Things to do in Co. Durham

Auckland Castle is located at Bishop Auckland in County Durham. It is the official residence of the Bishop of Durham and has been owned by the diocese for more than 800 years. It is a Gothic country house rather than a military castle. The castle is open to the public and is available for weddings, conferences and banquets. It has a large archway over the enterance to Bishop's Park. Auckland Castle is also known as Auckland Palace. The castle is surrounded by a large park originally used by the Bishops for hunting. In the park there is the Deer House built in 1760 - a large stone castellated structure used as a shelter for deer, with a viewing room for people to see the deer. Part of the building was called the Scotland Wing because it was used to hold Scottish prisoners. The Scotland Wing is now used as accommodation for the Durham Diocesan Office, and the official residence of the Bishop of Durham.

Barnard Castle is a situated in the town of Barnard in County Durham. The castle is in ruins. Interesting features remaining are the ruins of 12th century cylindrical tower and the 14th century Great Hall and Great Chamber. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. The castle is managed by English Heritage, a body responsible for protecting the historical environment, and is open to the public. A stone castle was built on the site around the end of the 11th century by Guy de Baliol. In 1216 the castle was besieged by Alexander II, King of Scotland. When John Baliol was overthrown as King of Scotland in 1296 the castle was taken over by the Bishop of Durham. In the 15th century the castle passed to the Neville family. During the Wars of the Roses, Richard III took possession of the castle. Barnard Castle was abandoned in the 17th century.

Bowes Castle is situated in the village of Bowes in County Durham. The ruins of the keep are all that remains, and the ruins are now managed by English Heritage, a body responsible for protecting the historical environment The castle was built around 1136 on the site of an old Roman fort guarding the Stainforth Pass through the Pennines. The castle was built by Alan, Count of Brittany, but after the death of Alan's son, ownership of the castle passed to the crown. King Henry II built a massive stone keep in the 1170s. In 1173 Bowes Castle was attacked and damaged by King William I of Scotland. The castle was besieged in 1322 in a local feud, and the castle fell into ruin.

Lumley Castle is a 14th century quadrangular castle at Chester-le-Street, near Durham in the north of England. It is owned by the Earl of Scarbrough. In 1976, management of the castle was handed over to No Ordinary Hotels (although the property is still in the possession of Lord Scarbrough). Lumley Castle Hotel has 73 bedrooms, including 14 new Courtyard rooms. Their is a choice of accommodation including Courtyard and Castle rooms. The castle is surrounded by parklands overlooking the River Wear and Durham County Cricket Ground, Lumley Castle was converted from a manor house to a castle in 1389 by Sir Ralph Lumley after returning from wars in Scotland. Sir Ralph got himself involved in aplot to overthrow King Henry IV and replace him with Richard II - he was imprisoned and executed for his trouble. In the 19th century, the castle became the residence of the Bishop of Durham. Later, the castle became a hall of residence for University College, Durham. Legends Lumley Castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Lily Lumley, the wife of Sir Ralph wo was murdered by local priests and dumped in the castle well. The well can still be seen today.

Raby Castle is a late medieval castle situated near Staindrop in County Durham . It is one of the largest inhabited castles in England. The Grade I listed building has elegant eighteenth and nineteenth century interiors. The Garrison Room has walls up to twenty feet thick. The exterior is largely unchanged. The Castle is open to the public and contains many works of art. There is a Deer Park of 200 acres surrounding the Castle. The first castle built on the Raby estate was constructed during the reign on King Canute (or Cnut) in the early 11th century. The castle that stands there now was begun by the Nevill family around 1360. The Nevilles lost the castle after they led the failed Rising of the North in favour of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1569. Sir Henry Vane the Elder bought Raby Castle and neighbouring Barnard Castle from the Crown, and added a Gothic-style entrance hall and octagon-shaped drawing room were added. Cecily Neville, the mother of the King Edward IV of England and King Richard III of England was born here.