Information

Listed below are the winners from competitions hosted on thisisdurham.com, along with our Terms & Conditions.

Previous winners

May 2025

Prize: family ticket to Nature Camp, part of the North Pennines National Landscape NatureFest.

Winner: Sarah Robinson

April 2025

Prize: Five night pitch at The Paddock Touring Park Wolsingham. Plus train ride on the Weardale Railway, The Auckland Project pass and entry to Raby Castle, Park and Gardens for two people.

Winner: Rosemary Atherton

February to May 2025 - Next Stop Durham: Family Getaway in Durham

Prize:

• One night bed and breakfast stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Durham with access to spa
• Beamish, The Living Museum of the North Unlimited Pass (two adults and two children)
• The Auckland Project Family Unlimited Pass for (two adults and up to four children)
• Unlimited family pass for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
• £50 gift card to spend at Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination
• Raby Castle, Park, Gardens and The Plotters’ Forest Family Ticket
• Complimentary steam ride family ticket at Locomotion

Winner: Alex Blake

October 2024 to January 2025 – Next Stop Durham: Couples Getaway

Prize:

• One night bed and breakfast stay at Seaham Hall with access to the Serenity Spa
• £50 gift card to spend at Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors
• Beamish Museum annual membership for two
• Guided tour of The Bowes Museum, with afternoon tea in Café Bowes
• Locomotion goody bag, filled with £50 worth of prizes
• Stargazing Supper at High Force Hotel and Waterfall
• Two adult unlimited passes for The Auckland Project
• Two individual unlimited passes for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens 

Winner: Robert Gale

Durham Christmas Advent Calendar Competition December 2024

Prize: English Heritage family ticket for Barnard Castle
Winner: Susan Kennedy

Prize: Afternoon tea for two at Coghlans at Barringham
Winner: Matthew Ford

Prize: Hot tub stay for two at South Causey Inn
Winner: Jane Golding

Prize: Overnight stay at The Old Post Office B&B
Winner: Naomi Morris

Prize: Overnight stay for two at The Seaton Lane Inn
Winner: Angela Hirst

Prize: Two night stay in Durham City with Toast Stays
Winner: David Warner

Prize: Adventure Valley Family ticket
Winner: Rachael Forester

Prize: Diggerland Durham family ticket
Winner: Catrina Mullen

Prize: £20 Hopetown Darlington gift voucher
Winner: Ruth Abbott

Prize: Sunday lunch for two at 61Durham
Winner: Joanne Adams

Prize: Meal for two at Rio Brazilian Steahouse Durham
Winner: Paul Morgan

Prize: Overnight stay at Redworth Hall Hotel
Winner: Elaine Oliver

Prize: £75 Vennels Café gift voucher
Winner: Robert Noble

Prize: dinner for two at Wynyard Hall Glasshouse Restaurant
Winner: Kirsten Liddle

Prize: Durham Coffee heritage hamper
Winner: Lindsey Lodge

Prize: Tanfield Railway unlimited family ticket
Winner: Carole Shrubb

Prize: VIP golf session at Hole in the Wand
Winner: Dan Grey

Prize: Five play passes at Berties Play Village
Winner: Julie Malik

Prize: Two tickets at an event at Lord Crewe Arms
Winner: Keith Pearson

Prize: Spa afternoon at The Manor House Hotel and Spa
Winner: Martia Leadbeater

Prize: two tickets for Kynren opening night
Winner: Angela Cleary

Prize: Durham Wildlife Trust annual membership
Winner: Derek Norton

Prize: weekend stay at Plawsworth Hall
Winner: Stephen Cribbs

Prize: £20 Adventure Access gift voucher
Winner: Pamela Law

The Auckland Project Pumpkin Forest

Winner: Marita Leadbeater

September 2024

Prize: Family ticket for the Pumpkin Forest, Auckland Palace.

Do Durham Differently Couples Getaway Competition

Winner: Paul Richards

Jan 2024 – June 2024

Prize:

• One Night, Dinner and Bed and Breakfast for two at Seaham Hall Hotel.
• A guided tour of The Bowes Museum and lunch for two in Café Bowes.
• Entry to Durham Cathedral Museum and tickets to climb the Central Tower.
• Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens Annual Pass - unlimited entry for 12 months.

