Washington Library

Washington Library sits in the heart of County Durham, a proper working community hub rather than some grand Victorian edifice. It's the sort of place where locals actually spend their time - people studying, kids in the reading corner, folks using the computers. The building itself is modern and functional, with decent stock covering everything from fiction to local history titles.

You'll find it most useful if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Beamish Holiday Park or Beamish Glamping are within striking distance - and need somewhere quiet to escape the weather. Rainy afternoon in Durham? Head here for an hour or two. The staff are helpful without being intrusive, and there's usually a bit of browsing to be done if you're after something specific.

Honestly, don't make a special trip from elsewhere just for the library itself. But if you're camping or caravanning at Finchale Abbey or Beamish, it's worth knowing it's there. Wednesday evenings stay open until 7pm, which is handy if you're after a quieter spot to read or use the internet after a day out. The Saturday hours are decent too - 10am to 4pm gives you flexibility if you're wanting to potter around Durham town itself in the morning.

Free admission - as public libraries should be - and no faffing about with membership forms. It won't blow your mind, but it's exactly what you need it to be.