Durham City – Postgraduate Digital Prospectus

A student guide of things to do in Durham (for all budgets)

Elias Koenig on September 9, 2024

Term 1 – Michaelmas Term (September-December)

Michaelmas is a gorgeous term. Durham in autumn is beautiful, plus there is plenty of excitement from joining new societies, meeting new people, and getting stuck in with new modules. Whilst the weather starts out warm and sunny, winter soon rolls around. So, here’s a list of things to do that are actually realistic for this time of year.

Spending up to £5:

Go to the Freshers’ Fair! It’s a great way to see all the sports and societies on offer here at Durham, and most importantly, lots of them will run free taster sessions within the first few weeks of term!
Go to the Botanic Gardens. They are awesome year-round and free for students, so bring your campus card! Even if you don’t want to walk around, there are plenty of places to stop and sit down. The greenhouse is a great choice for chillier months.
Attend biennial light art experience Lumiere! (Usually in November)

Spending less than £15:

Go see a student play or a student concert, even better if you are supporting your friends. The music and drama scene in Durham is incredibly active so you will always have your pick of shows. I particularly recommend college pantomimes.
Take part in a college formal! Lots of colleges have Christmas formals, which have an amazing atmosphere and is a great way to celebrate with your friends.

Spending more than £15:

Go to a Christmas market – Durham has one and there are plenty nearby to attend.

Term 2 – Epiphany Term (January-March)

Epiphany term is the coldest term, so here are some fun indoors activities for you to get stuck in with.

Spending up to £5:

Go to Palace Green Library. Not only is it fun to have a look around, as you are a student and you have to study, so why not do it somewhere super historical? Being on Palace Green is the epitome of Durham’s academic vibes, and students are welcome to study in this historical building.
Visit the Gala Theatre. The £5 cinema tickets are a bargain to enjoy the silver screen!
Oriental Museum. It’s free to enter, so just pop in to see some amazing artifacts! It’s also super close to the colleges on the Hill (such as Van Mildert, South, Collingwood) so if you are living up there why not pop in?

Spending less than £15:

Hop on a train to Newcastle! You’ll probably need a break from the city (and your summative work) at some point in term, and less than 15 minutes away on the train, Newcastle will offer some variety in scenery, shops, and nightlife.
Go to one of Durham’s gorgeous independent cafés for a drink or cake with your new friends. You can’t go wrong with most of the places in Durham, but they do get very busy around lunchtime so pick your time of day wisely!

Spending more than £15:

Attend one of Durham’s many fashion shows (which happen both in college and university-wide!) – or maybe you are planning in modelling in one anyway!

Term 3 – Easter Term (April-June)

The Racecourse in summer – the place to be!

Easter Term has it all: good weather, the end of year stress from exams to dissertation submissions, and the celebration that follows. Whether it’s revision procrastination or submission jubilation – you’ll want plenty of things to do other than just staring at your notes.

Spending up to £5:

Explore the area: the Bluebell Woods, down by the river, Wharton Park, and Observatory Hill. The green spaces are honestly one of the best parts about Durham! Exploring them is also a great way to take a study break in exam season.
Go see St. Mary’s beautiful trees in bloom!
Visit Durham Cathedral.

Spending less than £15:

Hire a rowboat and row yourself down the river!
Swap out your riverside walk for one by the sea! There are plenty of beaches only a stone’s throw away.

Spending more than £15:

Go to a college ball! In the final term, colleges pull out all the stops on their summer balls – if you fancy a (cheaper) and more chilled out event, college days also happen in this term, offering a relaxed, music-festival vibe.

This list is not exhaustive of all the things on offer in Durham, (and obviously a large chunk of what you will be doing is studying!) but as you can see, there is plenty to do in each term for each budget.

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Durham City Run: My unexpected 10k triumph

Elias Koenig on July 24, 2024

Hey everyone!

So, I did a thing. A big thing. A running thing. I ran the 10K Durham City Run! Now, before you start picturing me as some seasoned marathon champ, let me assure you that I am most definitely not a regular runner. In fact, I am more of a “run when chased” kind of person.

But a few weeks ago, I found myself signing up for the race. Why? Honestly, I am still not entirely sure. Maybe it was the allure of a challenge, the chance to prove to myself that I could do it. Or maybe it was just a moment of temporary insanity.

Whatever the reason, I committed. And once that was done, the panic set in. I mean, 10 kilometers? That’s, like, a million miles, right? Okay, maybe not a million, but it sure felt like it.

I started training, sort of. A few jogs around the campus, a couple of runs in the park, mostly accompanied by my trusty playlist of motivational tunes and a healthy dose of self-doubt. There were moments of triumph (like when I managed to run for 20 minutes straight without collapsing) and moments of despair (like when I realized I had to run uphill for a good portion of the race).

Race day arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. Standing at the starting line, surrounded by people who actually looked like they knew what they were doing, I seriously questioned my life choices. But there was no turning back now.

The starting gun fired, and we were off. The first few kilometers were surprisingly okay. I settled into a rhythm, spurred on by the cheers of the crowd and the sheer adrenaline rush of being part of something so big.

But then came the hills. Oh, the hills. They were relentless, sapping my energy and testing my resolve. There were moments when I wanted to quit, to walk, to crawl, to just lie down on the pavement and give up. But then I would remember all the people who had supported me, all the times I would surprise myself with my own resilience, and I would keep going.

And somehow, against all odds, I crossed that finish line. In just under 1 hour and 20 minutes! A personal best for someone who barely considered themselves a runner. The feeling of accomplishment was indescribable.

So, will I be back in 2025 to smash my new PB? Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know this: I never thought I could run a 10K, and I did it. That’s a pretty amazing feeling, and one I won’t soon forget.