Great Yorkshire Show competition

Winner: Rosemary Triffitt

July 2024

Prize:

• One night stay: bed and breakfast for two at Radisson Blu Hotel Durham.
• Raby Estates Membership including admission into Raby Castle, Deer Park, The Walled Gardens and High Force Waterfall all year round.
• The Auckland Project family ticket, including admission to Auckland Castle, Gardens & Faith Museum for 2 adults and up to 4 children.
• Two tickets for a summer 2024 performance of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England.

Do Durham Differently Family Getaway Competition

Winner: Nicola Griffiths

Oct 2023 – Jan 2024

Prize:

• Overnight stay for a family of four at Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham with breakfast.
• Beamish Museum Unlimited Family Pass.
• Locomotion goody bag filled with railway souvenirs, a train ticket ride for the whole family and a tour with one of the curators.
• Family membership and gift voucher for Raby Castle.

Durham Christmas Advent Calendar Competition December 2023

Prize: Family ticket for AGLOW, Auckland Castle

Winner: Sonia Robinson

Prize: One night stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Durham

Winner: Dean Allen

Prize: Meal for two at Rio Brazilian Steakhouse Durham 

Winner: Helen Edmondson

Prize: Lunch for two at Vinery Café Restaurant, Raby Castle

Winner: Marine Townsend

Prize: Durham Coffee Heritage Range Gift Hamper

Winner: Joan Crocker

Prize: Annual family pass for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

Winner: Marion Stephenson

Prize: Afternoon Tea for four people at Walworth Castle

Winner: Helen Jones

Prize: Meal for two at Turtle Bay Durham

Winner: Brian Hewitt

Prize: Meal for two at The Glasshouse, Wynyard Hall

Winner: Mary Foster

Prize: Winter Getaway with the Inn Collection

Winner: Brian Farmer

Prize: Unlimited family pass for Beamish Museum

Winner: Simon Cousins

Prize: Entry for two, guided tour and afternoon tea at The Bowes Museum

Winner: Karen Inchliffe

Prize: two event tickets for The Witham

Winner: Ian Thompson

Prize: Game for up to seven people at Lily of Lumley Durham Escape Room

Winner: Edward Chicken

Prize: Family ticket for Adventure Valley

Winner: Valerie Lund

Prize: Spa getaway at The Morritt Country House Hotel and Garage Spa

Winner: Gloria Sturgeon

Prize: Flying Scotsman Goody Bag from Locomotion

Winner: Johnathan Wilkinson

Prize: Overnight stay and event tickets for Lord Crewe Arms

Winner: David Mackay

Prize: Durham Wildlife Trust annual membership

Winner: Susan Stott

Prize: UNESCO World Heritage Site guided walk, guided tour of Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral Central Tower tickets

Winner: Paul Boden

Prize: Sunday Lunch for two at The Black Horse Inn

Winner: Lily Conroy

Prize: Weekend 3-night stay at Plawsworth Hall

Winner: Gillian Walker

Prize: family entry to Crook Hall Gardens

Winner: John Smith

Prize: Family entry to Barnard Castle

Winner: Fiona Clarke

Prize: £150 experience at Lane7 Durham

Winner: Denis Riddle

Competition: Diggerland Durham

September - October 2023

Prize: A family ticket for Diggerland Durham.

Winner: Sue Holden

Competition: Luxmuralis Family Ticket

October 2023

Prize: Family ticket for opening night of Luxmuralis at Durham Cathedral.

Winner: Caron Twyman

Competition: Memorable Moments Survey

June 2023

Prize:

1 - Two night stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Durham, including breakfast, access to the leisure club facilities and free parking.

5 - Annual pass for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.

Radisson stay - Susan Layward

Beamish Passes –

• Erica Cheung
• Emma Mulloy
• David Page
• Jean Auton
• Thomas Hamilton

Competition: Memorable Moments Family Getaway

February – April 2023

Prize:

• Overnight stay for a family of four at Radisson Blu Hotel Durham, including breakfast, access to the leisure club facilities and free parking.
• 2-Day All Access Family Pass for The Auckland Project.
• Unlimited Family Pass for Beamish Museum.
• Locomotion goody bag filled with railway souvenirs.
• Family Arts and Crafts Workshop at The Bowes Museum, with guided Museum tour and refreshments in Café Bowes.
• Annual family pass for Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens.

