Media Room
Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
2024: Year in Search
6 Feb 2025
We take a look back on what visitors searched for and looked at throughout 2024 on thisisdurham.com, the county’s official tourism website. January As the new year got underway visitors to our website were busy making plans for the month and year ahead. One of the most popular searches was Durham...
Read More about 2024: Year in SearchEnglish Tourism Week
6 Feb 2025
English Tourism Week takes place 14th - 23rd March, and the campaign toolkit is now available for you to download. Designed to kickstart the summer season, the annual campaign gives businesses and destinations an opportunity to shout about tourism as part of a national campaign and raise awareness...
Read More about English Tourism WeekWe are Hiring
6 Feb 2025
Visit County Durham is looking for an International Partnerships Executive who has knowledge of the visitor economy, culture and creative industry sectors and their role in place-making. You will work to develop and manage internal and external international partnerships and connections that...
Read More about We are HiringPromote your Events
6 Feb 2025
In the build up to February half-term and the Easter holidays, we will be using our consumer channels to promote the amazing range of events visitors can enjoy across the county. A dedicated events landing page has been created for half-term and Easter events. Our thisisdurham.com 'What's On'...
Read More about Promote your EventsHall Hill Farm in County Durham Crowned UK’s Best Large Farm Attraction
6 Feb 2025
Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester, County Durham, is celebrating a huge win after being named Large Farm Attraction of the Year at the prestigious National Farm Attractions Network Awards. The awards gala, held last week at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, brought together the UK’s top farm...
Read More about Hall Hill Farm in County Durham Crowned UK’s Best Large Farm AttractionRamside Hall Hotel to create multi million pound golf facility
6 Feb 2025
A County Durham hotel is investing more than £6m in creating what will be one of the UK’s top golf facilities. Ramside Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa already has two championship courses, which brings players from across the region and nationally. And now the hotel is building a multi-million-pound...
Read More about Ramside Hall Hotel to create multi million pound golf facilityVisitBritain awards Gateway Fund to inspire international visitors to explore Britain through regional gateways
3 Feb 2025
Destination North East England and Marketing Manchester have secured funding from VisitBritain’s GREAT Gateway Innovation Fund. With VisitBritain’s global screen tourism campaign ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ set to launch, the Gateway Fund campaigns will feature film and tv...
Read More about VisitBritain awards Gateway Fund to inspire international visitors to explore Britain through regional gatewaysNorth Pennines tribute festival returns for 2025 with early bird discount offer
3 Feb 2025
Derwent Fest is back and ready to transport festival goers through the decades with a tribute weekend like no other. Set in the picturesque North Pennines at Derwent Waterside Park, music, fun and relaxation come together to create an unforgettable weekend. The event takes place on 15 & 16...
Read More about North Pennines tribute festival returns for 2025 with early bird discount offerLocal Award Voting
29 Jan 2025
Voting is now open for Tourism Event & Festival of the Year in the North East England Tourism Awards! This is the first time we've had a publicly voted category - good luck to all the finalists. The businesses shortlisted are: Durham Fire & Ice Festival (Durham BID), Kynren, Northern Pride...
Read More about Local Award VotingExpedia Campaign
29 Jan 2025
Visit County Durham has partnered with Newcastle International Airport, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit Northumberland and Sunderland City Council to deliver a £40k marketing campaign with Expedia to drive an increase in visitors from France. The campaign supports the Easyjet route from...
Read More about Expedia CampaignLNER unveils 'Darlington' livery as it celebrates 200 years of the railway
29 Jan 2025
To kick off a year of celebrations, LNER has unveiled a commemorative livery on one of its Azuma trains to mark 200 years since the first passenger journey on the world-famous Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR). ‘Darlington’ has been designed to hail the town’s world-changing...
Read More about LNER unveils 'Darlington' livery as it celebrates 200 years of the railwaySave the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025
28 Jan 2025
Tuesday 28 January 2025. Artichoke has announced dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025. Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County...
Read More about Save the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025VisitBritain launches global screen tourism campaign with blockbuster-inspired film
28 Jan 2025
To drive inbound tourism across Britain, national tourism agency VisitBritain has this week launched a global screen tourism campaign, kicking off with a blockbuster-inspired film that sees Britain the star of the show. The campaign ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ rolls out internationally...
Read More about VisitBritain launches global screen tourism campaign with blockbuster-inspired filmDurham Restaurant Week Returns From January 31 to February 7
27 Jan 2025
Diners in Durham can try out the city’s newly opened restaurants at a fraction of the cost during Durham Restaurant Week – which kicks off next Friday. Fiik, Zaap Thai, Jozef’s Riverside Bar and Restaurant and Café at The Quarter have all signed up to the hugely popular event, which runs...
Read More about Durham Restaurant Week Returns From January 31 to February 7The 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...
Read More about The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances in the historic building starting with Nerina Pallot