Industry News

The 2026 edition of the official visitor guide for the county, the Durham Pocket Guide, is now being distributed across the county, offering visitors and residents alike inspiring information to help them make the most of their time in the county. 

The guide showcases outstanding things to see and do, places to eat, and accommodation from across the county. 

Available at over 300 outlets across the region, in key locations and transport hubs, the Durham Pocket Guide plays a key role in post-arrival marketing, encouraging longer stays, additional spend, and greater dispersal across the county, benefiting local businesses and communities. 

Independent evaluation highlights the impact of the guide, with 95% of users saying it influenced them to visit attractions they hadn’t planned to, 94% exploring new areas of the county, and 96% rating the guide as good or very good. With over 100,000 copies distributed, it continues to be a powerful tool in encouraging visitors to discover more of County Durham. 

The guide is also widely used by residents across County Durham and the wider region, providing inspiration for days out and short breaks closer to home. 

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “The Durham Pocket Guide is a key resource for visitors to the county and provides a trusted resource that visitors can use throughout their stay. Print continues to play an important role in post-arrival marketing. While digital channels are key in inspiring visitors to choose Durham, the Pocket Guide remains a popular and important tool to encourage people to stay longer and spend more, whilst providing businesses with a cost-effective promotional platform. We’re proud to work in partnership with Offstone to continue to deliver this important activity for the destination.”