Destination management organisation
Welcome to Visit County Durham - the tourism management agency for County Durham which works on behalf of businesses and public agencies to support the growth and development of the county's visitor economy.
Visit County Durham has strategic responsibility for tourism and performs the functions of destination management and marketing in the county. Many others are involved in delivering a vibrant visitor economy, one organisation cannot do it alone, which is why we are a partnership.
Our aim is to place the visitor at the heart of everything we do.
Destination performance
17.91m
(Visitors Annually)
4.6m
(75 Attractions)
9%
(Overnight Stays)
11,724
(Jobs Within the Industry)
£1.04bn
(Annual Income)
Latest news
Raby Castle achieves Green Tourism Award
23 Apr 2024
Raby Castle has secured a significant achievement in the Green Tourism awards certification programme with a silver in recognition of the business’s commitment to sustainability. The Green Tourism awards are acknowledged worldwide as an indicator of good environmentally-friendly practice and act as a hallmark of ‘green quality’. Raby Castle submitted evidence across multiple criteria including […]
Read More about Raby Castle achieves Green Tourism AwardCrowds flock to Bishop Auckland to enjoy taste of popular food festival
22 Apr 2024
Thousands flocked to this weekend’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival, where celebrity chefs, tasty treats, and family fun were all on the menu. More than 150 stalls lined the streets, with traders from County Durham and beyond selling curries, crepes, cocktails and mocktails and more. Famous chefs including plant-based and vegan duo, BOSH!, and BBC Saturday […]
Read More about Crowds flock to Bishop Auckland to enjoy taste of popular food festivalWomen's professional cricket coming to Durham
18 Apr 2024
Following an extensive bidding process Durham Cricket have been awarded a Tier 1 professional women’s team. A restructure of the women’s professional game has seen the England and Wales Cricket Board award 8 counties with professional women’s teams. Durham will be joined by Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottingham, Surrey, Somerset and Warwickshire to form the new […]
Read More about Women's professional cricket coming to DurhamSuppliers to industry
Humble Bee
At Humble Bee we are proud to support honeybees and pollinators in the Durham area. Come and join us for our incredible Bee Experience set in 60 acres of wildflowers and get hands on with our Local Honeybees. Pick up a ‘pot of Sunshine' with our Award-winning Honey, produced just outside the city centre by […]
Read More about Humble BeeTowergate Insurance Brokers
Towergate have been insuring businesses in the North East of England since 1973. With our expertise in the Leisure and Hospitality Sectors, we have been offering both packaged and bespoke risk management and insurance solutions to businesses of all sizes for decades. Whatever your business, it is essential to carry out a periodic review of […]
Read More about Towergate Insurance BrokersCoghlans Artisan Bakery
Coghlans at Barningham's Artisan Bakery has been created within the old stable block and coach house at Barningham Park, a classic estate where the bakehouse and kitchen hosts a range of artisan products from bread and chocolates and your daily essential needs. Coghlans handmade bread use no preservatives food colours or artificial flavours, just a natural product from […]
Read More about Coghlans Artisan BakeryHost & Stay Property Management
Born in 2017, we are a family-owned property management company with a desire to lead the change in an age-old industry. Founded in the family’s home region of North Yorkshire, our mission has always been to help holiday homeowners unlock the potential in their homes with new methods for new times. We’re here to change […]
Read More about Host & Stay Property ManagementVisit County Durham latest
VCD Blog - Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024
Today (Friday 8 March) is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is a chance to reflect on the remarkable feats of women, past and present, while also recognising the amazing women we encounter in our own personal and professional lives. Ultimately, International Women’s Day […]
Read More about VCD Blog - Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024VCD Blog - Working together for Durham and the North East
At Visit County Durham we are proud to be a part of a proactive network of regional partners working together to promote and develop Durham and North East England as destinations. As one of the three Local Visitor Economy Partnerships piloting England’s first Destination Development Partnership, we work closely with NewcastleGateshead Initiative and Visit Northumberland, […]
Read More about VCD Blog - Working together for Durham and the North EastA destination for all: Accessibility takes centre stage at tourism conference
Ensuring an excellent welcome for all visitors was the key theme of Visit County Durham’s 2023 Industry Conference.
Read More about A destination for all: Accessibility takes centre stage at tourism conferenceResearch reveals Memorable Moments marketing campaign generated millions in visitor spend
Visit County Durham’s national destination marketing campaign, Memorable Moments, generated £86.6 million in visitor spend, research has revealed.
Read More about Research reveals Memorable Moments marketing campaign generated millions in visitor spendSocial wall
The search is back on for Durham’s Tourism Superstars! 🌟
We are asking for nominations for people working in any part of the visitor economy, who are able to represent their profession.
Find out more and nominate here 👇
...https://www.visitcountydurham.org/durham-tourism-superstar/
Supplier Partner Everdurance distribute sustainable drinks in eco-friendly packaging to businesses and events across the UK.
As self-confessed eco enthusiasts, they’re committed to helping companies cut down on single-use plastics and achieve their own unique sustainability goals.
...Find out how they could help your business here 👇
https://www.visitcountydurham.org/supplier/everdurance/?parent=suppliers-to-industry/
Thousands flocked to this weekend’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival, where celebrity chefs, tasty treats, and family fun were all on the menu.
More than 150 stalls lined the streets, with traders from County Durham and beyond selling curries, crepes, cocktails and mocktails and more.
...
Read more here 👇
https://www.visitcountydurham.org/news/crowds-flock-to-bishop-auckland-to-enjoy-taste-of-popular-food-festival/
Make sure you never miss out on the latest industry news with our Wednesday Grapevine e-newsletter.
Sign up here 👇
https://tinyurl.com/27h89c8v
Following an extensive bidding process Durham Cricket have been awarded a Tier 1 professional women’s team.
A restructure of the women’s professional game has seen the England and Wales Cricket Board award 8 counties with professional women’s teams. Durham will be joined by Essex, ...Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottingham, Surrey, Somerset and Warwickshire to form the new professional structure which will be in place from the 2025 season onwards.
Find out more here 👇
https://www.visitcountydurham.org/news/womens-professional-cricket-coming-to-durham/
Having your event listed on Thisisdurham.com is valuable exposure to thousands of visitors to Durham.
If you have an event or an exhibition that you’d like us to include in our Week Ahead events listing guide you can submit this easily here 👇
https://tinyurl.com/545fznfk
A significant international collaboration to support peatland restoration in the North Pennines National Landscape has been announced by German environmental
association, the Nature And Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU).
The €1.1 million investment will be used to restore ...valuable peatlands in the North
Pennines, helping to promote better global climate regulation.
Find out more here 👇
https://www.visitcountydurham.org/news/major-investment-in-uk-peatlands-from-german-environmental-association/
Supplier Partner McColl's Brewery was established back in 2016 by Daniel and Gemma McColl, it was created to bring their North East warmth, a love of easy drinking beers and their passion for open and welcoming hospitality to being.
Find out more here 👇
...https://tinyurl.com/mr47jdw4