Destination management organisation
Welcome to Visit County Durham - the tourism management agency for County Durham which works on behalf of businesses and public agencies to support the growth and development of the county's visitor economy.
Visit County Durham has strategic responsibility for tourism and performs the functions of destination management and marketing in the county. Many others are involved in delivering a vibrant visitor economy, one organisation cannot do it alone, which is why we are a partnership.
Our aim is to place the visitor at the heart of everything we do.
Destination performance
17.91m
(Visitors Annually)
4.6m
(75 Attractions)
9%
(Overnight Stays)
11,724
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.04bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
Women's professional cricket coming to Durham
18 Apr 2024
Following an extensive bidding process Durham Cricket have been awarded a Tier 1 professional women’s team. A restructure of the women’s professional game has seen the England and Wales Cricket Board award 8 counties with professional women’s teams. Durham will be joined by Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottingham, Surrey, Somerset and Warwickshire to form the new […]
Read More about Women's professional cricket coming to DurhamMajor investment in UK peatlands from German environmental association
18 Apr 2024
A significant international collaboration to support peatland restoration in the NorthPennines National Landscape has been announced by German environmentalassociation, the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). The €1.1 million investment will be used to restore valuable peatlands in the NorthPennines, helping to promote better global climate regulation. Healthy peatlands arevital for biodiversity and provide multiple […]
Read More about Major investment in UK peatlands from German environmental associationHow's Business?
18 Apr 2024
Please spare 10 minutes of your time to complete our latest How's Business survey. The results are important for us to see what is happening across the visitor economy and to analyse where there are key themes and issues. The results of the survey help form our future activity and to see how we can […]
Read More about How's Business?Suppliers to industry
Humble Bee
At Humble Bee we are proud to support honeybees and pollinators in the Durham area. Come and join us for our incredible Bee Experience set in 60 acres of wildflowers and get hands on with our Local Honeybees. Pick up a ‘pot of Sunshine' with our Award-winning Honey, produced just outside the city centre by […]
Read More about Humble BeeTowergate Insurance Brokers
Towergate have been insuring businesses in the North East of England since 1973. With our expertise in the Leisure and Hospitality Sectors, we have been offering both packaged and bespoke risk management and insurance solutions to businesses of all sizes for decades. Whatever your business, it is essential to carry out a periodic review of […]
Read More about Towergate Insurance BrokersCoghlans 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 BakeryHost & Stay Property Management
Born in 2017, we are a family-owned property management company with a desire to lead the change in an age-old industry. Founded in the family’s home region of North Yorkshire, our mission has always been to help holiday homeowners unlock the potential in their homes with new methods for new times. We’re here to change […]
Read More about Host & Stay Property ManagementVisit County Durham latest
VCD Blog - Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024
Today (Friday 8 March) is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is a chance to reflect on the remarkable feats of women, past and present, while also recognising the amazing women we encounter in our own personal and professional lives. Ultimately, International Women’s Day […]
Read More about VCD Blog - Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024VCD Blog - Working together for Durham and the North East
At Visit County Durham we are proud to be a part of a proactive network of regional partners working together to promote and develop Durham and North East England as destinations. As one of the three Local Visitor Economy Partnerships piloting England’s first Destination Development Partnership, we work closely with NewcastleGateshead Initiative and Visit Northumberland, […]
Read More about VCD Blog - Working together for Durham and the North EastA destination for all: Accessibility takes centre stage at tourism conference
Ensuring an excellent welcome for all visitors was the key theme of Visit County Durham’s 2023 Industry Conference.
Read More about A destination for all: Accessibility takes centre stage at tourism conferenceResearch reveals Memorable Moments marketing campaign generated millions in visitor spend
Visit County Durham’s national destination marketing campaign, Memorable Moments, generated £86.6 million in visitor spend, research has revealed.
Read More about Research reveals Memorable Moments marketing campaign generated millions in visitor spendSocial wall
Visit County Durham were proud to be involved in The Auckland Project's familiarisation event today.
Great to see so many of our accommodation partners and to be able to explore the amazing Auckland Castle, Faith Museum and other attractions too!
Find out more about The Auckland ...Project here 👇
https://aucklandproject.org/
Ahead of the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 2025, a new video has been released to mark World Heritage Day, and to highlight the pioneering industrial heritage of Durham. The first train journey from Shildon to Stockton via in Darlington in 1825 changed the world forever. ...Next year, S&DR200 will present a 9-month international festival celebrating the birth of the modern railway, with free large-scale outdoor spectacles, events, exhibitions and new art commissions in the public spaces, libraries and world-class museums of Durham and Tees Valley from March to November. It will draw visitors from across the UK and beyond, establishing the region as the premier global destination for railway heritage attractions.
The full programme will be announced in September 2024 but before then - follow S&dr200 and sign up to their newsletter by emailing 👇
info@sdr200.co.uk
#WorldHeritageDay
A tranquil boat tour business, a luxury hotel, a fine-dining restaurant housed in a 13th century friary and a national park unsung-hero are among the finalists at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence which recognises exceptional visitor economy businesses and individuals from around the ...UK.
County Durham’s Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, Newcastle’s Blackfriars Restaurant, and Northumberland National Park Authority’s Duncan Wise join 44 other finalists from all corners of Britain hoping to take home the national accolades at the finals in Liverpool this June.
Find out more here 👇
https://www.visitcountydurham.org/news/four-of-north-east-englands-tourism-trailblazers-announced-as-finalists-at-national-awards/
Destinations, businesses and venues along the Northern Saints routes can utilise the trails in their own marketing activity with The Northern Saints Toolkit.
Containing items including web copy, images, logos and example social media posts, the toolkit supports businesses to benefit from the ...Northern Saints Trails.
Find out more here 👇
https://tinyurl.com/bdcx9y8j
📣 This week's Grapevine is out now, read the latest about-
▪️ How's Business Survey
▪️ Sniperley Park and Ride
▪️ VE Attractions Survey
▪️ Partnership Renewals
Find out more here 👇
https://tinyurl.com/yc8ba8nk
Redevelopment of the £35 million Hopetown Darlington visitor attraction is taking shape. Due to open in summer 2024, the attraction celebrates and promotes Darlington's rich rail heritage, and will play a part in the Stockton & Darlington Railway bicentenary celebrations in 2025.
...
Find out more about Hopetown Darlington here 👇
www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk
Businesses can request copies of the brand new 2024 Durham Pocket Guide, free of charge, to make available to their customers.
Copies of the county’s official tourism publication will be distributed throughout the region, playing an important role in inspiring visitors and residents, by ...providing information on things to see and do, and places to eat.
Request your copies by emailing 👇
visitor@thisisdurham.com
The Pocket Guide can also be downloaded here 👉https://www.visitcountydurham.org/official-visitor-guide/