6 November 2019
Durham is a city of roughly 50,000 people and is located on the Northern East Coast of England, which is about 3 hours away from London by train and two hours from Edinburg. You can also easily reach Durham by motorhome or campervan, no matter where you are in the UK, giving you the freedom to stop anywhere along the way and even the option to bring your pets along should you wish to! Once in Durham, public transport is available to reach the city centre with the ‘hop-on, hop-off’ Cathedral bus, which connects the train station and the Cathedral of Durham.
The Cathedral is one of Durham’s most iconic places to visit and was voted Britain’s favourite building in 2001. Fun fact: a couple of scenes of the world-famous Harry Potter movies (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone & Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) were shot there, showing off its interior (Hogwartz Transfiguration class, ie the Chapter House) and exterior (outdoor corridors, ie. the Cathedral’s Cloister) of Hogwartz . Entry is free, although you are welcome to leave a donation.
Set along the river, Durham's cathedral is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and its beauty can be seen directly from the railway line below. It has been a place of worship for many centuries and continues to offer hospitality and a warm welcome to this day.
On its 10th anniversary edition, Durham’s Lumiere 2019 will welcome 37 of the best artists (local & international), some new faces will make an appearance, along with previously featured shows. All artists will come together this November to light up the streets of Durham for a spectacular show. Located all over the city of Durham, each artist will have a dedicated space for their show, and all ages welcome. The streets of Durham come alive during this time of year, and this is something you won't want to miss!
Tickets can be found to access the peninsula between 4.30 pm & 7.30 pm (no tickets required otherwise) from the 28/10/2019 at Lumiere-festival.com or in-person in Durham at the Gala Theatre & Cinema, Chester-Le-Street Library, Stanley Library, Consett Library, Seaham Library, Peterlee Library, Spennymoor Leisure Centre, Crook Library, Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre, Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre and last but not least Barnard Castle Library.
If you wish to visit Durham by campervan during Lumiere, this will give you the freedom to enjoy the show from the comfort of your own little house on wheels. This can be particularly handy with the weather in Durham this time of year. If you don’t have the chance of owning a campervan (yet!) you can find campervan and motorhome hires close to you all over the UK. Travelling at this time of year can be full of charm and rather low cost compared to high season rates. Plenty of campervans and motorhomes which are available on Yescapa are equipped with heating, making the journey comfortable and as cosy as can be!
It is also good to note that Durham city also offers three Park and Ride options, close to the centre, allowing you to leave your campervan or motorhome safely during the day if the weather allows for it (you can check Durham's weather here). Although you will be able to leave your vehicle there throughout the day, overnight parking is not allowed. More information on this service along with the exact locations can be found on the Durham City Council website.
Make sure you don’t miss out on a truly unique experience with Durham Lumieres 2019 and book your motorhome or campervan near Durham today for a weekend spent with friends, family or as a fun couple getaway!