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
20.15m
(Visitors Annually)
6.5m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
13,178
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.23bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances in the historic building starting with Nerina Pallot
24 Jan 2025
BRIT award, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize nominated artists very familiar with playing to large national and international audiences, are being attracted to perform in the intimate setting of The Bowes Museum this year. The concert series kicks off with a solo concert by Nerina Pallot on 21 and 22 March 2025. Tickets go […]
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Electronic Travel Authorisation
22 Jan 2025
Since 8th January, eligible non-Europeans visiting the UK need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for permission to travel to the UK. From 5th March 2025, eligible Europeans can apply for an ETA, and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2nd April 2025. An ETA costs £10 and permits […]
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Durham Pocket Guide
22 Jan 2025
Advertising opportunities are still available for the 2025 Durham Pocket Guide, the official visitor guide for the County. Featuring sections for Durham City, the Durham Dales, the Vale of Durham and the Durham Coast, it is an essential promotional tool for your business. With over 100,000 copies distributed through hundreds of outlets across the region, […]
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Screaming Chimp Chilli Sauce
Screaming Chimp provide all natural, vegan friendly and naturally gluten free chilli sauces. Hit the website at screamingchimp.com to #keeponchimpin
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The HUB & MINT Business Club
The HUB Consett has a selection of training spaces available to hire. Once a month our sister company MINT Business Club uses our large training space for its own unique training program. MINT is a community of small like-minded business owners who want to run successful businesses and grow their businesses in the right way. […]
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Dalton Moor Farm - Vegan Fruit Farm
Food & Drinks from Dalton Moor Farm Dalton Moor Farm produces Award Winning Apple Juice and Fruit Juices, Traditional ‘Real’ Cider, Apple Cider Vinegar, ‘Bee Free Vegan HUNNY’, a range of Fruit Jams, Chutneys and Marmalades, and herbal teas. We choose single-use-plastic-free packaging. All our products are made with fruits and herbs grown veganically on […]
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Grape Software
Grape Software is an innovative food technology company aiming to facilitate UK food hygiene inspections and help food businesses achieve higher standards of food hygiene and compliance. Our web-based software helps food businesses to: We can also offer: We are currently designing a further system that will enable you to digitise all the food safety […]
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Visit County Durham latest
Full steam ahead as Durham and Tees Valley join forces to showcase 200 years of railway heritage
2025 is off to a busy start for Visit County Durham as we partner with Visit Tees Valley and S&DR200 to promote the region’s railway heritage, and the international festival which is on track to take this incredible story to the world. The 9-month international festival taking place across Durham and Tees Valley celebrates the […]
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VCD Blog - Working towards a more sustainable future
As world leaders recently gathered in Baku for Cop29 it is a reminder of the ever-present threat of climate change and the need for us all to take action. According to the World Economic Forum a recent study puts the tourism industry's impact at 8% of global carbon emissions.
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Make your Next Stop Durham
UK holiday makers are being urged to explore the beauty of their own country before jetting off to other destinations. A new campaign is highlighting why Durham should be at the top of everyone’s must visit list. Its unique and diverse experiences and world-class attractions make it the perfect...
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Do Durham Differently Delivers Great Results
Research has shown that Do Durham Differently, Visit County Durham’s national destination marketing campaign, contributed an estimated £103m in visitor spend – over 8% of the county’s total annual economic impact. The campaign, which ran from autumn 2023 to spring 2024, was delivered in partnership with the tourism industry and featured high profile marketing activity […]
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