Set in former university offices at Old Shire Hall, the Hotel Indigo® Durham welcomes you into a world of Victorian luxury. Brass etchings line our lobby walls, marble tiles adorn floors and stained glass dapples the light in our Rotunda Bar. Bespoke prints and textiles furnish elegant guest rooms where you can drift off in blissful spa bathrooms, recharge with Nespresso® coffee and relish cathedral views. Superfast WiFi reconnects you instantly with reality.
Outside our boutique hotel in Durham city centre, you'll step back into the Middle Ages. Tour the UNESCO-listed castle and cathedral, and glimpse life at one of the UK’s oldest universities. At night, order a signature steak in our MPW Steakhouse or venture out to explore the buzzing bars and clubs packed into the narrow lanes.
Recharge your batteries in our fitness room. Open 24/7 with cardio and weight lifting gym equipment at your disposal.
On-Site Fitness Center Available
Durham celebrates its medieval religious and academic renown in our Trinity neighbourhood, where cathedral, castle and university come together to form a UNESCO World Heritage site of spectacular grandeur. They stand on a craggy peninsula, embraced by a loop in the River Wear. Below lies a labyrinth of steep alleys where Tudor and Georgian façades hide teeming teashops, cosy bistros and bars. Students still cluster in the cobbled streets and spill out of pubs just as they did 600 years ago.
In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, Durham flourished once again, growing rich on coal mining. Our story begins here. Built as the city hall and latterly university offices, you’ll notice that every feature, flourish and detail of the hotel's interior reflects its proud Victorian legacy.
Durham's UNESCO-listed Norman cathedral looms over the city from a rocky eyrie above the winding River Wear. Light from jewel-coloured stained-glass windows floods into the vaulted nave, built in 1093 to house the Shrine of St Cuthbert. Climb the tower for sensational views of the cloisters, the river and the monastery gardens.
Adding a stately dignity to the steep alleyways of Durham, many of our world-famous university’s buildings are open to visit. Tour the grandiose castle, wander the bamboo groves in the Botanic Garden or admire priceless books in the 17th-century Palace Green Library – and don’t forget the museums, overflowing with rare treasure.
One of a brace of museums run by Durham University, the Oriental Museum is tucked behind an unassuming 1960s’ facade. Step inside, however, and all is a blaze of colour. Dedicated to the cultures of North Africa and Asia, you'll find lovingly curated displays of golden Egyptian death masks, Samurai costumes and plump jade Buddhas.
Set in rugged countryside, the open-air Beamish Museum charts the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the North East. Tenderly recreated in every detail, a rustic Georgian manor stands in stark contrast to an Edwardian town and a gritty pit village. Visit to munch on fish ‘n’ chips, ride a tram or risk a trip to a 1940s dentist.
The North East’s home of Test cricket also hosts fast-paced, one-day T20 internationals. On match days, the boisterous 12,000-strong crowd roars in delight at the action and celebrates in packed bars with champagne and strong brown ales. Look out for summer concerts too – Elton John and Rod Stewart have both played here.
Behind the cobalt-blue façade of this former art deco cinema you'll find Durham’s most offbeat venue, a retro launderette by day and jumping music club by night. Squeeze in with a laid-back crowd among the washing machines and 1950s posters to hear bluegrass, rock and folk gigs, fueled by exotic gins and local beers on tap.
Durham’s glass-fronted, ultra-modern arts centre has 2 cosy cinemas showing blockbuster films. The hi-tech stage facilities and acoustics of the plush 500-seat auditorium lend themselves to a schedule jam-packed with dance, drama, hit musicals and comedy. A contemporary art gallery and a light-flooded bar draw in daytime crowds too.
The brainchild of 2 local entrepreneurs, Empty Shop has changed the face of Durham’s fringe arts scene. Alternative and grungy, its permanent HQ is a bar, left-field art gallery, comedy stage and record store rolled into one. Look out for its offbeat exhibitions and gigs, which pop up in vacant properties all over the local region.
Our hotel steakhouse brings Marco Pierre White’s magic touch to Durham, offering a menu of English favourites and timeless French classics. Pair 35-day-aged steaks with fine red wine, order a tasty Welsh rarebit and a pint of the North East's finest ale, or take afternoon tea in genteel surroundings.
Tuck into an all-day tapas menu under the ornate domed ceiling of our Victorian Rotunda Bar, once the city council’s debating hall. Accompany your sharing plates with exclusive wines and specially selected boutique beers while admiring the cocktail bar’s backdrop of refined wood panelling, marble decoration and crystal chandeliers.
Our fast-track, all-day snacks counter hits the spot with a range of barista-brewed coffees, artisan open sandwiches and fresh, crunchy salads. We cold-press all our juices and mix smoothies to order. Locally sourced treats include sweet pastries, and if you’re after vegan or gluten-free options, we have those too.
You'll find Durham’s top choice of premium gins in a packed, Tudor pub with wonky walls and beamed ceilings. Waiting staff in bowler hats mix powerful cocktails and conjure up tempting platters of specialist cheeses or charcuterie on demand. On balmy nights, crowds spill out on to the riverside terrace with Castle views.
Large meeting room which has been decorated in a bright modern style with modern executive furniture and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, all to make your meeting successful.