Visit County Durham
Visit County Durham (VCD) is the destination management organisation for County Durham and one of a portfolio of nationally supported, strategic, and high-performing accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnerships. We provide strong local leadership and governance, and are committed to the promotion, management, and development of County Durham as a great place to live, work, visit and do business.
Visit County Durham works in partnership locally, regionally, and nationally on shared priorities and targets. Our mission is to support and grow the visitor economy through robust destination management, strong stakeholder relationships and clear planning.
Our vision is to create the conditions for our residents, businesses, and the environment to benefit from sustainable growth in our visitor economy. By supporting and marketing our distinctive heritage, landscapes, culture and warm welcome, we will grow both day and overnight visits and make County Durham a compelling, global destination for tourism, culture, and business.
Destination performance
21.56m
(Visitors Annually)
Over 6m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
13,795
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.38bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
Views invited to help conserve World Heritage Site
23 Oct 2025
Views are being sought on a new management plan aimed at conserving the beauty of Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral for generations to come. The Durham City landmark was the first UK cultural heritage site to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1986. In preparation to celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2026, Durham […]
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Final Lumiere to take place in 2025
23 Oct 2025
Artichoke, the UK’s leading producer of ambitious public art, and Durham County Council, have today announced that this year’s Lumiere will be the final edition in Durham. The UK’s landmark light art biennial will illuminate the city one last time from Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 November 2025, with a spectacular programme of international commissions, […]
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VisitBritain/VisitEngland activity boosts economy by £562 million as agency sets out plans to drive growth
23 Oct 2025
International visitors spent an additional £562 million across Britain as a result of activity by national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland, latest figures show. Results also show that 60% of this estimatedadditional spend, £336 million, was in destinations outside of London. The agency reported the figures, which cover its activity for the 2024-2025 financial year, as it […]
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Everdurance
We distribute sustainable drinks in eco-friendly packaging to businesses and events across the UK. As self-confessed eco enthusiasts, we’re committed to helping companies cut down on single-use plastics and achieve their own unique sustainability goals. Did you know that 77% of consumers are more willing to purchase goods or services from a company that shows […]
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3D Virtual Spaces
Do you need a 3D Virtual Tour to market your business? 3D Virtual Spaces create multi-purpose, interactive digital solutions to promote your premises. 3D Virtual Spaces create bespoke 360 3D Virtual Tours to give you a business solution which will captivate your audience and promote your organisation. Our tours have endless applications ranging from marketing […]
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Arty, Inc
Gavin Selby - Creative Designer, Photographer and Filmmaker. Gavin has over 18 years experience within the creative arts and is highly passionate about Graphic Design, Photography, Filmmaking, Video Editing and Animation. Trading under the name Arty, Inc. he works closely with local businesses, authorities and groups to create bespoke content for their online presence (Social Media and search […]
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Castle Bank Butchers Stanhope
Jim Higginson opened his first shop at 3 Castle Bank, Tow Law, County Durham on Monday 4th September 1978 and in the years since has expanded the company to the six outlets that form Castle Bank Butchers today. We first branched out from our Tow Law outlet in the early 1980s to the picturesque Weardale town […]
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Visit County Durham latest
Renowned Irish TV Chef shines a spotlight on North East England in upcoming TV series
North East England’s best culinary hotspots and heritage attractions are set to reach an international audience, as award-winning Irish chef Neven Maguire films a brand-new series of his popular television programme across the region. Neven and his crew were in the North East in September filming across the region for his show “Neven’s North East […]
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World Tourism Day 2025
This World Tourism Day, (27 September) the spotlight is on Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, highlighting tourism’s critical role not just as an economic driver, but as a catalyst for social progress, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. Tourism today faces a pivotal challenge: how to grow responsibly while protecting the very heritage, culture, and biodiversity that […]
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Champions set to showcase Durham on a global scale
Businesses, organisations and individuals from across County Durham have come together for the first Durham Champions – an exciting new county-wide network made up of people who are passionate about the place and want to see it thrive. It follows the recent launch of the county’s place brand - ‘The Durham Story’ - spearheaded by […]
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Visit County Durham partners with 11 Arches to showcase the countyÂ
As Kynren, An Epic Tale of England celebrates its 10th anniversary season, Visit County Durham has partnered with 11 Arches to showcase the multi-award-winning outdoor show and the county to key media publications. A group of journalists representing regional and national publications enjoyed a visit to Durham to see the preview of the 2025 season, […]
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