The Story

The Story sits right in Durham city centre and does exactly what it says on the tin - tells the story of the city itself. It's a fairly compact museum experience, so don't expect to spend your entire afternoon here, but it's worth a dedicated hour or so if you're already exploring the cathedral and castle.

What you get is a chronological walk through Durham's past, from its Roman roots through to the present day. There's plenty about the prince-bishops who effectively ran this place like their own fiefdom, and the industrial heritage that shaped the surrounding region. The displays are modern enough - interactive bits, objects you can actually handle, that sort of thing - without feeling like it's been trying too hard to be trendy.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit heavy on the text-based stuff, but if yours are interested in how things worked historically rather than just looking at shiny objects, they'll get something out of it. Adults with any curiosity about North East England will absolutely find it worthwhile.

It's an easy stop if you're basing yourself at one of the caravan parks nearby - Grove Farm is barely three miles away, and Finchale Abbey just under four. Pair it with the cathedral and castle for a proper cultural morning, then head out to explore the River Wear walks.