Heather View Leisure Park - Fun Days Out

Hall Hill Farm is an award-winning farm attraction near Tow Law in County Durham. It has been open to the public since 1981 and is still a working farm, run by the family who have farmed here since 1925. The land covers 290 hectares of grassland, woodland and crops, and the farm is home to over a thousand sheep.

Visitors can meet llamas, wallabies, Highland cattle, pigs, donkeys, ponies, chicks, lambs and rabbits, and there are friendly rabbits to handle. Admission includes a tractor and trailer ride. You can also play wonky donkey crazy golf and watch puppet shows, with a barrel train and mini jeeps as extras. The farm also takes school and group visits, and offers birthday parties and an Adopt an Animal scheme.

Tip: Tickets can be bought in advance online, and the farm can be phoned on 01388 731333 for help with pre-booking.

Raby Castle is a Grade I listed medieval castle near Staindrop in County Durham, built by the Nevilles between about 1367 and 1390. It has nine towers, a Neville Gateway with grooves still visible from its portcullises, and a large art collection including works by old masters and portraits. It remains a private family home, and the grounds include 200 acres of deer park.

The 18th-century walled gardens are a big draw in their own right. Designer Luciano Giubbilei and Lady Barnard remodelled them, and they came second in the 2025 European Garden Awards. You'll find historic yew hedges, a fig tree brought here in 1786, mazes, a rill, a cut flower garden and a grass amphitheatre with views of the castle. History fans and garden lovers will enjoy both the castle and the grounds.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online is recommended to get the best price.

Beamish is a living, open-air museum on a 350-acre site in County Durham, telling the story of everyday life in the North East. Original, moved and replica buildings are staffed by costumed engagers, with live demonstrations and hands-on activities. Trams and buses carry you between the different areas.

You can explore the 1900s Town, the 1950s Town and the 1820s Pockerley Old Hall with its gardens, and the 1900s Pit Village. There are old-fashioned shops and eateries to try along the way, including a pub, a bakery and a sweet shop. Some areas or exhibits may be closed at times, so check the museum's website before you go.

Most exhibits are indoors, but you will be outside moving between them, so dress for the weather and wear comfy shoes. It was named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025.

Tip: Book your pass online before you visit for faster entry, and download the map to your phone or pick one up at the Entrance Building.

Durham Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site. A substantial part of the building was completed between 1093 and 1133, and it is a significant example of Romanesque architecture. The nave ceiling is the earliest surviving example of a pointed rib vault. Inside you will find the shrines of the Anglo-Saxon saints Cuthbert and Bede, with St Cuthbert's Shrine just behind the High Altar.

There is plenty to do beyond looking around. You can join a one-hour guided tour, climb the 325 spiral steps of the Central Tower for views over the city, or visit the museum, which covers 2000 years of the North East's history, culture and faith. The museum also has a 1.7m high LEGO model of the cathedral. Harry Potter fans can seek out the filming locations, and there are family activities, a café and a shop. Riverbank and woodland trails around the cathedral can be downloaded.

Tip: There is no parking at or near the cathedral, so use the Park and Ride or the Cathedral Bus into Durham. The tower is stairs only.

Locomotion is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham, part of the Science Museum Group. It sits beside the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway, and houses locomotives from the National Collection, including Sans Pareil and the unique APT-E and Deltic units.

A 1 km demonstration line runs through the site, with stops at historic buildings such as Timothy Hackworth's house, the goods shed and the coal drops. The trail ends at the Collection Building, where a conservation workshop has a viewing gallery. There's a café, a shop, a children's playground and a picnic area outside the Collection Building. Train fans will be in their element, and it suits families looking for a relaxed day out.

Tip: Pets aren't admitted, though working assistance dogs are welcome. Check the website for event days before you go.

The Bowes Museum is an art gallery in Barnard Castle, County Durham, built in the style of a French château and set in landscaped parkland overlooking Teesdale countryside. It was purpose-built to house the collection of John Bowes and his wife Joséphine, and opened in 1892.

Inside you'll find paintings by artists including El Greco, Goya, Canaletto and Van Dyck, alongside decorative art such as porcelain, tapestries, clocks and costumes, plus galleries for fashion and textiles. The star attraction is the Silver Swan, an 18th-century automaton that preens, looks round and appears to catch and swallow a fish. Temporary exhibitions change through the year, and there are family activities, a park and gardens to explore, and Café Bowes for a break, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

Tip: Check the museum's website for the current Silver Swan showing times before you go, as they differ on bank holidays and school holidays.

Brancepeth Castle is a Grade I listed castle in County Durham, about five miles south-west of Durham city. The first castle on the site was Norman, rebuilt by the Nevilles in the late 14th century. The present building is largely the work of the early 19th century, with later improvements by Anthony Salvin. Over the centuries it has served as a fortress and family home, a hospital for convalescents in the First World War, and the regimental headquarters of the Durham Light Infantry.

Today it is the home of the extended Dobson family, who bought it in 1978 and moved their publishing business here. Visitors can take a tour to follow the castle's development from Saxon stronghold to seat of the Neville family. Free, unguided access is offered to up to four of the main rooms on open mornings. The gatehouse has Café Burgschneider, known for its homemade German cakes. The castle is open to visitors on a number of days each year, so check before you set off.

Tip: The castle is only open to visitors on certain days each year, so check its website and book a tour before you go.

Auckland Castle, also called Auckland Palace, was the home of the Prince Bishops of Durham for centuries. It is a Grade I listed building above the River Wear, and the site's story spans almost 1,000 years. Restored rooms each take you to a different moment in time, from the Throne Room to the Bishop's Study and the Long Dining Room.

Highlights include St Peter's Chapel, one of the largest private chapels in Europe, and the bishops' private apartments. The Long Dining Room is home to Zurbarán's Jacob and his Twelve Sons, though some of the paintings may be off display during conservation work. The Faith Museum covers 6,000 years of history, and the landscaped gardens surround the palace. The Bishop's Kitchen, a refurbished Tudor kitchen with a courtyard garden, is the place for a cafe stop.

Tip: Check opening days and times on the Auckland Project website before you set off, as the palace is not open every day.