expert-recommended Top 3 Places To Visit in Durham, UK. All of our places to visit actually undergo a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes local reviews, history, business standards, ratings, satisfaction, trust, price and their trading excellence. You deserve only the best!

Durham University Botanic Garden
Durham University Botanic Garden
Durham University Botanic Garden
Durham places to visit Durham University Botanic Garden video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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DURHAM UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDEN

(5.0 Score)
Hollingside Lane, South Road, Durham DH1 3TN, UK Directions

Since 1988

Speciality:

✓ Botanic Garden ✓ Exhibitions ✓ Landscaped Area ✓ Landscapes ✓ Events and Activities ✓ Flowers ✓ Plants ✓ Trees ✓ School and Teaching Programs ✓ Art In The Garden ✓ Carboniferous Garden ✓ Glasshouses ✓ Magnesian Limestone Flora ✓ Visitor Centre ✓ Tropical Bugs and Insects

“Durham University Botanic Garden is an amazing place in Durham, with guests of all ages visiting throughout the year. This 10-hectare botanic garden is set amongst beautiful mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham city. The garden welcomes 80,000 visitors annually to the gardens and glasshouses. Durham University Botanic Garden has a variety of exotic plants, with collections from Chile in South America, China and Japan in the Far East, South Africa, and New Zealand. Free parking is available at the Visitor Centre car park seven days a week. Additionally, on midweek days, Howland's Farm car park is also offered for free, and on weekends and bank holidays, the Maths and Computer Sciences car park is also open for free parking. Important notes to the customers that upon arrival at the Visitor Centre, you are required to provide your registration number to the staff to confirm eligibility for free parking in all of these car parks.

2025 Update: Durham University Botanic Garden is home to an arboretum, an Alpine garden and a bamboo grove.”

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Price:

DAILY ADMISSION CHARGES
Adult £5.00
Concessions £4.50
Children Free
RHS Members Free
SEASON TICKETS
Adult £20.00
Concessions £15.00
GROUP RATES
Per person £4.25

Contact:

01913 342887

SUMMER (March to October):
Mon-Sun: 10am - 4:30pm
WINTER (November to February):
Mon-Sun: 10:30am - 4pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Crook Hall Gardens
Crook Hall Gardens
Crook Hall Gardens
Durham places to visit Crook Hall Gardens video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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CROOK HALL GARDENS

(4.9 Score)
Frankland Lane, Sidegate, Durham DH1 5SZ, UK Directions

Since 1983

Speciality:

✓ Gardens ✓ Manor House ✓ Picturesque English-style Garden and Medieval Hall

“Crook Hall Gardens is a stone’s throw from Durham’s World Heritage Site. The hall garden is a grade I listed Crook Hall is considered one of the city’s most significant medieval domestic buildings. Crook Hall Gardens dates back to the 14th century, and it has changed over the years, revealing who lived here and some famous faces who visited. The oldest part of Crook Hall was built by Peter del Croke in the first half of the 14th century. Crook Hall Gardens likely replaced an earlier building. Visitors can discover a maze, a secret walled garden, an orchard, a wildlife-rich moat pool, tranquil seating areas, and views of Durham city and cathedral. The Garden Gate Café (free entry) offers seating indoors and on an outdoor terrace. Dogs on a short lead are welcome in the gardens and café.

2025 Update: Crook Hall Gardens provide access for wheelchair users.”

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Price:

WITH GIFT AID
Adult (18+) £10.50
Child (5–17) £5.30
Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children) £26.20
Family (1 Adult + up to 3 Children) £15.70
WITHOUT GIFT AID
Adult (18+) £9.50
Child (5–17) £4.75
Family (2 Adults + up to 3 Children) £23.75
Family (1 Adult + up to 3 Children) £14.25
Group Adult (18+) £9.03
Group Child (5–17) £4.51

Contact:

0191 383 1832

Mon-Sun: 10am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Oriental Museum
Oriental Museum
Oriental Museum
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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ORIENTAL MUSEUM

(4.8 Score)
Elvet Hill, Durham DH1 3TH, UK Directions

Since 1960

Speciality:

✓ Displays ✓ Group Visits ✓ Durham Archaeology Explorers ✓ Little Dragons ✓ Museum ✓ Events ✓ Exhibitions ✓ North East Ancient Egypt Society ✓ Lectures ✓ Workshops ✓ Egypt Mummies ✓ India Collections

“Oriental Museum has a collection of more than 23,500 Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Egyptian, and Asian artefacts suitable for adults, children, and educational purposes. The Oriental Museum is the only museum in the North of England entirely dedicated to art and archaeology. The Council of Museums, Libraries, and Archives has designated the Chinese and Egyptian collections of the museum as significant. Oriental Museum plays a major role in working with museums and universities throughout Asia on various international projects at Durham University. Additionally, the museum holds 10,000 Chinese artefacts and 500 Korean artefacts for its visitors to explore.

