We have a completely free day on Saturday 17th August. Sunday 18th August will be a half-free day. There are also some hours of free time every day.
We have not organised an excursion in order for participants to enjoy the freedom to do whatever they fancy, but if help is needed to arrange any group activities please let us know.
Collingwood has football and cricket facilities. If you would like access let the organisers or tutors know.
If you would like us to book anything at the Sports Facility of Durham University that is also possible - please let us know if so.
Some suggestions and ideas for places to visit/see on the day off or during other free time are below, sorted by location.
Many thanks to our tutor Stephen Kay (University of York) for these suggestions, and who is an expert on the area happy to provide more info if you need.
In addition to specific locations, both Durham and Newcastle are nice cities to just go for a wander. Particularly the cathedral hill and marketplace in Durham and Grainger town in Newcastle. For Newcastle, if you would like food/drink recommendations please ask.
Durham (City)
Durham is a relatively small, but very picturesque city. Some quick suggestions below -
- Durham Cathedral - Stunning Norman cathedral with panoramic views from the central tower. Filming location for various major films (including Harry Potter)
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/8qC2XsEQj9h2LnLq5 - Hard to miss!
- Free admission (£5 suggested donation)
- Tower climb (£7.50).
- River Walk
- Multiple routes you could do, but a route following the bend around the back of the cathedral is a must.
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjDgqx7vqL3miYQv6 - Something like this.
- ~1 hour/as long as you want.
- Multiple routes you could do, but a route following the bend around the back of the cathedral is a must.
- Oriental Museum
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/zp65UnyqdWKpHxX16
- Free entry
- University museum with a large collection of Egyptian, Indian, Chinese and Japanese artefacts.
Durham (County)
County Durham has lots of interesting places, but unfortunately many are difficult to reach without a car. Some quick suggestions accessible by bus (~1 hour max) from Durham
- Beamish - Living Museum of the North
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/vA39FYEZ23ptvQpW7
- Recreations of various Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian locations, all connected by tram.
- Definitely a full day activity.
- Accessible by bus (changing in Chester-Le-Street), various options.
- Tanfield Railway
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/4M6cxykyeUXfJ5567
- Open Sundays only
- Restored section of (very old) railway, dating back to some of the very first railways in the UK (and world).
- Accessible by bus (changing in Stanley).
Newcastle
Newcastle has a wide range of museums, galleries and activities. It is easily accessible by train (10-15 minutes), ~£5-10 return without a railcard. Note that the last train back to Durham is earlier than you might think (~22:20 on weekends, ~22:55 on weekdays). A taxi back will be ~£30! There are also direct buses (£2 each way), but these take ~45 minutes to an hour. Some ideas for things to do in Newcastle (all within ~20 minutes walk of the station) below -
- Castle Keep
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/g7iptFV6QSx2iDpq5 - Somehow, the fact that Newcastle has a castle escapes people more often than you’d think.
- £12.50 ticket.
- History of the castle and local area, views across the city/river from the top.
- Discovery Museum
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/mDmNV369EVMcm8ot5
- Free entry.
- Local and maritime history, science exhibits. World’s first steam turbine ship.
- Hancock Museum
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/9t7h6kffaevbw1cY8
- Free entry.
- Huge range of exhibits
- Hadrian’s wall.
- Natural History.
- Ancient Greece.
- Ancient Egypt.
- Laing Art Gallery
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/wPsKrZyjHPJxgvvA9
- Free entry.
- British art, oil and watercolour (18th to 20th century primarily).
- Over summer, the Laing has a Turner exhibit on - https://laingartgallery.org.uk/whats-on/turner-art-industry-and-nostalgia
- Paid entry (£7, £4 concessions/students)
- The Baltic
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/r6FxhKroziRdjnM37
- Modern/contemporary art gallery.
- Free entry, some paid exhibits.
- Exhibits change frequently, check what’s on before visiting.
- It can be very hit or miss… but at least the view from the top is always there to enjoy at least.
- Grainger Market
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/7eSW8Xw9KyXuFJn89
- Victorian covered market
- Lots of food options
- World’s smallest M&S!
- M&S Penny bazaar operating since 1895
- There’s also a huge range of theatre/gig venues. Check what’s on for the day off if interested.
Tyneside
Outside of Newcastle city centre, there’s plenty of other things to consider. Here are things that are easily accessible by Metro (subway/light rail) with the nearest stop noted. A metro day ticket (all zones) is £ 5.90 if you buy a paper ticket, or £5 if you use the Pop PAYG card . Conveniently, that’s actually the minimum top up for a new card, you can get one digitally on Android (sorry, not on Apple). Some ideas -
- The coast (Tynemouth/Cullercoats/Whitley Bay/Monkseaton stations)
- If it’s a nice day, you can get to the beaches of Whitley Bay, Tynemouth or Cullercoats on the Metro. Just get off at the station of the same name.
- The walk from Whitley Bay to Tynemouth (or vice versa) is very nice (weather dependent).
- Also, depending on the tide timings, you could visit St Mary’s lighthouse
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/mRmpvYyuxJzQxj2n8
- Please do not get stranded by the tide!
- Segedunum Roman Fort (Wallsend Metro station)
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCnSYneqWAsuD2NA6
- £6.95 (£4.95 concession) ticket.
- As you might guess from the metro station name, this is the fort at the end of Hadrian’s wall.
- Ruins of the fort and a museum of associated Roman artefacts.
- Jarrow Hall (Jarrow metro station)
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZJY7yqr7fwNqQJq2A
- £8.50 (£5.50 concession) ticket.
- Anglo saxon monastery and farm.
- Focus on the works of the venerable Bede.
- Arbeia Roman Fort (South Shields Metro station)
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/c3H1ifx7fjok3YG99
- Free entry (?).
- Similar to Segedunum, ruins of the roman fort, a recreated gate house. Museum of Roman artefacts.
Northumberland - Hadrian’s Wall
This is much further afield and a full day. But if you’re interested, it’s worthwhile -
- Hadrian’s Wall
- In addition to the sites in Newcastle/Tyneside, you can reach many of the ones in Northumberland by public transport too.
- From Newcastle station, catch the AD122 bus - https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/ad122
- You could also continue to Hexham or Corbridge by train and pick up the bus there (likely quicker overall).
- Stop at the sites that interest you (or just go for a walk!)
- The link above includes many suggestions