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How to spend a summer

Elias Koenig on July 15, 2024

Post-exam celebrations in Durham

The end of exams is a great time to de-stress and spend some time with friends. As we approach the end of the academic year, here are some brilliant ways to spend this exciting time of year (with some personal highlights).

Evenings with friends

After a busy, or even quiet, day, there’s nothing quite like spending an evening chatting away with friends. Whether it’s our usual hangout next to St Mary’s bar – where we seem to always lose track of time, in one of our rooms, or out and about, it’s a perfect use of this period where we don’t have to worry about an early start the next morning.

For something a little more adventurous, check out one of Durham’s many amazing restaurants: from the brilliant burger hangouts of Tango and Fat Hippo, Italian classics like Spags and Rudy’s (amongst many, many, others), to other favourites like the Food Pit and Claypath Deli; there’s somewhere for every group. A great follow up is a trip to one of the college’s bars, or even a sunset picnic. This is one of the best times you’ll ever get to make close friendships that will last a lifetime.

Sports

Durham is one of the leading universities for sports, with thousands of students joining in with college and university levels sports regularly. A highlight of June is the Festival of Sports (FoS), where colleges face off in a one day tournament to see who is best in each discipline. Every year, the atmosphere is electric, yet everyone is very friendly and a great sport. From group pictures with multiple teams, shared picnics, and guest supporters, there’s no friendlier place to enjoy getting active.

My sport of choice is Ultimate Frisbee, which is a firm Durham favourite. With my college squad – St Mary’s A Team – we managed to go unbeaten all year in both the league and FoS, securing a place at the Feast of Champions meal. At the meal, trophies and awards are given to celebrate the achievements over the last year, but also to bring teams together and develop bonds. It’s a great Durham tradition.

Another great sport to get involved with is the wonderful Parkrun, where large numbers of students and staff turn up week after week. It’s the most supportive atmosphere for running I’ve ever witnessed.

Culture

A surprising number of students haven’t properly explored many of Durham’s great historic places: whether it’s our ancient castle, beautiful gardens, free museums, or even our world famous cathedral. Now is the perfect time to discover the history of our city, either on your own, with friends, or on a tour group.

I’d recommend strongly that you stroll through the cathedral, and admire the stained glass, then afterwards you are in a perfect spot to book a tour of the castle. Maybe if the weather is good, take in one of the gardens; picking from Crook Hall, Old Durham, or the University’s Botanic gardens.

If you have access to transport, then a little further afield you may find The Story, Locomotion, Beamish, or Ushaw which make for a lovely day out.

Another great aspect of Durham is the quantity of shows and gigs on; whether at a cosy bar, all the way up to the big stages of the Gala or cathedral. Recently I’ve been to see the much celebrated Durham Revue at their anniversary performance, as well as going to the amazing Hill Orchestra’s summer concerts. Also, it’s only a few minutes on the train to the Glasshouse in Gateshead where even more gigs are available to see.

For many, even more than just a chance to see these acts, it’s a chance to get involved by performing and producing themselves.

Lastly, each June is Durham Regatta, one of the oldest in the country. It’s always a lovely time to spend the day watching the boats go by and (usually) enjoying the sun. Or maybe you fancy going for a row yourself on one of our lovely summer days by hiring a boat for an hour or so with friends.

Walking

As all of my friends know, I’m a walking fanatic! I’ve been known to say words to the effect of a day with less than 10k steps is a day wasted. Now, I’ve created lots of content about walking here already (links at the end) but still, a little reminder won’t hurt!

We’re very lucky here to have such easily accessible countryside, where even just a mile from the city centre can feel remote. Whilst there’s some brilliant walking to be had just around the town, I’d advise everyone to try some of the routes a little further away. Places such as Low Burnhall Woods where you can meet deer, Pelaw wood with its aesthetic bridge and spectacular views towards the cathedral, or much longer walks like towards Croxdale or Finchale Priory.

City trips

Durham is located closely to some great cities that are just a short train ride away. An obvious first choice is Newcastle, which must be one of the prettiest cities in Britain, and has a vibrant high street with many different things to do. But in the summer, why not head a little further, taking the metro, to Tynemouth for a day at the beach. There’s a lovely sandy stretch of beach, with a coastguard hut keeping an eye out for swimmers, plenty of cafes with ice creams available (Mr Wood’s was lovely for our lunch on the day). The views over the cliffs are incredible.

Another ideal beach location is Seaham, though instead of the train a bus is needed (that does reduce costs though). Seaham tends to be a little quieter, but very lovely too.

Another fabulous trip I’ve been on this year is to York. A bunch of us took a short train ride down and spent the day enjoying the sights and cafes in the city, before a little look around the railway museum.

College events

Colleges will usually have an annual midsummer ball and college day held in easter term. These are the highlights of the year for many people, and certainly in terms of JCR events. The balls are often held in external venues, but not always, and will have hours of entertainment; from bands, to food, to fairgrounds. Some also have a ‘survivor’s’ breakfast and photo at sunrise following the end of the evening.

My favourite is the college day; Mary’s Day starts relatively early in the morning, and will end well after sunset. There’s a non-stop lineup of group and shows, with food vans, carnival games, and prizes all around the grounds. And it’s all subsidised by the college JCR to help make it affordable for everyone. The highlight for most people are the tribute acts at the end of the day; this year’s were Adele and Elton John, who had everyone singing along the whole way through. Even the last couple years where we experienced lots of rain didn’t stop a massive turnout (and at times this only added to the atmosphere).

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Follow The Durham Student on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to see what life is really like at Durham.

Watch Toby’s walking videos Low Burnhall Woods and Shincliffe Woods

Read Toby’s walking blogs Walking in Durham #1. The River Path and Pelaw Wood and Walking in Durham #2. Houghall, Low Burnhall and Croxdale