Winner: Nigel Cave

Competition: Kynren, An Epic Tale of England

Dates: 16 March - 3 April 2023

Prize: One superior family ticket for Kynren, An Epic Tale of England.

Winner: Kathleen Orr

Competition Title: Memorable Moments Getaway for Two

Dates: November – 3 January 23

Prize:

• Overnight stay for two at Headlam Hall Rural Retreat, sharing a Main Hall, Mews or Spa bedroom, including á la carte Dinner, Bed and Breakfast. Plus complimentary access to the award-winning Headlam Spa.
• Central Tower tickets and lunch for two in the Undercroft Restaurant at Durham Cathedral.
• Free admission to The Bowes Museum, plus a guided tour of the museum and lunch in Café Bowes.
• Two All Access 2-Day Passes for The Auckland Project.
• Two individual annual passes for Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens.
• Two tickets for a stargazing event at Grassholme Observatory.
• Unlimited Pass for two for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. 

Winner: Kay Doherty

Competition Title: Christmas Advent Calendar

Dates: 1 – 31 December 2022

Prize: Overnight stay at High Force Hotel
Winner: Elizabeth Cribbs

Prize: Afternoon Tea at Café Bowes and guided tour of The Bowes Museum
Winner: Chantelle Kirkby  

Prize: Diggerland Durham Family Ticket
Winner: Alison Lowe

Prize: Overnight stay at Redworth Hall Hotel
Winner: Stephen Tew

Prize: Travelling Bee Company Moisturising Dog Balm.
Winners: Neil Jacks, Martine Townsend and Helen Douglas

Prize: Overnight stay at Fern Cottage
Winner: Nicolette Landau

Prize: Winter Experience family ticket The Auckland Project
Winner: Julie Dawson

Prize: Three pairs of tickets for Tidings of Joy concert
Winners: Heather Raistrick, Natalie Burgess and Brian Mollon

Prize: £50 voucher to be used at Rio Brazilian Steakhouse Durham
Winner: Gary Burnett

Prize: Afternoon Tea at Lanchester Garden Centre
Winner: Jane Thwaites

Prize: Foraging walk at Dalton Moor Farm
Winner: Sabah Shehabudheen

Prize: Escape Room Durham game
Winner: Alison Will

Prize: Dining Experience at Seaham Hall Hotel
Winner: Simon Liversedge

Prize: Annual Family Pass Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
Winner: Paul Renwick

Prize: £50 voucher Host & Stay
Winner: Karen Hannant  

Prize: Locomotion Goody Bag
Winner: Graham Riches

Prize: Winter Escape with The Inn Collection
Winner: John Orgine

Prize: Overnight stay at Thomas Wright House
Winner: Geoffrey Pollard 

Prize: Family Taster Session at Durham Climbing Centre
Winner: Rebecca Charlton

Prize: Overnight stay at The Saxon Inn
Winner: Gill Rigluth

Prize:  four tickets for a 2023 Durham Cricket Vitality Blast Group Stage match at the Seat Unique Riverside.
Winner: Katharine Burrows

Prize: Spa experience at Wynyard Hall
Winner: John Clark

Prize: £50 dining voucher Coarse Restaurant
Winner: Trish Sutcliffe

Prize: Dalton Park £50 gift card
Winner: Caroline Harvey

Prize: Two tickets for stargazing event at Lord Crewe Arms
Winner: Jill Thorpe

Competition Title: What's in the Queen's Handbag
Dates: 30 May - 6 June

Prize: Beamish Museum – Family Day Pass
Winner: Karen Murphy

Prize: Durham Uni Botanic Garden – Annual Family Pass
Winner: Susan Mackell

Prize: Locomotion Goody Bag
Winner: Bryn Jones

Prize: All Access Family Pass for The Auckland Project!
Winner: Sue Holden

Prize: Grassholme observatory – Two Tickets
Winner: Martin Smith

Prize: Ushaw – Annual Pass
Winner: Elaine Wood

Prize: Northumbria Water – Warm Drink and Cake for Two at Derwent Waterside Park Cafe
Winner: Joanne Moorhouse

