Transport
The closest airport is Newcastle (NCL), which is almost always the most convenient too, although it can sometimes make sense to fly to Manchester (MAN) (a train to Durham goes straight from the airport), Edinburgh (EDI) or even Leeds (LBA).
From Newcastle airport it is a 40-minute taxi ride to Durham. It is also possible to take a Metro (suburban train) from the airport to Newcastle Central Station (25 minutes), and a train to Durham from there (12 minutes).
On the Metro ticket machines, select in turn: ‘A+B+C’, ‘adult’, ‘single’. The cost of a Metro ticket is £3.20. A one-way train ticket to Durham (buy at ticket machines at the station) currently costs £6.60.
Durham is on the East Coast railway line that runs between London (King’s Cross station) and Edinburgh, passing through Leeds along the way. (Note that King’s Cross is immediately next door to St Pancras International, the London Eurostar terminal.) The journey time between Durham and London is around 3 hours; between Durham and Leeds, 1.5 hours; between Durham and Edinburgh, 1.5 hours. For interactive timetables and advance ticket booking, go to www.thetrainline.com. (E-tickets are often available with their app, or you can collect paper tickets from machines at the station you designate – normally the station of departure.)
By car, take the A1(M), turn off on the A690 (Junction 62), and follow signs to Durham City Centre.
Accommodation
Some accommodation is available in Colleges of the University, especially out of term. The most central hotels are these (costs indicative only):
- Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County (expect to pay around £150 p.n.)
- Hotel Indigo (in the old central administrative building of the University, and the older Shire Hall) (around £100 p.n.)
- Radisson Blu Hotel (around £100 p.n.)
- Premier Inn (around £85 p.n.)
There are also local B&B options.
Maps of Durham, city and University