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.
Destination performance
21.98m
(Visitors Annually)
Over 8m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
14,069
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.49bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
Magical LEGO® trail to transform Durham City Centre this Summer
29 Jul 2026
Families are being invited to discover a magical new side to Durham this summer as an enchanting LEGO® trail takes over the city's historic streets. Brick Fairytales, The Enchanted Durham LEGO® Trail, will run from 1 to 15 August, transforming Durham city centre into a free, family-friendly adventure featuring a series of large brick-built fairytale […]
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Highly anticipated ticket launch for Raby Castle's Magical Christmas Experiences - including new event for furry friends
29 Jul 2026
Tickets for Raby Castle, Park and Gardens’ much-loved Christmas events are going on sale from Friday 31st July, including a new event designed for four-legged family members. For the first time, Raby will be hosting a Santa-Paws experience for dogs, where they get to enjoy a special Christmas encounter and meet Father Christmas in the Yuletide […]
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Hardwick Park café reopens after revamp
28 Jul 2026
A café in a park which welcomes over 500,000 visitors a year has had a make-over. The Tower Café at Hardwick Park has reopened its doors to customers following a period of refurbishment. The Durham County Council-run venue has seen improvements to its kitchen area, which is now bigger, to increase capacity during busy times. […]
Read More about Hardwick Park café reopens after revampSuppliers to industry
Durham Catering
Durham Catering offers a unique personal service to both Businesses and Private Individuals throughout the Durham Dales, Durham City and Beyond. Specialising in Simply cooked Locally Sourced Foods concentrating on freshness, presentation and superb service we are perfectly placed for a factory opening Ceremony, a celebration dinner for 200 or a small intimate dinner party […]
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GLOW Creative
GLOW Creative is an award-winning full-service marketing agency established in Durham in 2011. With an elite, diligent and proactive team, we build brands people love and campaigns they won’t forget. Delivering creative and innovative solutions for a range of B2C and B2B clients, particularly across the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors, GLOW Creative creates campaigns […]
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Shaka-International
Shaka International Bio UVision Lamp: Ensuring Guest Safety Through Sanitation Excellence In today’s hospitality industry, ensuring impeccable hygiene standards is not just a compliance measure—it’s a brand differentiator. The Bio UVision Lamp is a state-of-the-art UV inspection tool engineered specifically for fast, accurate detection of biofilms, bacteria, viruses, moulds, and other contaminants. Ideal for hotels, […]
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The Tea Enthusiasts
The Tea Enthusiasts have a lot to offer business customers large or small. Our personalised hands-on approach to service means your orders will not only be competitively priced within the market but customised to meet your needs. Bring your drinks upmarket and on trend with artisanal teas of the highest quality at prices you wouldn't believe. Business to Business sales are […]
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Visit County Durham latest
Ushaw catering supervisor crowned Durham Tourism Superstar 2026
A member of staff renowned for his exceptional customer service, genuine warmth and dedication to visitors has been crowned Durham Tourism Superstar 2026. Kyle Gregory, Catering Supervisor at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, secured the most public votes in the annual competition organised by Visit County Durham, Durham County Council's destination management organisation and […]
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County named best destination for the second year in a row
It was an incredible night for the county, as it was named Best UK Destination for the second year in a row at the prestigious Group Leisure and Travel Awards, which took place in London on 12 June. Following last year’s win, County Durham retained its title against stiff competition including London, Edinburgh, and Belfast, […]
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Durham visitor economy approaches record £1.5 billion as investment and partnerships continue to drive growth
County Durham’s visitor economy has continued its strong upward trajectory, with the latest independent tourism figures showing visitor expenditure rising to £1.48 billion during 2025, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year, marking three consecutive years of record-breaking results for the county. The latest STEAM* assessment also shows that 21.98 million people visited […]
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Visit County Durham joins UKREiiF panel on the impact of events on the economy
Michelle Gorman, managing director at Visit County Durham, took part in a thought-provoking panel this week, as part of the North East Pavilion at UKREiiF, the leading forum for real estate, investment, and infrastructure, on unlocking world-class spaces for major events. The experience economy has become a lifestyle choice, with consumers now consistently prioritising an […]
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