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Misericord or mercy seat from the Tunstall Chapel featuring a pig playing the Northumbrian pipes.

Celebrate World Heritage Day in Durham

11 April 2022
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See Durham’s history come alive like never before in celebration of the International World Heritage Day on April 18. There will be open tours and a medieval re-enactment at Durham Castle and at Palace Green Library there will be themed activities around the Lindisfarne Gospels - with your own, family friendly, crafty creations to take away. And you will have the opportunity to visit our World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.

There will be exciting and interactive exhibits and activities running all day on Easter Monday 18 April between 11am - 6pm. World Heritage Day will be an opportunity to see the hidden history of Durham's UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Come along and join in the fun

Visitors on tourWith indoor activities running in Durham Cathedral, Palace Green Library, Owengate and Durham Castle as well as outdoor activities across the World Heritage Site there will be something for everyone making it a wonderful day out for the whole family. 

It will be a great Easter Bank Holiday event - there will be wandering actors, arts and crafts, and live music from the best local bands. 

So, pack a picnic, grab a bite from a local eatery or from the food stalls on site and come and explore the hidden history of Durham’s incredible World Heritage Site. 

On the day 

All day around the World Heritage Site 
  • Hidden Histories
  • Heritage Children’s Trail
  • Living Lives
  • Food van and community stalls 
Live Music 
  • Palace Green 12pm – 6pm 
  • Look out for Nordestinos from Jack Drum Arts, combining Samba drums with a northeast Folk music twist or else jazz it up with Dilutey Juice performing in front of the Cathedral. 
Indoor attractions 
  • Palace Green Library 
  • 12pm – 6pm - Explore the Lindisfarne Gospels with your own, family friendly, crafty creations to take away 
Durham Castle 
  • 11am – 3pm Open tours 
  • 11am – 5pm Medieval Re-enactment 

Access for self-guided tours will be restricted to limited numbers at a time. Bookings taken on the day. 

Durham Cathedral 
  • 12pm – 6pm - meet Alwin the monk in the Chapter House or get hands-on and dress up as a monk. 
Owengate 
  • 10am – 5pm – Join the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies with short talks on everything from book binding, medieval herbs to how our world heritage site has changed and will continue to do so. 
Walking Tours 
  • Palace Green (starting point) 
  • WHD Walking (1hr 15mins) Tour – 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm 
  • Coal Stories (2hr) Tour – 2pm 
  • Book on the day 
UNESCO Talk by Dan Jackson 
  • Assembly Rooms Theatre, North Bailey 6pm – 7pm 

Suitable for all 12+.

Book on the day.

 

Discover more about World Heritage Day 

Find out about County Durham’s bid for UK City of Culture 2025

Find out more about Durham Castle 

Find out more about Palace Green Library