2025 Update: Oriental Museum had collections of China, Egypt and Sudan, Himalayas and Central Asia, Japan, Korea, South Asia and more.”

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Contact:

0191 334 5691

Tue,Thu & Fri: 11am - 4pm
Wed: 10am - 5pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm - 4pm
Mon: Closed

TBR® Inspection Report:

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DURHAM UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDEN REVIEWS

A university botanical gardens with many different areas that focus on different climates, some in green houses and some outside. Cheap entry ticket prices. We took a wheelchair and had some difficulties doing all the walking trails due to the steep paths (Durham is hilly) especially beyond the fungi arch which is not good for wheelchairs. The café served tasty cream tea and cakes and had friendly staff. Great place to let your children round around.

What a hidden gem. From arriving the staff were really friendly and helpful. We didn't have the nicest weather but that didn't dampen our spirits. The garden is immaculate, great for any ages. We wandered for around 2 hours. If the weather had been nicer or warmer we would have stayed much longer. There's plenty seating dotted around to enjoy the sights.

Great place to visit, walking distance from Durham centre. Plenty of space for families, woodland walks, and nooks and crannies to explore, with interesting sculptures and art. The café is great, outdoor seating with a water feature, and an indoor section, should weather turn inclement.

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CROOK HALL GARDENS REVIEWS

Stunning gardens, a joy to behold. Give yourself at least two hours to look around as there’s lots to see and plenty of seats in the best viewpoints. I could happily spend a whole day in the gardens. There’s a maze to explore to which would be fun for little ones. Staff were lovely to. I can’t comment on tea rooms as got so distracted in the beauty of this immaculately presented and yet still wonderful natural landscape I forgot the time and sailed towards closing time. There is parking right outside which is paid but free to National Trust members as is the entry. Its is a charming place and one of the nicest gardens I have ever seen.

Great hidden gem near the centre of Durham. Beautiful gardens with a maze to navigate. Tea room at the entrance. Plenty places to have your own picnic around the site. National trust charges apply unless your member ! Car park on site too ( free for members).

It has a wonderful nature and the views are magnificent. It will be much more beautiful if you go during the season when the flowers are blooming. The staff at the door were very kind and helpful. There are playgrounds for children. It has a nice cafe. Toilets are clean and useful. Parking is free for national trust members. It is not too expensive for other visitors.

ORIENTAL MUSEUM REVIEWS

Superb museum, well worth a visit. Excellent collections of Oriental, Egyptian, Middle Eastern and Indian art and artefacts. They are the best and most representative collections of any UK museum except the British Museum, IMHO. The displays are well laid out, with just the right amount of information. There is comfortable seating, to rest or to contemplate your favourite piece. The staff are helpful and friendly. It's free to enter, too.

Wow! What a hidden gem. The Oriental museum based at Durham University is FREE ENTRY, but donations welcome. The size of the museum for thousands of artifacts you think you would find in a city museum. The artifacts are from thd neopolic to modern day from Egypt, China, Japan, India East & Far East Asia; all in their own sections and explaining well on each and the history of that time. I really enjoyed, so much I'm planning on going again. Just so much information. Disabled friendly on multiple disabilities! Has a lift for all 4 floors. The museum is very child friendly from colouring in, dress up & crafts. There are toilets sells coffee & a shop. There is a small car park which us free parking and 2 disabled bays.

Interesting and authentic place to visit, a lot of very old exhibits and modern exhibits with a twist that are based on history and culture. Opportunities to dress in the clothing of the exhibits and interactive activities too. Large print guide to the museum was available which I think was a very nice touch. Gift shop is lovely and very reasonably priced, also this place is FREE entry so a little donation in the box is well deserved.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

DURHAM UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDEN Total Inspection Points: 119/120
Reviews Study: 9
Acknowledgements: 10
Business Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Current Evaluation: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Reviews Accuracy of 1.5K: 10
Website Source: 10
Website Standard: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

CROOK HALL GARDENS Total Inspection Points: 118/120
Acknowledgements: 9
Current Evaluation: 9
Business Hours: 10
Business Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Reviews Accuracy of 2.6K: 10
Website Source: 10
Website Standard: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

ORIENTAL MUSEUM Total Inspection Points: 116/120
Complete Info: 8
Business Hours: 9
Reviews Study: 9
Business Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Current Evaluation: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Reviews Accuracy of 1.1K: 10
Website Source: 10
Website Standard: 10
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