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Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Stanley

Companionship careDurham

Days out in Durham for an older parent

Ten places in Durham that make a good day out for an older parent, from Beamish, The Living Museum of the North to Durham University Botanic Garden. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North. Photo: Beamish Museum, CC BY 2.0

Ten days out across eight towns

The best places to take an older parent in Durham

Four of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and five confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Stanley

Photo: Beamish Museum, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Stanley

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

Beamish near Stanley is a large open-air museum where rebuilt streets, a pit village, a colliery, farms and a 1950s town show everyday life in the North East, with costumed staff in the shops and houses. Old trams and buses carry visitors between the areas, and there are tea rooms and cafés across the site.

Wheelchairs and motorised scooters can be hired, there are accessible toilets in almost every area and free accessible parking by the entrance, although some slopes are steep and some buildings have steps.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry, ticket valid for a year

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Stanley

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

Photo: Alden Chadwick, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Barnard Castle

The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is a French-style chateau built to hold the art and decorative collections of John and Joséphine Bowes, including paintings by Canaletto and Goya and the famous Silver Swan automaton. Café Bowes and formal gardens are on site, and the market town is a short walk away.

All floors have level access with a lift, wheelchairs and folding gallery stools can be borrowed free of charge, and accessible parking is directly behind the building.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Barnard Castle

Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland

Photo: Paul Buckingham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Bishop Auckland

Auckland Palace

Auckland Palace was home to the Prince Bishops of Durham for 800 years and now shows its state rooms and chapel as part of The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland. Nearby in the market place are the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the Faith Museum, with a deer park behind the palace.

The palace, galleries and Auckland Tower have lifts and accessible toilets, and a small number of manual wheelchairs are available, though the car park is about 650 metres from the palace.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Bishop Auckland

Weardale Railway, Stanhope

Photo: Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Heritage railway · Stanhope

Weardale Railway

The Weardale Railway runs heritage trains along the upper Wear valley between Stanhope, Frosterley and Wolsingham, through farmland and moorland edges. Stanhope is a small dales town with a riverside and a market place to explore before or after the ride.

Stanhope Station has level access, Blue Badge spaces and an accessible toilet, a ramp is used for boarding at every station, and carers travel free with a ticket-holder who has access needs.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid fares, carers travel free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Stanhope

Durham Cathedral, Durham

Photo: mattbuck (category), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Durham

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is one of the finest Norman buildings in Europe, standing high above the River Wear with Durham Castle as a World Heritage Site. Inside are the shrine of St Cuthbert and the tomb of the Venerable Bede, and there is a café and shop in the cloisters.

The main floor of the cathedral is large and mostly level, and a ramp is available for the Galilee Chapel, so a parent can see the main sights with rests in the pews.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Durham

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop

Photo: GlenBowman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Staindrop

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

Raby Castle near Staindrop is a medieval castle of the Neville family set in a deer park, with walled gardens, a Vinery café and the Plotters' Forest play area. The castle rooms are open from March to October, while the park and gardens make a good outing in their own right.

There are accessible walkways through the gardens, benches along the 350 metre route to the castle, accessible toilets at the Vinery Café, and a reduced ticket for visitors who can only manage the ground floor.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Staindrop

Hamsterley Forest, Bishop Auckland

Photo: Oliver Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Bishop Auckland

Hamsterley Forest

Hamsterley Forest is County Durham's largest forest, run by Forestry England in the hills west of Bishop Auckland, with walking trails, a family trail and mountain bike routes. There is a café by the main car park that is open every day.

There are four accessible parking spaces and a café near the car park, so a carer can plan a short woodland stroll with a hot drink afterwards.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Bishop Auckland

Seaham seafront, Seaham

Photo: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Seaham

Seaham seafront

Seaham is a town on the Durham Heritage Coast with a sandy North Beach sheltered by a long sea wall, cliff-top views and a small harbour marina. It is known for sea glass washed up on its beaches and has one of England's oldest churches, St Mary the Virgin.

