Things To Do
Durham University’s Museums and Attractions promote learning and education for all. We have something to offer just about everyone!
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Our Venues
Durham University is home to internationally important collections from across history and around the globe. We welcome visitors to our museums and galleries and garden. Located in two clusters, at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and to the south of the city, our venues are open year-round and are open to all.
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Special exhibitions
Explore exciting events and exhibitions across our venues.
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Trapdoor to a Fantastical County Durham
Visit a fantastical world of monsters, shapeshifting as physical sculptures and Augmented Reality creature created by local school students.
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Under Durham: the Untold Stories
This exhibition explores the past of Durham through the ordinary people who lived and worked here.
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Repair and Care: the Norman Chapel Project
This exhibition explores the history of construction and building conservation at Durham Castle, with a particular focus on the Norman Chapel Project.
Trapdoor to a Fantastical County Durham
Visit a fantastical world of monsters, shapeshifting as physical sculptures and Augmented Reality creature created by local school students.
Under Durham: the Untold Stories
This exhibition explores the past of Durham through the ordinary people who lived and worked here.
Repair and Care: the Norman Chapel Project
This exhibition explores the history of construction and building conservation at Durham Castle, with a particular focus on the Norman Chapel Project.
Upcoming events
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Family Activities: Colour and Create
Friday 10 April, 20261:00 PM to 3:00 PMOriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/whatx27s-on/oriental-museum-events-calendar/colour-and-create.jpg)
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Durham Castle Family Fun Tours
Friday 10 April, 20261:45 PM to 4:00 PMDurham Castle/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/durham-castle/whatx27s-on/durham-castle-event-calendar/castle_tour_082.jpg)
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Family Activities: Celebrate Vaisakhi
Saturday 11 April, 20261:00 PM to 3:00 PMOriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/whatx27s-on/oriental-museum-events-calendar/Vaisakhi.jpg)
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Crazy Creatures
Tuesday 14 April, 202610:30 AM to 4:00 PMBotanic Garden/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/botanic-garden/whatx27s-on/Crazy20Tortoise.jpg)
Family Activities: Colour and Create
Friday 10 April, 2026
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Durham Castle Family Fun Tours
Friday 10 April, 2026
1:45 PM to 4:00 PM
Durham Castle
Family Activities: Celebrate Vaisakhi
Saturday 11 April, 2026
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Crazy Creatures
Tuesday 14 April, 2026
10:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
About us
Durham University’s museums, collections and Botanic Garden welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Our aim is to be a front door to Durham University, sharing the wealth of knowledge and research generated by students and academics from all over the world who use our collections. Find out more about who we are and how you can get in contact.
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Learn
Our Learning and Engagement Team offer a range of interactive taught programmes and events for schools, community groups, families and life-long learners.
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Schools and home education
Find out more about our range of curriculum-linked sessions from Early Years to Post-16.
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Families and lifelong learning
We offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages.
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Online resources
Explore our range of collections-centred interactives, videos, podcasts and downloadable content.
Schools and home education
Find out more about our range of curriculum-linked sessions from Early Years to Post-16.
Families and lifelong learning
We offer a range of fun, engaging and accessible workshops, resources and experiences for people of all ages.
Online resources
Explore our range of collections-centred interactives, videos, podcasts and downloadable content.
Want to get involved?
There are lots of different ways you can get involved with our venues and collections.
Find out more about joining one of our Friends organisations, volunteering your time or donating to the collections. Learn more about our opportunities for artists and creative practitioners.
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Research
We welcome anyone who wishes to study our collections and archives. We offer a range of research facilities at our museums and other collections sites for pre-booked research visits.
