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
21.98m
(Visitors Annually)
Over 8m
(75 Attractions)
8%
(Overnight Stays)
14,069
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.49bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
Durham Brass strikes the right chord as festival closes
20 Jul 2026
The last note has been played on a symphony of events at Durham Brass Festival. This week, the Durham County Council-run festival has filled all corners of County Durham with music, as brass bands descended to perform across its communities and venues. Celebrating 20 years of Durham Brass Festival, the packed programme played to the […]
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Bishop's alive as The Auckland Project opens seven days a week for summer with new Discovery Day Pass
20 Jul 2026
Families can enjoy a full day exploring Bishop Auckland's heritage, art and culture for less than ever before this summer as The Auckland Project launches a new all-inclusive Discovery Day Pass and opens its attractions seven days a week. A new Discovery Day Pass, which launched on Saturday 11 July, gives visitors access to Auckland […]
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Durham Cathedral launches first ever six day walking pilgrimage and retreat
16 Jul 2026
Durham Cathedral is inviting people to take part in a new six-day walking pilgrimage and retreat, marking the first time the Cathedral has offered an experience of this kind. Developed as part of the Cathedral’s growing work in pilgrimage, supporting its Vision 2033, the new retreat combines guided walking with opportunities for prayer, reflection and […]
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Durham Catering
Durham Catering offers a unique personal service to both Businesses and Private Individuals throughout the Durham Dales, Durham City and Beyond. Specialising in Simply cooked Locally Sourced Foods concentrating on freshness, presentation and superb service we are perfectly placed for a factory opening Ceremony, a celebration dinner for 200 or a small intimate dinner party […]
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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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Shaka-International
Shaka International Bio UVision Lamp: Ensuring Guest Safety Through Sanitation Excellence In today’s hospitality industry, ensuring impeccable hygiene standards is not just a compliance measure—it’s a brand differentiator. The Bio UVision Lamp is a state-of-the-art UV inspection tool engineered specifically for fast, accurate detection of biofilms, bacteria, viruses, moulds, and other contaminants. Ideal for hotels, […]
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The Tea Enthusiasts
The Tea Enthusiasts have a lot to offer business customers large or small. Our personalised hands-on approach to service means your orders will not only be competitively priced within the market but customised to meet your needs. Bring your drinks upmarket and on trend with artisanal teas of the highest quality at prices you wouldn't believe. Business to Business sales are […]
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Visit County Durham latest
County named best destination for the second year in a row
It was an incredible night for the county, as it was named Best UK Destination for the second year in a row at the prestigious Group Leisure and Travel Awards, which took place in London on 12 June. Following last year’s win, County Durham retained its title against stiff competition including London, Edinburgh, and Belfast, […]
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Durham visitor economy approaches record £1.5 billion as investment and partnerships continue to drive growth
County Durham’s visitor economy has continued its strong upward trajectory, with the latest independent tourism figures showing visitor expenditure rising to £1.48 billion during 2025, an increase of 8% compared to the previous year, marking three consecutive years of record-breaking results for the county. The latest STEAM* assessment also shows that 21.98 million people visited […]
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Visit County Durham joins UKREiiF panel on the impact of events on the economy
Michelle Gorman, managing director at Visit County Durham, took part in a thought-provoking panel this week, as part of the North East Pavilion at UKREiiF, the leading forum for real estate, investment, and infrastructure, on unlocking world-class spaces for major events. The experience economy has become a lifestyle choice, with consumers now consistently prioritising an […]
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Visit County Durham hosts VisitBritain chief executive for county showcase
Visit County Durham was delighted to host a visit from Patricia Yates last week, Chief Executive Officer of VisitBritain/VisitEngland. Following significant investment in the county’s visitor economy in recent years, through new and enhanced attractions and accommodation, and with even more yet to come, the visit was an excellent opportunity to strengthen ties with the […]
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