Annual highlights include the St Cuthbert’s Day procession in March, World Heritage celebrations in the Spring, Durham University Congregations and the Durham Miners’ Gala in July, Heritage Open Days in September and the Lumiere Festival in November (every two years).  

Please check before you visit.  If you are organising an event, please tell us about it.

Twilight Talk: Discoveries from the Art Collection auditing project

Join the Durham University art team as they take you on a journey through the audit project highlights. The team will share successes, the not-so-great, and explore future collecting for the Art Collection, which includes work by some of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries and specialises in print-based media. This talk will open a discussion on legacy and how you can be involved in the art collections future.

Free and all welcome, please book through Eventbrite or by calling Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932. 

This talk is part of the Thursday Twilight Openings at Palace Green Library. Find out more about the museums and the collections from across Durham University, including Archive and Special Collections, Art Collection, Cosin's Library, Durham Castle Museum, Museum of Archaeology and Oriental Museum.  

World Heritage Visitor Centre and the Museum of Archaeology are also open until 7pm during the Twilight Openings. 

Castle Guided Tours

Due to the residential nature of the Castle, entrance is via guided tour only. Tours have limited spaces. The tour times shown are a general guide as it is sometimes necessary to cancel tours at short notice due to student and commercial activities.

Check tour times online

Durham Castle is a working building and tours maybe cancelled last minute so check with Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932 or the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre on 0191 334 3805, or by email castle.tours@durham.ac.uk.

Please note that the Castle is closed for fresher's week at the beginning of October, congregation in the middle of January and at the end of June and the festive season from late December till early January each year.

At the Cathedral

Every day there are at least three services at the Cathedral, as well as a full programme of concerts and recitals. Full details of regular service times and special events can be found on the Cathedral's website.

Please note that there is limited public access to the Cathedral during Congregation.

There is a range of Public tours available

Other Venues...

These World Heritage Site venues frequently host events:

You are in: Home » Explore » Events Diary