Prize: Kynren – Two Tickets
Winner: Lesley Ann McDermott

Prize: Teesdale Cheesemakers – Cheesemaking Experience for Two and Gift Hamper worth £30
Winner: Lynn Howard

Prize: The Food Pit – Gin Tree and Food for Two People.
Winner: Alan Clemie

Prize: Dalton park - £50 Gift Card.
Winner: Jo Wallin

Competition Title: Durham City two night family getaway

Date: 31 March 2022

Winner: Geraldine Densham

Prize includes:

• Two-night stay at Ramside Hall Hotel with breakfast in a Family Premier Room (2 adults and 2 children)
• £100 Turtle Bay Durham gift card
• Durham Cathedral Central Tower tickets and guided tour of the cathedral museum
• Family ticket to Durham University Botanic Garden and Oriental Museum Durham University
• Four tickets for a show of your choice at Gala Durham
• Guided tour of Durham Castle
• Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens 12-month unlimited family pass

Durham Advent Calendar Competitions:

Date: 31 December 2021

Diggerland -  Prize: Five pairs of tickets 
•    Karen Lambton 
•    James McDonald 
•    Karen Knox 
•    Christine Wilson 

Ramside Hall Hotel - Prize: Festive Afternoon Tea
•    Patricia Hyde

Beamish  - Prize: Unlimited Family Pass Gift Voucher 
•    Paul Padgett

Raby Estates  - Prize: Gift Voucher 
•    Karen Dyson

Discovering Durham - Prize: Three £20 gift vouchers 
•    Jack Torrance
•    Jayne West
•    Margaret Tennant

Dalton Park - Prize: £50 gift voucher 
•    Melissa Singh 
•    James McDonald 

The Bowes Museum – Prize: afternoon tea for two and entry to the museum. 
•    Garry Shuttleworth

Winner: Katy Parsons
Date: December 2020
Competition prize:

• Two-night stay for two people in a Main Hall Deluxe or Spa Balcony room at Headlam Hall Hotel
• Dinner on one evening
• A chilled bottle of Prosecco on arrival
• Access to the hotel’s spa (subject to Covid-19 restrictions)

Winners name: David Messer
Date: October 2020
Competition Prize:

• Overnight stay for two in a Junior Suite with dinner and breakfast at Seaham Hall Hotel.
• Access to the Serenity Spa facilities. 
• 45 minute spa treatment per person

Winners name:  Sandra Hinder
Date: August 2020 
Competition Prize:

• One night stay including breakfast for two at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham City. 
• Durham Family VIP Pass

Winners name: Mr Gerald Gregory-Jones
Date: October 2019
Competition Prize:

• Two night’s B&B with dinner on the first night at Headlam Hall
• A family day pass and photography experience at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, plus traditional sweet shop vouchers
• Guided tour of Durham Cathedral along with entry to Open Treasure and the Cathedral’s newly re-opened Central Tower
• Private tour of Durham Castle
• Durham Family VIP Pass
   

Winner name: Nicola Weir 
Date: September 2019 
Competition prize:  win a two night stay at Hotel Indigo during the Lumiere

• Two night stay for two people at Hotel Indigo Durham
• Breakfast on both mornings
• Three course evening meal on one night at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill 
• Durham VIP Pass

Date: June 2019 
Competition prize:  CWC match tickets – a pair of tickets to each of the three cwc19 matches played at Riverside Stadium.  
Winners names: 
1.    Shiva Sirikonda
2.    Matthew Lafferty 
3.    Nick Thompson
4.    Rebecca Dodds
5.    Graham Henry
6.    Maria Hackett
7.    Charlotte Hughes 
8.    James McVie
9.    Jaskaran Dhami
10.    Kevin Mackenzie
11.    Ramsundar Govindarajan
12.    Paul Hoggarth 
13.    Ben Aynsley
14.    David Fawcett
15.    James Smith
16.    Beverley Smith-Elgey 
17.    David Mynot
18.    Nitin Aggarwal  
19.    Michelle Tebbutt
20.    Gerard  Ward

Winner name: Matthew Bobbin
Date: May 2019
Competition prize:  A two night family break in the Durham Dales.