The promenade along the sea wall and the marina are close to parking and cafés, so a carer can plan a short walk by the sea with plenty of places to stop.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Seaham

Locomotion, Shildon

Photo: BazzaDaRambler, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Shildon

Locomotion

Locomotion at Shildon is part of the National Railway Museum and holds a large collection of historic locomotives and carriages in a big modern hall, near the start of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Entry is free.

Most of the collection is under one roof in a single large hall, so a carer can plan a steady walk around the engines with breaks as needed.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Shildon

Durham University Botanic Garden, Durham

Photo: peter robinson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Durham

Durham University Botanic Garden

The university's Botanic Garden on the south side of Durham has woodland and themed gardens, with plants from around the world and glasshouses holding tropical and desert plants. There is a café on site.

It is a compact garden with a café near the entrance, so a carer can plan a gentle loop through the glasshouses and a sit-down.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Durham

Regular groups and events in Durham

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Durham.

  • Cooking & Baking · SeahamSeaham Food Festival on the seafrontA free two day council-run festival of food stalls, cookery demonstrations and live entertainment beside the sea at Seaham. A carer can go early when it is quieter, find seating for the demonstrations and carry purchases home to cook together.Details
  • Music · DurhamBrass bands and banners at the Durham Miners' GalaThe Big Meeting, held on the second Saturday in July since 1871, brings colliery bands and lodge banners through Durham city to the racecourse. A carer can find a spot on the parade route with somewhere to sit rather than joining the crush in the Market Place.Details
  • Dancing · Bishop AucklandAfternoon tea dance with a live big bandAs part of Durham Brass Festival, a traditional afternoon tea dance is held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall with live music from a big band. A carer can book seats in advance so dancing is optional and listening over tea is enough of a reason to go.Details
  • Reading · DurhamAuthor events at Durham Book FestivalAn annual autumn festival in central Durham, produced by New Writing North, with author talks and readings over a long weekend. A carer can choose a single afternoon event, book seats early and bring the book along for signing.Details
  • ReadingCounty library services that come to youDurham County Council runs a Bookbus to care homes, sheltered housing and day centres, plus large print collections in every library in the county. A carer can arrange deliveries or borrow large print and audio titles on someone's behalf so reading continues at home.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Durham

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Beamish, The Living Museum of the NorthStanleya full dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
The Bowes MuseumBarnard Castlehalf a dayPaid entryYesYesYes
Auckland PalaceBishop Aucklandhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesAsk
Weardale RailwayStanhopehalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesAsk
Durham CathedralDurhaman hour or twoFreePartlyAskAsk
Raby Castle, Park and GardensStaindrophalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Hamsterley ForestBishop Aucklandan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Seaham seafrontSeahaman hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
LocomotionShildonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Durham University Botanic GardenDurhaman hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Durham

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

ConsettNewton AycliffeCrookChester le StreetSouthsideSedgefield12345678910
  1. 1Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Stanley
  2. 2The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
  3. 3Auckland Palace, Bishop Auckland
  4. 4Weardale Railway, Stanhope
  5. 5Durham Cathedral, Durham
  6. 6Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, Staindrop
  7. 7Hamsterley Forest, Bishop Auckland
  8. 8Seaham seafront, Seaham
  9. 9Locomotion, Shildon
  10. 10Durham University Botanic Garden, Durham

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Durham

Carers in Durham charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Durham has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Durham

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in Stanley, The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, Auckland Palace in Bishop Auckland, Weardale Railway in Stanhope, Durham Cathedral in Durham, Raby Castle, Park and Gardens in Staindrop, Hamsterley Forest in Bishop Auckland, Seaham seafront in Seaham, Locomotion in Shildon and Durham University Botanic Garden in Durham. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for The Bowes Museum describes a step-free route. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, The Bowes Museum, Auckland Palace, Weardale Railway and Raby Castle, Park and Gardens have an accessible toilet. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, The Bowes Museum and Auckland Palace lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Durham Cathedral, Hamsterley Forest, Seaham seafront and Locomotion. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 37 of the carers with a rate near Durham drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Durham shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Durham

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Durham

Days out in the areas around Durham

Companionship care by town in Durham

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Durham

See carers near Durham who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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