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
New multi-day walking route launches in the North Pennines National Landscape
3 Sep 2025
This week marks the launch of the 301km (188-mile) Roof of England Walk – a new multi-day walking trail that explores the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark. The Roof of England Walk is a journey around the North Pennines, with its name reflecting its lofty location in the uplands of Northern England. […]
Read More about New multi-day walking route launches in the North Pennines National LandscapeNorth Pennines stargazing festival programme launches
27 Aug 2025
The programme has been launched for this year’s celebration of the dark skies of the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark. The ninth North Pennines Stargazing Festival will run from Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 2 November 2025, with a range of fun and informative events throughout the Autumn half-term holiday. The full […]
Read More about North Pennines stargazing festival programme launchesThe Auckland Project invests in local skills with new hospitality training programme
26 Aug 2025
Staff and volunteers at The Auckland Project are being given the opportunity to attend hospitality training as part of a new initiative aimed at strengthening the region’s tourism and visitor economy. In partnership with Bishop Auckland College, The Auckland Project has created a bespoke programme titled ‘Land of the Prince Bishop’s HOST’. The training is […]
Read More about The Auckland Project invests in local skills with new hospitality training programmeSuppliers to industry
Durham Mustard
England’s first smooth dry mustard was developed by Mrs Clements of Durham in 1720 and while many people associate Norfolk with mustard, it was here in Durham where dry mustard powder was originally created. Inspired by this, Stephanie Celino, is hoping to breathe new life into this historic condiment and supply the region with Durham Mustard […]
Read More about Durham Mustardn-gage.io
The all-in-one, cloud based attraction management software and audience mobile app, helping the global attraction, leisure & entertainment industry to enhance audience engagement, gain valuable insights & drive revenues. Built from the ground up for the experience economy, the n-gage.io platform and mobile visitor app is helping attractions of all sizes and types to simplify their approach […]
Read More about n-gage.ioShout Loud Social
We aim to simplify digital marketing for businesses by providing comprehensive services all in one place. Based at Ushaw House on the outskirts of Durham City, our team specialises in a wide range of services, including: Our approach is designed to alleviate the burden on business owners and senior leadership teams who may find digital […]
Read More about Shout Loud SocialPascal Fintoni & Associates
Are you a Hospitality or Tourism Business in County Durham Looking to Stand Out? Are you ready to transform the reputation of your business with smart AI and digital marketing strategies?Could your marketing campaigns benefit from expert guidance to enhance visibility and drive bookings? That's where I can help. I'm Pascal Fintoni, and for over […]
Read More about Pascal Fintoni & AssociatesVisit County Durham latest
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 […]
Read More about Champions set to showcase Durham on a global scaleVisit 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, […]
Read More about Visit County Durham partners with 11 Arches to showcase the countyÂDurham showcased to thousands at The Great Yorkshire Show
Members of the Visit County Durham team headed south last week to fly the flag for Durham at The Great Yorkshire Show. The annual four-day event is a highlight in the agricultural diary attracting 140,000 visitors, the show is an excellent opportunity to promote Durham as Yorkshire represents a target market for the county.
Read More about Durham showcased to thousands at The Great Yorkshire ShowGroup travel partnership to showcase Durham
Visit County Durham has partnered with Group Travel World to showcase the county to key group travel organisers, tour and coach operators. Following a visit to The Auckland Project, preview of the 2025 season of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England, and accommodation at Park Head Hotel, we hosted the group so they could […]
Read More about Group travel partnership to showcase Durham