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Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
S&DR200 Festival announces opening of Trail of Discovery and launch of interactive game
2 Mar 2026
S&DR200 festival has announced the official opening of the Trail of Discovery, a new public walking and cycling route that follows sections of the original 26-mile journey of the world’s first passenger railway—the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR), complete with an interactive...
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Industry
International cricket in Durham set to bowl visitors over
2 Mar 2026
High-profile international matches will bring world-class cricket, and visitors, to Durham during 2026, showcasing elite talent and offering local fans a chance to watch England play close to home. Banks Homes Riverside, home of Durham Cricket, prepares to welcome three major England international...
Read More about International cricket in Durham set to bowl visitors overMore great names join the line-up for Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026
2 Mar 2026
Brothers who convinced a Dragons’ Den judge to invest in them, the latest winner of The Great British Bake Off, a presenter of the popular BBC daytime series Escape To The Country and pies inspired by Bishop Auckland. All are newly announced for this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival, which...
Read More about More great names join the line-up for Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026Lost Feather Takes Flight as Landmark Arena Rises at Kynren - The Storied Lands
24 Feb 2026
Construction is gathering pace on one of the most ambitious and distinctive attractions ever created for a UK visitor destination, as the vast Lost Feather arena continues to take shape at Kynren – The Storied Lands. The striking new venue, featuring a colossal bird’s nest, is rapidly taking...
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Industry
The Auckland Project strikes gold with VisitEngland
24 Feb 2026
The Auckland Project’s heritage holiday accommodation has been recognised at the highest level after achieving outstanding results in its latest VisitEngland quality assessment. A selection of properties within Auckland Palace Stays were awarded prestigious star ratings, with Bishop Lightfoot...
Read More about The Auckland Project strikes gold with VisitEnglandFree Entry to Family Open Day at The Bowes Museum
17 Feb 2026
Saturday 21 February 2026 from 10:30am to 4pm, The Bowes Museum invites visitors to enjoy a variety of activities on its Family Open Day with free entry for everyone. Recommended for all the family, the event is an opportunity to try pet-themed pottery painting, learn about conservation, take part...
Read More about Free Entry to Family Open Day at The Bowes MuseumMining Art Gallery marks Tom McGuinness’s centenary with Out of the Darkness exhibition
16 Feb 2026
Bishop Auckland’s Mining Art Gallery will honour one of County Durham’s most compelling artists with Tom McGuinness: Out of the Darkness – opening on 18 February - a major retrospective marking the centenary of the acclaimed miner-artist, born in 1926. Drawing on a lifetime spent...
Read More about Mining Art Gallery marks Tom McGuinness’s centenary with Out of the Darkness exhibitionNew winter arts festival ‘IGNITE’ to light up Bishop Auckland this February
16 Feb 2026
This free celebration of light, storytelling and shared creativity is brought by Daisy Arts, in partnership with Hearth, The Auckland Project and Artistic Solutions. With the rallying cry “When the nights are long, we bring the light,” the festival invites families, friends, and visitors of all...
Read More about New winter arts festival ‘IGNITE’ to light up Bishop Auckland this FebruaryDiscover Canny Creations at Beamish Museum this Half Term
13 Feb 2026
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North will some of the greatest inventions to come from the North East, from Saturday, 14th February until Sunday, 1st March. Enjoy Canny Creations: Wonderful North East Inventions from Saturday, 14th February to Sunday, 1st March. Head to Pockerley Waggonway and...
Read More about Discover Canny Creations at Beamish Museum this Half TermBinchester Roman Fort gets new custodians
13 Feb 2026
An attraction which shows what life was like at one of the largest Roman military sites in Northern Britain is to come under new management. Durham County Council will be transferring the custodianship of Binchester Roman Fort to The Auckland Project as part of plans to enhance visitor experience...
Read More about Binchester Roman Fort gets new custodiansDurham City welcomes the Year of the Horse
13 Feb 2026
Durham City will come alive with colour, dancing and music next week to celebrate the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival. The city will ring in the Year of the Horse with an exciting line up of family activities and events, to mark the official New Year on...
Read More about Durham City welcomes the Year of the HorseNorth East landmark to host its first major two day music event
12 Feb 2026
One of the North East’s most iconic landmarks is opening a new chapter in its 600 year history, by staging the first two-day music event with ATA Events. Lumley Castle Hotel at Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will be the backdrop for Opulence, running on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September. While...
Read More about North East landmark to host its first major two day music eventLocomotion needs your help to break GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title this February half term
11 Feb 2026
Locomotion and S&DR200 are inviting you to join an official attempt at their first ever GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title on Thursday 26 February at Locomotion for the greatest number of people simultaneously...
Read More about Locomotion needs your help to break GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title this February half termRaising the Roof – ‘Hollywood’ thatchers add star quality to Kynren's landmark new attraction
10 Feb 2026
Kynren – The Storied Lands has brought a touch of Hollywood to County Durham after enlisting renowned film and television specialists Brandon Thatchers to create thatched roofs for the full-size, two-storey village setting for one of its spectacular new shows, Legend of the Wear. ...
Read More about Raising the Roof – ‘Hollywood’ thatchers add star quality to Kynren's landmark new attractionNorth East tourism stars take centre stage as voting opens in national tourism superstar competition
10 Feb 2026
A much-loved volunteer guide at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is representing County Durham and the wider North East in VisitEngland’s prestigious national Tourism Superstar competition, with public voting now open. 87-year-old Jimmy Nicol, a volunteer guide at Raby Castle, is one of just ten...
Read More about North East tourism stars take centre stage as voting opens in national tourism superstar competition