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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.

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Format: 29-12-2023
Format: 30-12-2023
S&DR200 Festival announces opening of Trail of Discovery and launch of interactive game Industry

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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International cricket in Durham set to bowl visitors over 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...

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More great names join the line-up for Bishop Auckland Food Festival 2026 Industry

More 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...

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Lost Feather Takes Flight as Landmark Arena Rises at Kynren - The Storied Lands Industry

Lost 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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The Auckland Project strikes gold with VisitEngland 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...

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Free Entry to Family Open Day at The Bowes Museum Industry

Free 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...

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Mining Art Gallery marks Tom McGuinness’s centenary with Out of the Darkness exhibition Industry

Mining 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...

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New winter arts festival ‘IGNITE’ to light up Bishop Auckland this February Industry

New 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...

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Discover Canny Creations at Beamish Museum this Half Term Industry

Discover 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...

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Binchester Roman Fort gets new custodians Industry

Binchester 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...

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Durham City welcomes the Year of the Horse Industry

Durham 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...

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North East landmark to host its first major two day music event Industry

North 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...

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Locomotion needs your help to break GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title this February half term  Industry

Locomotion 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...

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Raising the Roof – ‘Hollywood’ thatchers add star quality to Kynren's landmark new attraction Industry

Raising 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. ...

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North East tourism stars take centre stage as voting opens in national tourism superstar competition Visit County Durham

North 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...

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