Latest news
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Oriental Museum presents Spring Festival family events
The Oriental Museum has announced a fun-packed programme of cultural and faith events this Spring. These family-friendly celebrations promise vibrant performances, traditional storytelling, and engaging cultural activities for visitors of all ages.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/whatx27s-on/oriental-museum-events-calendar/88308-(2)-OM-Gallery-with-Lanterns-news.jpg)
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Strengthening partnerships with Japan
On Monday 24 November we welcomed The Deputy Director of the National Museum of Japanese History and the Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media from the Japanese Embassy in London, to Durham.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/durham-university/central-news-and-events-images/OM-Gallery-view-news.JPG)
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Celebrate Diwali, Festival of Lights at the Oriental Museum
The spirit of Diwali will light up the Oriental Museum on Saturday 18 October, 6-8pm as students and community volunteers welcome visitors to enjoy this vibrant celebration.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/whatx27s-on/events/Diwali-T4.jpg)
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Vote for our Botanic Garden to be RHS Partner of the year
Fans of the Botanic Garden are being invited to place their votes in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden of the Year competition. Voters will also be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 RHS Garden gift voucher.Botanic Garden/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/botanic-garden/Botanic-Garden-Lawn-view-news.jpg)
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MA students launch two new storytelling exhibitions for the summer
Two new, major exhibitions curated by MA Museum and Artefact Studies students exploring the art and history of storytelling, are now open and free to attend all summer. Visitors can discover ‘Beasts and Legends’ at Palace Green Library and ‘Telling Tales’ at the Oriental Museum.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/whatx27s-on/Telling-tales-with-OM-logo-for-web.jpg)
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Come along to the Oriental Museum Lantern Festival.
The Oriental Museum, will be hosting its spectacular Lantern Festival celebration on Wednesday 12 February from 6pm -8pm. Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia and culminates in a Lantern Festival, when the streets are bedecked with lanterns and people invite good fortune and happiness into their homes for the year ahead.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/oriental-museum/88326-2000X665.jpg)
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New accessible audio guide launches at the Oriental Museum
The Oriental Museum is making its collections more accessible to visitors with visual impairments, by launching a new accessible audio guide.Oriental Museum/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/durham-university/central-news-and-events-images/OM-Visually-Imparied-exhibition.jpg)
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MA Students Produce New Archaeology Exhibition
A diverse group of international students, including participants from North America, China and India, have worked together to produce the latest exhibition on display at the Museum of Archaeology. ‘Throwing it Out There: The Archaeology of Ritual, Rivers and Rubbish’ will open on 15 June. The students have created this exhibition as part of their course, the MA Museum and Artefact Studies, in the Department of Archaeology.Museum of Archaeology/prod01/channel_4/things-to-do/media/things-to-do/museum-of-archaeology/whatx27s-on/Web-banner.png)
Oriental Museum presents Spring Festival family events
The Oriental Museum has announced a fun-packed programme of cultural and faith events this Spring.
These family-friendly celebrations promise vibrant performances, traditional storytelling, and engaging cultural activities for visitors of all ages.
Oriental Museum
Strengthening partnerships with Japan
On Monday 24 November we welcomed The Deputy Director of the National Museum of Japanese History and the Minister for Public Diplomacy and Media from the Japanese Embassy in London, to Durham.
Oriental Museum
Celebrate Diwali, Festival of Lights at the Oriental Museum
The spirit of Diwali will light up the Oriental Museum on Saturday 18 October, 6-8pm as students and community volunteers welcome visitors to enjoy this vibrant celebration.
Oriental Museum
Vote for our Botanic Garden to be RHS Partner of the year
Fans of the Botanic Garden are being invited to place their votes in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden of the Year competition. Voters will also be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 RHS Garden gift voucher.
Botanic Garden
MA students launch two new storytelling exhibitions for the summer
Two new, major exhibitions curated by MA Museum and Artefact Studies students exploring the art and history of storytelling, are now open and free to attend all summer. Visitors can discover ‘Beasts and Legends’ at Palace Green Library and ‘Telling Tales’ at the Oriental Museum.
Oriental Museum
Come along to the Oriental Museum Lantern Festival.
The Oriental Museum, will be hosting its spectacular Lantern Festival celebration on Wednesday 12 February from 6pm -8pm. Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia and culminates in a Lantern Festival, when the streets are bedecked with lanterns and people invite good fortune and happiness into their homes for the year ahead.
Oriental Museum
New accessible audio guide launches at the Oriental Museum
The Oriental Museum is making its collections more accessible to visitors with visual impairments, by launching a new accessible audio guide.
Oriental Museum
MA Students Produce New Archaeology Exhibition
A diverse group of international students, including participants from North America, China and India, have worked together to produce the latest exhibition on display at the Museum of Archaeology. ‘Throwing it Out There: The Archaeology of Ritual, Rivers and Rubbish’ will open on 15 June.
The students have created this exhibition as part of their course, the MA Museum and Artefact Studies, in the Department of Archaeology.
Museum of Archaeology
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