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
20.15m
(Visitors Annually)
6.5m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
13,178
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.23bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
New exhibition tells story of Durham University’s stolen Shakespeare First Folio
3 Apr 2025
For the first time in over a decade Durham University’s edition of William Shakespeare’s First Folio will be on display as the centrepiece of a new Shakespeare Recovered exhibition. The priceless book was stolen while on display in the University’s Cosin’s Library, on Palace Green in Durham City, in 1998. It reappeared 10 years later […]
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Kynren reimagining its iconic Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Parade for tenth anniversary season
2 Apr 2025
Exciting progress is being made in preparation for Kynren’s celebratory 2025 season, including a significant update to its memorable Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Parade. Kynren is enhancing the overall scene for its audiences with new props and costumes, fresh energy, impressive projections, innovative choreography and updated music inspired by the Victorian era to mark its […]
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Region’s Tourism Champions Set to Compete on National Stage
2 Apr 2025
An Escape Room employee, an Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery and a luxury spa hotel are amongst the five North East England tourism stars to be recognised nationally as part of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence shortlist. Seaham Hall, the popular spa retreat on the Durham coast is vying once again to take home the Small […]
Read More about Region’s Tourism Champions Set to Compete on National StageSuppliers to industry
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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GLOW Creative
GLOW Creative is an award-winning full-service marketing agency established in Durham in 2011. With an elite, diligent and proactive team, we build brands people love and campaigns they won’t forget. Delivering creative and innovative solutions for a range of B2C and B2B clients, particularly across the hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors, GLOW Creative creates campaigns […]
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City Spare Space LTD
Need extra income? Need some help with business rates? Need help with your energy bills? Whatever the reason, CitySpareSpace can help you earn extra income. On CitySpareSpace.com, businesses earn extra money by providing luggage storage services to visitors. Not only can you increase your income, but you can also increase your customer footfall without paying for […]
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The Canny Candy Gadgies
The Canny Candy Gadgies is a third generation, family, confectionery business on the heritage coast. We are a fast growing, light hearted brand with a product portfolio of the highest quality, hand crafted, value for money, artisan confectionery available. Our ranges include award winning fudges, honeycombs, nut brittles and all things from melt in the […]
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Visit County Durham latest
Durham shortlisted for national award
Durham has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Group Leisure & Travel Awards 2025. The county has been nominated by readers of Group Leisure and Travel magazine and is now in the running to be voted Best UK Destination.
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Exciting new Story launched for Durham
An exciting new approach to promoting the county was unveiled yesterday (18 March), with over 80 stakeholders attending the launch of the ‘Durham story’. The event, hosted by Durham County Council and Durham University at Gala Durham, was the culmination of a 12-month project which has seen engagement with hundreds of stakeholders form across the […]
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New collaboration seeks to attract French visitors to North East England
Newcastle Airport and destination development partnership, Destination North East England have collaborated with Expedia Group on a new campaign targeting visitors from France. Capitalising on the new easyJet route between Paris and Newcastle, the digital campaign aims to drive flight bookings, and overnight stays by highlighting the unique experiences visitors can take advantage of when […]
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VCD Blog - Progress and pace continues as we look forward with optimism
As 2025 is now in full swing it feels great to be looking ahead with excitement and optimism.
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