England's Third-Oldest University
Durham University
University College students live in Durham Castle, a Norman fortress begun in 1072 that forms a World Heritage Site with the cathedral next door. Below it, Ove Arup's Kingsgate Bridge was built in two halves that were swung across the river to meet.
- 4Buildings
- 3Traditions
- 1072Oldest · Durham Castle
- 1966Newest · Kingsgate Bridge
Campus map and Look Around
Tap a numbered pin to see that building from the street with Apple Look Around.
Planning the visit
- Fly intoNewcastle International Airport (NCL)
Newcastle Airport is the nearest major airport to Durham, roughly half an hour away by road. Durham is also on the East Coast Main Line, with direct trains from London and Edinburgh.
- Getting aroundWalking
Durham's historic peninsula is small and hilly, wrapped in a loop of the River Wear. Footbridges such as Kingsgate connect it with the colleges and departments across the river.
- Colors and teams
Durham students belong to colleges, and the oldest, University College, is known to everyone simply as 'Castle'.
4 buildings to stamp
-
Durham Castle
Palace Green, Durham DH1 3RW
Begun in 1072 under William the Conqueror, the Norman castle was home to the prince-bishops of Durham for centuries. Since 1837 it has housed University College, and its 14th-century Great Hall is still used for meals.
- Built
- 1072
- Architect
- Unknown (Norman builders)
- Style
- Norman
- Today
- University College
-
Photo: George Henry Adcock after Robert William Buss, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Cosin's Library
Palace Green, Durham DH1 3RN
Bishop John Cosin built this library on Palace Green in 1667–68 as one of the first public libraries in northern England. It still holds his collection and is owned by the university.
- Built
- 1668
- Architect
- John Longstaffe
- Style
- Restoration-era
- Today
- University library collection
-
Kingsgate Bridge
Bow Lane, Durham DH1 3ES
Ove Arup personally designed this concrete footbridge, his last structure and one of his favourites. Each half was built along the riverbank and then rotated 90 degrees to meet in the middle, where a bronze joint marks the spot.
- Built
- 1966
- Architect
- Ove Arup
- Style
- Brutalist
- Today
- Footbridge
-
Photo: Tim Packer / TSP, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Dunelm House
New Elvet, Durham DH1 3AN
Stepping down the steep bank of the River Wear, this angular concrete building has a straight staircase through all its levels, meant to feel like an interior street. Saved from demolition, it was listed in 2021 as England's foremost post-war students' union building.
- Built
- 1966
- Architect
- Architects' Co-Partnership (Richard Raines and Michael Powers)
- Style
- Brutalist
- Stories
- 6
- Today
- Students' union
3 traditions to check off
Stamped! keeps these as a checklist, so you can tick each one off on the visit.
See the Sanctuary Knocker
In medieval times, anyone who had committed a great offence could grasp the ring on Durham Cathedral's north door and claim 37 days of sanctuary. Visitors can see the replica ring on the north door; the 12th-century original is in the Cathedral Museum.
Tour the Castle College
Durham Castle on Palace Green is home to University College, where about 150 students live and formal dinners are still held in the medieval Great Hall. Visitors can see inside on a guided tour, which runs daily outside term time.
Find the Dun Cow
Local legend says monks carrying St Cuthbert's body followed a milkmaid looking for her lost dun cow to the hill where the cathedral now stands. Dun Cow Lane, beside the cathedral, takes its name from a carving of the story on the cathedral, and visitors can look for it.
Know Durham University well?
Students and alumni know the traditions best. Suggest one we're missing, a building worth a stamp, or a fix. Every suggestion is checked against a source before it goes into the app.
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Stamp all 4 on your visit.
Tour Durham University in 3D before you go, add it to a college road trip and earn a passport stamp at every building. Free on iPhone and iPad.
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