Visit County Durham

Visit County Durham (VCD) is the destination management organisation for County Durham and one of a portfolio of nationally supported, strategic, and high-performing accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships. We provide strong local leadership and governance, and are committed to the promotion, management, and development of County Durham as a great place to live, work, visit and do business.

Visit County Durham works in partnership locally, regionally, and nationally on shared priorities and targets. Our mission is to support and grow the visitor economy through robust destination management, strong stakeholder relationships and clear planning.

Our vision is to create the conditions for our residents, businesses, and the environment to benefit from sustainable growth in our visitor economy. By supporting and marketing our distinctive heritage, landscapes, culture and warm welcome, we will grow both day and overnight visits and make County Durham a compelling, global destination for tourism, culture, and business.

LVEP logo

Durham’s Visitor Economy Exceeds £1 Billion Milestone

Durham’s Visitor Economy Exceeds £1 Billion Milestone

Tourism contributed £1.23 billion to Durham’s economy, the latest industry research has revealed.

Durham Story

Durham Story

Discover more about our exciting new approach to promoting the county.

Join Us

From attractions and accommodation providers to places to eat, things to do and local suppliers, Visit County Durham Partnership brings benefits through promoting and developing any type or size of business.

Join Us

Filming Friendly Durham

Supporting production companies, filmmakers and photographers, make Durham your next destination.

Filming Friendly Durham
Nominate Your Durham Tourism Superstar

Nominate Your Durham Tourism Superstar

Nominations are now open to find Durham's next Tourism Superstar 2025.

Find a Supplier

Find a Supplier

Visit County Durham work with a number of Supplier Partner’s who offer services which are directly relevant to tourism businesses.

Seasonal Marketing Opportunities

Throughout the year Visit County Durham partners can take advantage of a programme of free, and cost-effective promotional opportunities for your business.

Seasonal Marketing Opportunities

Image Library

The online media centre is free to use and allows you to access key photography and videography from across the county. All of which showcases the county’s many amazing attractions, food and drink experiences, breathtaking landscapes, fun things to do and more!

Image Library

Destination performance

Visitors
Visitors in Durham

20.15m

(Visitors Annually)

Visits to Attractions
Attractions in Durham

6.5m

(75 Attractions)

Staying Visitors
Accommodation in Durham

8%

(Overnight Stays)

Employment
Tourism employment in Durham

13,178

(Jobs Within the Industry)

Visitor Economy
Durhams Visitor economy

£1.23bn

(Annual Income)

Latest news

Coastal Survey

21 May 2025

Calling all Durham coast businesses, please take 5-10 minutes to complete the Spring/Summer wave of the National Coastal Tourism Academy's (NCTA) business survey. This wave focuses on performance to date in 2025, future bookings and challenges. All recorded data will be anonymised, and the results used by NCTA to lobby for further support

Read More about Coastal Survey

Auckland Palace’s Walled Garden becomes hive of activity

21 May 2025

To mark World Bee Day, 20th May, The Auckland Project has installed a new apiary in the historic 17th-century Walled Garden at Auckland Palace to celebrate the vital role of bees in biodiversity. The installation features three hives, forming part of a wider network of seven hives now buzzing across The Auckland Project’s sites – […]

Read More about Auckland Palace’s Walled Garden becomes hive of activity

All Change! arrives at The Story

20 May 2025

A new exhibition arrives at The Story next week, exploring the impact of passenger railways on life in the north east. All Change! is part of the nine-month S&DR200 festival, which launched in March and continues across County Durham and the Tees Valley until November 2025, inspired by the first journey on the Stockton & […]

Read More about All Change! arrives at The Story

Suppliers to industry

Stelliferous Limited

Stelliferous Limited

Stelliferous Limited is a family-run event production company creating unforgettable live experiences across the South West and North East of England. We specialise in live music promotion, event management, and theatrical production, offering a full range of services from artist booking and ticketing to technical delivery and on-the-day coordination. Whether it’s a large-scale concert or […]

Read More about Stelliferous Limited
Coghlans Artisan Bakery

Coghlans Artisan Bakery

Coghlans at Barningham's Artisan Bakery has been created within the old stable block and coach house at Barningham Park, a classic estate where the bakehouse and kitchen hosts a range of artisan products from bread and chocolates and your daily essential needs. Coghlans handmade bread use no preservatives food colours or artificial flavours, just a natural product from […]

Read More about Coghlans Artisan Bakery
Northern Print Distribution

Northern Print Distribution

Northern Print Distribution: Putting your leaflets precisely where you want them. At Northern Print Distribution we can help you implement an effective leaflet marketing campaign that will drive crucial footfall to your business.

Read More about Northern Print Distribution
William Peat Butchers

William Peat Butchers

Teesdale's oldest and finest butchers. Beef and lamb is locally produced supplemented by the best Yorkshire pork and poultry.

Read More about William Peat Butchers

Visit County Durham latest

Durham shortlisted for national award

Durham shortlisted for national award

Durham has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2025. The county has been nominated by readers of Group Leisure and Travel magazine and is now in the running to be voted Best UK Destination.

Read More about Durham shortlisted for national award
Exciting new Story launched for Durham 

Exciting new Story launched for Durham 

An exciting new approach to promoting the county was unveiled yesterday (18 March), with over 80 stakeholders attending the launch of the ‘Durham story’. The event, hosted by Durham County Council and Durham University at Gala Durham, was the culmination of a 12-month project which has seen engagement with hundreds of stakeholders from across the […]

Read More about Exciting new Story launched for Durham 
New collaboration seeks to attract French visitors to North East England

New collaboration seeks to attract French visitors to North East England

Newcastle Airport and destination development partnership, Destination North East England have collaborated with Expedia Group on a new campaign targeting visitors from France. Capitalising on the new easyJet route between Paris and Newcastle, the digital campaign aims to drive flight bookings, and overnight stays by highlighting the unique experiences visitors can take advantage of when […]

Read More about New collaboration seeks to attract French visitors to North East England
VCD Blog - Progress and pace continues as we look forward with optimism

VCD Blog - Progress and pace continues as we look forward with optimism

As 2025 is now in full swing it feels great to be looking ahead with excitement and optimism.

Read More about VCD Blog - Progress and pace continues as we look forward with optimism