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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Visitor Ready
3 Jul 2024
VisitEngland and The AA have launched Visitor Ready which empowers you to showcase your commitment to compliance with core standards, to assure customers you have the necessary checks in place. Visitor Ready is free and managed online, so make sure you sign-up today and give your customers...
Read More about Visitor ReadyGreen Tourism Workshop
3 Jul 2024
Green Tourism and Destination North East England are hosting a Green Tourism Business Engagement Webinar for all visitor economy, meetings and events businesses in the region on Tuesday 16th July between 11am-12pm. Find out about the Green Tourism/Meetings programme and how your business can...
Read More about Green Tourism WorkshopTraders announced for Seaham Food Festival
3 Jul 2024
From loaded mac and cheese, Mediterranean mezze, to creamy cheesecakes and sweet treats, the traders have been announced for Seaham Food Festival. Durham County Council has confirmed that more than 120 traders will be setting up shop along Seaham’s coastline on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4...
Read More about Traders announced for Seaham Food FestivalTourism awards masterclass
26 Jun 2024
We are pleased to offer businesses looking to submit an application to the Tourism Awards 2025 the chance to hear from tourism expert Nell Barrington at a FREE online application masterclass taking place on Wednesday 10th July between 2:30pm and 3:30pm. If you have questions about the Tourism...
Read More about Tourism awards masterclassTravel trade workshops
26 Jun 2024
Join travel industry expert, Mike Newman for FREE introductory workshops on how the travel trade can support the growth of your business. The workshops will take you through what it means to be "Travel Trade Ready" and how businesses can maximise the potential of the international visitor....
Read More about Travel trade workshopsTXGB and Guestline
26 Jun 2024
TXGB is now available as part of the new Distribution Hub (extended channels) option within Guestline. Any Guestline businesses looking to connect to TXGB to drive direct sales from thisisdurham.com can now enable this feature by simply speaking to their Guestline account manager to request...
Read More about TXGB and GuestlineAuckland Castle hosts rare European masterpieces
25 Jun 2024
An intriguing new exhibition opening at Auckland Castle this summer will unveil rarely seen European masterpieces. From 6 July, paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters such as Rembrandt, David Teniers and Paulus Potter will feature alongside Spanish, French and Italian works in an exhibition...
Read More about Auckland Castle hosts rare European masterpiecesBeamish Museum prepares to open new 1950s and Georgian exhibits
24 Jun 2024
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is preparing to open its newest exhibits - a Georgian tavern and pottery, and 1950s cinema and shops, marking the culmination of the biggest capital development in the museum's history. The Drovers Tavern, serving a Georgian-inspired menu, and...
Read More about Beamish Museum prepares to open new 1950s and Georgian exhibitsBishop Auckland is officially 'Coach Friendly'
21 Jun 2024
Bishop Auckland has been awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s ‘Coach Friendly’ accreditation, in recognition of the town’s commitment to coach tourism. The award was presented to the Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Cllr Mike Harker, in Bishop Auckland Market Place on Friday 21st...
Read More about Bishop Auckland is officially 'Coach Friendly'New Remaking Beamish openings
19 Jun 2024
To celebrate the opening of the latest Remaking Beamish developments, the Museum is holding a weekend of celebrations starting this Friday 21st June. The opening of the new 1820 Drovers Tavern and Pottery, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, add to the fantastic and growing offer at...
Read More about New Remaking Beamish openingsThe Story begins as new attraction opens to public
17 Jun 2024
A new visitor attraction celebrating the past, present and future of County Durham is now open to the public. Durham County Council officially opened The Story on Friday 14 June – a gateway to the history of County Durham and its people, on the outskirts of Durham City. Located in the recently...
Read More about The Story begins as new attraction opens to publicNew visitor destination in the north set to open this weekend
13 Jun 2024
After six years of planning, Raby Castle is ready to open its doors and welcome visitors to The Rising, a 24-acre site featuring the remodelled Walled Garden along with old and new buildings. It is an ambitious scheme – the largest and most significant for generations at the 14th century family...
Read More about New visitor destination in the north set to open this weekendGreen Tourism opportunity
12 Jun 2024
Destination North East England, through the Destination Development Partnership pilot, is offering a fully funded year-one membership of Green Tourism to the first 100 visitor economy businesses to apply successfully - plus 50% and 25% discounts in the second and third years respectively. Also on...
Read More about Green Tourism opportunityBe the first to see inside The Story
10 Jun 2024
A new visitor attraction celebrating the past, present and future of County Durham will open to the public next week. Durham County Council has organised a series of special activities to mark the opening of The Story on Friday 14 June and across the weekend. Historical re-enactments, pop-up...
Read More about Be the first to see inside The StoryBanks Group Take a Seat at Beamish Museum in Beamish Museum’s 1950s cinema
6 Jun 2024
Property development and energy company, the Banks Group, has become the first business to sponsor a seat in the 1950s cinema being recreated at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. The County Durham open air museum has built a recreation of the Grand, from Ryhope in Sunderland, as part of its...
Read More about Banks Group Take a Seat at Beamish Museum in Beamish Museum’s 1950s cinema