Industry News

The year opened with strong destination‑led searches, with ‘Durham’ and ‘Things to do in Durham’ leading the way as people planned winter days out. Evergreen favourites such as Barnard Castle and the coastal town of Seaham remained popular, reflecting a balance between seasonal events and timeless places that visitors return to year after year. Durham Restaurant Week featured prominently, showing a continued appetite for great value dining and local food experiences after the festive season. Winter spectacles were also in the spotlight, with Durham Fire & Ice 2025 dominating event searches.

As winter began to ease, searches shifted towards outdoor exploration and forward planning. Searches for High Force Waterfall rose sharply, reflecting a seasonal desire to reconnect with nature as days lengthened. Interest in Kynren continued to build momentum, showing anticipation well ahead of the performance season in July. Barnard Castle and Seaham once again featured strongly, underlining their year‑round appeal. Overall, March searches painted a picture of people beginning to plan spring escapes, mixing natural landmarks with iconic attractions and major events.

Destination‑led searches for Durham, Seaham and Barnard Castle remained consistent. Events also began to dominate the searches. Durham Pride 2025 signalled strong interest in inclusive, celebratory experiences. Searches for ‘What’s on Durham’ and ‘What’s on near me’ reflected a growing appetite for events and experiences as the weather improved. May was a month of planning, with people looking to fill diaries and make the most of the approaching summer.

Kynren continued to attract attention in June, while consistent searches for Barnard Castle and Seaham showed that classic destinations remained part of summer itineraries. July searches were dominated by festivals and culture. Durham Brass Festival 2025 topped the searches, reflecting its status as a major draw in the summer calendar. Interest in the Durham Big Meeting and Durham Fringe Festival pointed to a strong appetite for culture, music and heritage‑led events.

As autumn approached, September searches revealed an interest in food, heritage and culture. Wolsingham Show stood out, celebrating the county’s rural heritage, while Chester‑le‑Eats 2025 highlighted continued enthusiasm for food‑led experiences. Durham Book Festival 2025 remained popular, extending cultural interest beyond the summer months. Searches for Seaham and Seaham Beach suggested lingering interest in coastal visits, while Kynren continued to feature as its performance season drew toward a close.

As the month progressed, attention began to turn toward Christmas, with festive markets and experiences entering the top search list, including Lumley Castle Christmas Market. Alongside this, ‘Things to do in Durham’ remained a constant, suggesting people were already planning festive outings and winter experiences across the county. November was also dominated by Bonfire Night searches., with ‘Fireworks Durham’ and Dalton Park Fireworks 2025 both featuring strongly.