Durham Castle - Guided Tours

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

• On September 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th we are offering tours of the World Heritage Site as an alternative to castle tours, while the building is closed. For more information and to book tickets please check our main page: Durham Castle Museum and Tours Events - 4 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

• Tour times are released one month at a time - if times for the next month are not available for viewing yet please check at a later date.
• Due to Durham Castle being a college of Durham University we are unable to run tours every day of the year as the building hosts a variety of academic and commercial events. If your selected date in the current month is not available through the calendar, it means tours are not running on that day.
• Starting from Sunday 14th September Durham Castle is closed to visitors every Sunday.

Take a tour around one Durham's most significant historic buildings, designated a World Heritage Site since 1986.

Our knowledgeable and friendly tour guides will take you through the gatehouse and into the heart of the historic building, where you will experience stories and tales from 950 years of living history. Find out about the early days of the Castle, built in the 1070s as a Norman fortress by William the Conqueror, and learn about the powerful Prince-Bishops of Durham, whose seat of power was based for hundreds of years at Durham Castle. Discover how the building became the first college of Durham University and how today it is the home of University College students, who live and learn in Durham Castle.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

• Dates are released for booking one month at a time - if dates are not available yet for your visit please check back at a later date.
• Tours last approx. 45-50 minutes.
• Please collect a lanyard from Palace Green Library (in between the Castle and Cathedral) prior to the tour start time.
• More tickets are available and can be purchased from Palace Green Library, we currently also have other tour times available via desk purchase only. Please contact by telephone on +44 (0)191 334 2932 or email castle.tours@durham.ac.uk to check availability.
• Due to the residential nature of the building entrance is by guided tour only. The following tour times are a general guide as it is sometimes necessary to cancel tours at short notice due to University or commercial activities.

About your visit

• Please arrive on time for your tour - unfortunately we won't be able to accommodate arrivals outside of the chosen tour start time. The time you have booked is the start time of your tour.
• The historic nature and layout of the Castle means that the majority of the building is inaccessible to wheelchair users. The tour route involves many steps and staircases, some of which are uneven. Accessibility within the Castle is limited due to access to areas via steps only. Any visitors with accessibility needs please contact 0191 334 2932 to discuss. For a full access statement to the venue, please visit our FAQs at the bottom of this page.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Please consult our FAQs for more information - if you have any other question not covered on this page, please call us at 0191 334 2932 or email us at castle.tours@duham.ac.uk.