Places to stay in Durham

[james_tigerwoods]

I'm toying with the idea of going up to Durham with the OH and Toddle-TW - I've been once but it was a long time ago and I stayed with a friend - so I've no idea of where to stay (or what to visit for that matter).

Money is a bit tight, so we've considered B&Bs, but don't really know where to start looking online - does anyone have or know of somewhere nice/reasonable/handy for Durham/etc at all?

Thanks

JTW

[FreeLitres]

Hi James,

If you want somewhere central, you could go for the Premiere Travel Inn
("Durham City Centre") Freemans Place, Walkergate, Durham DH1 1SQ. This is right in the City Centre. There is a new set of bars and restaurants right next to it. If you like Oriental cuisine, I suggest you try Fat Buddha at Walkergate - excellent food.

If you are not from the North East, I recommend a day trip to Beamish Museum - a great place to take your family.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

[Stu R]

Plenty of places like B&B's on the likes of last minute etc. Is it just the City Centre you're interested in? There's loads of cool little B&B's dotted around the surrounding areas in the countryside. Depends on whether you're driving or not really.

A mate of mine stays up here fairly regularly and usually uses the Honest Lawyer, it's a best western pub a couple of miles out of the city centre. Handy enough if you're using the car - it's a travelodge type affair but nicer. I'm not really sure about the city centre places, there's plenty to choose from though.

If you don't mind driving in from a little further afield I'd recommend pretty much anywhere you can find in the durham dales, have a look here http://www.durhamdales.co.uk/subindex.php?id=280

[james_tigerwoods]

Thanks guys - I'm not sure where we'll stay as we'll probably want to spend a few days up that way. At this point we're looking for options as we'd need to plan it properly so as to amuse a 2 year old as well as ourselves.

The city centre is as much for us as for anything, but the Dales might be an alternative as we might like wandering round the city centre, but toddler-TW will get bored in about 30 seconds....

The key here, annoyingly, is cheap & worthwhile

[SHutchinson]

+1 for a day trip to Beamish. It's a cracking day out for kids. If the little person is a fan of trains you could also add on a trip on the Tanfield Railway which is just round the corner.

If you do go to Beamish and the Tanfield Railway might I suggest you take lunch at the South Causey Inn which is situated mid-way between both attractions. It's a cracking country pub with it's own petting zoo (well, goats and llamas sort of thing) and a fine selection of local real ales.

If after all that you still find yourself looking for something to do, pop up to Burnopfield and walk my dog will you.

Edited by SHutchinson on Tuesday 22 June 08:37

[james_tigerwoods]

SHutchinson said:

+1 for a day trip to Beamish. It's a cracking day out for kids. If the little person is a fan of trains you could also add on a trip on the Tanfield Railway which is just round the corner.

If you do go to Beamish and the Tanfield Railway might I suggest you take lunch at the South Causey Inn which is situated mid-way between both attractions. It's a cracking country pub with it's own petting zoo (well, goats and llamas sort of thing) and a fine selection of local real ales.

If after all that you still find yourself looking for something to do, pop up to Burnopfield and walk my dog will you.

What's the dog? My toddler would probably love that - if it's a Labrador, she'll be in heaven as one of the neighbours has one and she loves it - All dogs are reffered to as a "Bailey" as that's the dogs name

Thanks too

[Stu R]

+1 for the south causey inn, cracking pub. The stables at beamish park hotel is a cracking place to sink a few jars too, with it's own micro brewery and a lovely courtyard. Food's decent too If you fancy a walk through the woods and up a rather steep bank it makes for a cracking pub crawl themed country walk going between the two

[SeanyD]

FreeLitres said:

If you want somewhere central, you could go for the Premiere Travel Inn

^^ +1. Clean, cheap, cheerful, modern. A couple of quid away from the city centre by taxi. We've stayed there before when family have parties down that way, and its spot on.

[SHutchinson]

james_tigerwoods said:

SHutchinson said:

+1 for a day trip to Beamish. It's a cracking day out for kids. If the little person is a fan of trains you could also add on a trip on the Tanfield Railway which is just round the corner.

If you do go to Beamish and the Tanfield Railway might I suggest you take lunch at the South Causey Inn which is situated mid-way between both attractions. It's a cracking country pub with it's own petting zoo (well, goats and llamas sort of thing) and a fine selection of local real ales.

If after all that you still find yourself looking for something to do, pop up to Burnopfield and walk my dog will you.

What's the dog? My toddler would probably love that - if it's a Labrador, she'll be in heaven as one of the neighbours has one and she loves it - All dogs are reffered to as a "Bailey" as that's the dogs name

Thanks too

Yup, black Labrador. Goes by the name of Dave. He's a nice dog and would love the company. Just give me a shout and I'll get his lead ready.



I bet you're quickly realising how huge the county of Durham is, it has everything from beaches to seriously remote moors. Something for everyone.

[SHutchinson]

Another plus point for the Beamish area.

http://www.aston.co.uk/

Just remember to wipe the smears from their windows once you leave!

[james_tigerwoods]

SHutchinson said:

james_tigerwoods said:

SHutchinson said:

+1 for a day trip to Beamish. It's a cracking day out for kids. If the little person is a fan of trains you could also add on a trip on the Tanfield Railway which is just round the corner.

If you do go to Beamish and the Tanfield Railway might I suggest you take lunch at the South Causey Inn which is situated mid-way between both attractions. It's a cracking country pub with it's own petting zoo (well, goats and llamas sort of thing) and a fine selection of local real ales.

If after all that you still find yourself looking for something to do, pop up to Burnopfield and walk my dog will you.

