Arrival, Information and Accommodation
Durham train station is about ten minutes' walk from the city centre, either via Millburngate Bridge or via North Road - the site of the bus station - then the pedestrianized Framwellgate Bridge. The tourist office (tel 0191/384 3720, touristinfo@durhamcity.gov.uk ) will book accommodation, hand you a free map and supply the bi-monthly What's on: Durham , listing local events. It has recently moved into Millennium City on Claypath, a somewhat overdue GBP40-million development that also shelters a visitor centre with a large-format film presentation on Durham, a state-of-the-art theatre, crafts workshops, and a new public library with free internet access. You can rent rowing boats from Brown's Boathouse, Elvet Bridge, or take the one-hour cruise aboard the Prince Bishop (tel 0191/386 9525; GBP3.50), which has regular summer departures from Elvet Bridge. Durham has a long list of guest houses and B&Bs , with particular concentrations around Gilesgate, northeast of Market Place, and around Crossgate, south of the bus station. Among the budget B&Bs on Gilesgate, Green Grove at no. 99 is a good choice (tel 0191/384 4361, guesthouse@f.s.net.co.uk ; no credit cards; under GBP40), with a mix of standard and en-suite rooms. On Crossgate, Castle View Guest House , next to St Margaret's Church at no. 4 (tel 0191/386 8852; GBP50-60), is recommended, with en-suite bathrooms throughout, a garden and, of course, great castle views. The nearby Georgian Town House , 10 Crossgate (tel 0191/386 8070; no credit cards; GBP50-60), boasts more character than most, serves up good breakfasts and has some rooms with cathedral views. Moving swiftly up the price brackets, the Marriott Royal County , Old Elvet, just across Elvet Bridge (tel 0191/386 6821, ; GBP110-150), is Durham's top hotel, and has its own riverside leisure centre with indoor swimming pool, sauna and solarium. Its sister hotel, the Three Tuns Swallow Hotel , New Elvet (tel 0191/375 1504 or 386 1406, threetuns.reservations@btinternet.com ; GBP110-150), is a former sixteenth-century coaching inn with slightly cheaper rates and access to the Royal County 's leisure centre. A wide variety of private bedrooms are offered at the colleges of Durham University , which welcome visitors at Christmas, Easter and between July and September; the tourist office has a full list, or check the website: . Most university accommodation is now aimed at businessmen as much as holiday-makers, with rates to match the city's B&Bs (GBP40-70, including breakfast). The best colleges are University College (tel 0191/374 3863, J.A.Marshall@durham.ac.uk ), with rooms inside the castle, and St Hild and St Bede, set in beautiful grounds overlooking the cathedral on Leazes Road (tel 0191/374 3069, L.C.Hugill@durham.ac.uk ). University College also offers very central, no-frills rooms with shared bathrooms at Bailey Court, just off Palace Green (under GBP40, breakfast excluded). The nearest campsite , the Grange Camping and Caravan Site (tel 0191/384 4778), lies beside the junction of the A1(M) and the A690, about two miles northeast of the city on Meadow Lane, Carrville. To get there from the bus station take bus #220 or #222 for Sunderland.
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