• Two-night stay in one of the Yurts at Killhope and museum family pass.
• #TasteDurham Breakfast Hamper, filled with delicious local produce waiting for you in your yurt. 
• Hamsterley Forest Discovery Pass and two Zog Activity Trail Packs.
• Canoeing experience with Weardale Adventure Centre. 
• Afternoon of activities at T C R The Hub including high ropes, archery and kayaking and warm meal. 
• A Family Durham VIP Pass to the county's top attractions.               

Winner name: Lorraine Fletcher  
Date: January 2019 
Competition prize:  A two night break on the Durham Coast

• Two-night stay with breakfast at The Seaton Lane Inn with welcome cocktail on arrival and three course meal every night. 
• £100 gift voucher to spend at Dalton Park Shopping and Outlet Centre.  
• Two hour taster session at Seaham Harbour Marina Activity Centre. 
• A Durham VIP Pass allowing complimentary access to Durham’s primary attractions, worth £400

Winner name: Brian Barks 
Date: October 2018 
Competition prize: Win a  luxury historic two night break in Durham.

• Two-night stay with breakfast at Hotel Indigo Durham.
• Three-course a la carte meal in the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill 
• A Durham VIP Pass allowing complimentary access to Durham’s primary attractions, worth £400

Winner name: Gwenda Culkin 
Date: October 2018 
Competition prize:  Win a two night stay for 4 people at the North Pennines Stargazing in the Durham Dales.

• Sky-Watcher Startravel 102 (AZ3) Telescope worth £200
• Four tickets to The Science of the Moon and the Stars event with Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE
• Two nights at the North Pennines Stargazing Festival Star Camp, staying in a Northern Star Tepee 19th – 21st October
• Taste Durham Breakfast Hamper
• Stargazing Kit - including picnic blanket, Stargazing for Dummies Book, travel mugs and night vision headlight
• A Durham VIP Pass allowing complimentary access to Durham’s primary attractions, worth £400

Winner: Mrs Gwenda Culkin
Competition Entered: Stargazing Festival Family Break (Ended October 12, 2018)
Prize: A two-night glamping break in a Northern Tepee, tickets to star gazing events, a Sky-Watcher telescope, Taste Durham Hamper, a stargazing goodie pack and a Durham VIP Pass.

Winner: Gail Ward
Competition Entered: Outdoor Break in the Durham Dales (Ended February 28, 2018)
Prize: A two-night stay at Bonners Lodge, a two-course dinner for two at the Punch Bowl Inn at Edmundbyers, Electric bike hire from the Old Village shop, Edmundbyers and a Durham VIP Pass.

Winner: Mrs Barrowman
Competition Entered: Durham City Break (Ended September 30, 2017)
Prize: Overnight stay at Durham Marriott Hotel Royal County, three course evening meal at Finbarrs and a Durham VIP Pass

Winner: Ms N Threadingham
Competition Entered: Tasty Breaks (Ended June 30, 2017)
Prize: Overnight stay at Dowfold House, and evening meal at Whitworth Hall 

Terms & Conditions

The winner(s) will be drawn at random by the Promoter (Visit County Durham) within four working days of the competition closing date. The winner(s) will be notified by email within one week of the winner being drawn. The winner(s) must notify Visit County Durham of their acceptance of the prize within five working days of notification. In the event of non-response or non-acceptance within the specified time period, the Promoter reserves the right to reallocate the prize to the next randomly drawn valid entry.

• No purchase is necessary
• Open to adults aged 18 and over
• No cash alternative
• Non-transferable
• Please refer to competition details above for prize-specific terms and conditions
• Visit County Durham employees and their families, and any person professionally connected with the competition, are not permitted to enter
• Unless specified, travel costs are not included in the prize
• Any expenditure incurred by the winner(s) over and above the prize elements detailed, must be settled by the prize winner
• Winner(s) names will be published on www.visitcountydurham.org

It is a condition of entry that the terms and conditions are accepted as final and that entrants agree to abide by the rules.
The Promoter will not accept responsibility for loss of entries through technical fault or transmission delays, or due to incomplete or illegible submissions. Proof of entry is not automatically proof of receipt.
No correspondence will be entered into.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any incident which may occur during redemption of a prize.
 
Promoter: Visit County Durham, 2nd Floor, County Hall, Dryburn Road, Durham, DH1 5UL