What's the dog? My toddler would probably love that - if it's a Labrador, she'll be in heaven as one of the neighbours has one and she loves it - All dogs are reffered to as a "Bailey" as that's the dogs name

Thanks too

Yup, black Labrador. Goes by the name of Dave. He's a nice dog and would love the company. Just give me a shout and I'll get his lead ready.



I bet you're quickly realising how huge the county of Durham is, it has everything from beaches to seriously remote moors. Something for everyone.

That's handy as Bailey's owner is called Dave too

I'm beginning to think that city centre might not be a great idea and a "near to the seaside" plan might be better....

Durham is indeed bigger than I thought - a rethink is in progress - Where's good for beaches then? (Reasonably priced B&Bs too).

[SHutchinson]

james_tigerwoods said:

SHutchinson said:

james_tigerwoods said:

SHutchinson said:

+1 for a day trip to Beamish. It's a cracking day out for kids. If the little person is a fan of trains you could also add on a trip on the Tanfield Railway which is just round the corner.

If you do go to Beamish and the Tanfield Railway might I suggest you take lunch at the South Causey Inn which is situated mid-way between both attractions. It's a cracking country pub with it's own petting zoo (well, goats and llamas sort of thing) and a fine selection of local real ales.

If after all that you still find yourself looking for something to do, pop up to Burnopfield and walk my dog will you.

What's the dog? My toddler would probably love that - if it's a Labrador, she'll be in heaven as one of the neighbours has one and she loves it - All dogs are reffered to as a "Bailey" as that's the dogs name

Thanks too

Yup, black Labrador. Goes by the name of Dave. He's a nice dog and would love the company. Just give me a shout and I'll get his lead ready.



I bet you're quickly realising how huge the county of Durham is, it has everything from beaches to seriously remote moors. Something for everyone.

That's handy as Bailey's owner is called Dave too

I'm beginning to think that city centre might not be a great idea and a "near to the seaside" plan might be better....

Durham is indeed bigger than I thought - a rethink is in progress - Where's good for beaches then? (Reasonably priced B&Bs too).

Ah, just one thing. I only said Durham HAD beaches. I didn't say they were any good!

If you want to go to a beach in the NE head to Northumberland. My personal favourites are Druridge Bay and Beadnell. Not a chav in sight!

The beaches in Durham are fringed by poverty and littered with the remnants of the long gone coal industry. (I can say this, I'm from the area!)

[SeanyD]

James, Durham isn't really a coastal city, if you're wanting coastal maybe Sunderland (specifically Seaburn and the Marriott, although may cost a little more) maybe better suited.

[Stack]

I'm from Durham & it looks like the other posters have all bases covered .....

You could also try this place in town...

http://www.fallenangelhotel.com/page.php/4/

or if you leave it to the last minute the Radisson in Durham can do good deals ..

[Stack]

Also for the little one I am hearing good reports of this place ......

http://www.adventurevalley.co.uk/


this is also free to visit...

http://www.nrm.org.uk/locomotion

[wobblyweb]

Stu R said:

+1 for the south causey inn, cracking pub. The stables at beamish park hotel is a cracking place to sink a few jars too, with it's own micro brewery and a lovely courtyard. Food's decent too If you fancy a walk through the woods and up a rather steep bank it makes for a cracking pub crawl themed country walk going between the two

Dont forget the Black Horse too, just down the lane from the Aston garage and owned by the same person. Good food, beer and an outside play area.
Well worth calling in,as I do often when passing on my bike

Rae

Edited by wobblyweb on Tuesday 29th June 16:39

[james_tigerwoods]

Am loving these ideas - keep 'em coming

[insanojackson]

diggerland near langley park good fun for kids, and quite cheap if you use tesco clubcard points.

the south causey is good, had lunch there 10 days ago and was nice, good value too during the day.

beamish and tanfield steam railway are close by too if you are after places to visit.

Oh and i live in consett, not too far away, i also have a year old labrador you can definetly come and walk. He is safe with kids, infact hes too loving sometimes and becomes a pain in the ass constantly needing to be snuggling in.

Edited by insanojackson on Wednesday 30th June 09:09

[SHutchinson]

insanojackson said:

diggerland near langley park good fun for kids, and quite cheap if you use tesco clubcard points.

the south causey is good, had lunch there 10 days ago and was nice, good value too during the day.

beamish and tanfield steam railway are close by too if you are after places to visit.

Oh and i live in consett, not too far away, i also have a year old labrador you can definetly come and walk. He is safe with kids, infact hes too loving sometimes and becomes a pain in the ass constantly needing to be snuggling in.

Edited by insanojackson on Wednesday 30th June 09:09

You are me AICMFP

Well, apart from not living in Hobson and your dag being 3 years too young.

Don't suppose you're any good at restoring old Mini's are you?

[insanojackson]

SHutchinson said:

insanojackson said:

diggerland near langley park good fun for kids, and quite cheap if you use tesco clubcard points.

the south causey is good, had lunch there 10 days ago and was nice, good value too during the day.

beamish and tanfield steam railway are close by too if you are after places to visit.

Oh and i live in consett, not too far away, i also have a year old labrador you can definetly come and walk. He is safe with kids, infact hes too loving sometimes and becomes a pain in the ass constantly needing to be snuggling in.

Edited by insanojackson on Wednesday 30th June 09:09

You are me AICMFP

Well, apart from not living in Hobson and your dag being 3 years too young.

Don't suppose you're any good at restoring old Mini's are you?

AICMFP?? Not sure what that means???? no good at restoring minis im afraid, in fact im generally hopeless at anything practical, i drivr past the hobson on my way to work every day, small world.