County Durham
5 day holiday - Monday 28th September 2026
Highlights...
- The Bowes Museum
- Beamish Museum
- Auckland Palace
County Durham is a ceremonial county in north-east England, bordering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, North Yorkshire and Cumbria, with a coastline along the North Sea. Crowned by a sweeping loop of the River Wear, Durham is one of England's most historically significant cities, with roots stretching back to 995AD. Rising proudly above its winding cobbled streets are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, the first in England to receive this prestigious inscription. The. commanding Norman fortress and soaring Romanesque cathedral, set side by side on a dramatic sandstone peninsula, together form one of the most breathtaking cityscapes in all of Europe. A short journey south-west, known as ‘the gateway to the Durham Dales’, Bishop Auckland is a lively market town with a thriving arts and cultural offering. It is home to the multimillion-pound refurbished Auckland Castle, now renamed Auckland Palace, an impressively preserved Bishops’ Palace. Wrapped around this magnificent gothic castle are the River Wear and a stunning 150-acre Deer Park, complete with the Bishop's Fishponds, Stone Pyramid and Ice House among its many fascinating features. The Spanish Gallery is also housed within the grounds, a spectacular showcase of 17th-century Spanish art and culture. A stone's throw away is the Faith Museum, which cleverly charts faith through the ages in a striking contemporary space. Together, these one-of-a-kind collections offer a unique opportunity to experience world-class museums and galleries within easy reach of one another. Further afield, the world-renowned Beamish Museum brings the story of North East England vividly to life, while the Bowes Museum houses a collection of European fine art that rivals any in the country. All highlights can be explored within our bespoke Cultural Breaks itinerary with fellow members of the group, and early-autumn is the perfect time to discover the region at its finest.
Harwick Hall Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★
Stay at the award-winning Hardwick Hall Hotel, a 4-star retreat in Stockton-on-Tees. Enjoying glorious views across Hardwick Country Park and its tranquil lake, the hotel combines the charm of a vintage country mansion with modern comforts throughout. All bedrooms feature king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms with a walk-in shower, phone, flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi, safe, hairdryer, plus tea and coffee making facilities. The hotel offers lift access between floors. Each evening, dinner is table service in the hotel restaurant, with a three-course seasonal menu, and two glasses of house wine or soft drink included. Mornings begin with a continental or freshly cooked Full English Breakfast, setting you up perfectly for the day ahead.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Monday 28th September
Your holiday begins with a door-to-door car transfer to the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, where your Tour Manager will welcome you with tea, coffee and pastries whilst the group assembles. Once everyone has arrived, we board our coach and head north, breaking the journey half way with lunch at the characterful Ye Olde Bell in Barnby Moor, a 17th-century coaching inn. On arrival at our hotel, your Tour Manager will oversee check-in and luggage porterage, leaving you free to settle in and unwind before our first evening meal.
Day 2 – Tuesday 29th September
Start the day at the magnificent Bowes Museum, located in the town of Barnard Castle. Built in the style of a French château and opened in 1892, this extraordinary institution was the life's work of John and Joséphine Bowes, who amassed a world-class collection of over 58,000 objects including masterworks by Goya, El Greco and Canaletto. We begin with a guided tour before sitting down for lunch in the museum restaurant. The undisputed highlight is the famous Silver Swan, an 18th-century clockwork automaton of extraordinary craftsmanship, which performs its mesmerising 32-second display daily at 2:00pm, catching a silver fish from a shimmering glass stream to the delight of all who watch.
Day 3 – Wednesday 30th September
Today we experience the mighty Auckland Palace, home to the Bishops of Durham for over 900 years and one of the finest episcopal residences in Europe. A fortress of complex masonry from the outside, every detail inside has been enhanced by its recent multimillion-pound refurbishment, revealing a splendid variety of styles dating back to the 12th century, all brought to life during our guided tour. We have the unique opportunity to dine in the atmospheric Old Library before gliding across 6,000 years of British history through the lens of faith at the Faith Museum. Later, we round off the day next door in the Spanish Gallery to admire a breathtaking collection of 17th-century Spanish Golden Age paintings, including works by Velázquez, Zurbarán and El Greco.
Day 4 – Thursday 1st October
Step back in time at 'Beamish: The Living Museum of the North', one of Europe's most celebrated open-air museums. Set across 350 acres of County Durham countryside, Beamish brings to life the story of North East England from the 1820s to the 1950s, with costumed interpreters, working trams, a recreated colliery village and a Georgian farmstead. Please note some areas involve slopes and uneven surfaces; accessible transport is available on site. After a guided tour and lunch, we continue to Durham City to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Durham Cathedral, founded in 1093, and Durham Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1072. Following a guided cathedral tour, enjoy free time in the café with refreshments included, or take a gentle stroll through Durham to browse the local Victorian Market Hall for souvenirs.
Day 5 - Friday 2nd October
Following breakfast, porters collect your luggage and your Tour Manager will oversee check-out, before we board the coach for our journey south. We break at The Bell Inn in the village of Stilton in Cambridgeshire, a 15th-century coaching inn steeped in legend on the historic Great North Road. Dick Turpin, the notorious 18th-century highwayman, is said to have lodged here, and it was under this very roof that Stilton cheese first gained national fame. We enjoy a 2-course lunch with tea or coffee before continuing to the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross, where your Tour Manager will remain on hand until your chauffeur arrives to see you safely home.
Total Price of the Holiday: £1,995 per person
Deposit: £300
Balance due:
30th June 2026
Whats Included:
• Return door to door car service
• Coach travel throughout the holiday
• Four nights at the 4-Star Hardwick Hall Hotel
• 3-course dinner with 2 glasses of wine every night
• Full English or continental breakfast every morning
• Lunch with tea or coffee included every day
• Refreshments at the Crown Plaza Gerrards Cross meeting point
• All Admission/talks/tours at properties visited:
✓ Auckland Palace
✓ Beamish Museum
✓ Durham Cathedral
✓ Faith Museum
✓ Spanish Gallery
✓ The Bowes Museum
• Gratuities
• The services of your Tour Manager throughout your stay
• V.A.T.
The minimum number required for this holiday is 11.
For more information or to book call
020 4568 3377
