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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
LNER Welcomes in 2025; A Year Of Celebration, Collaboration and Transformation
20 Jan 2025
LNER will be welcoming in 2025 as it joins the rail industry in marking 200 years of the modern railway and a once in a generation timetable uplift that will bring more services and faster journeys.
Visit WebsiteGet Set, Green
15 Jan 2025
County Durham's annual Get Set, Green exhibition is set to take place on Wednesday 19th February at Ramside Hall, Durham. The event is sponsored by the Durham Business Growth Programme and is being co-ordinated by Business Durham and Durham County Council's Low Carbon Team. The event aims to...
Read More about Get Set, GreenDDP update
8 Jan 2025
A reminder that the next Destination Development Partnership update is being held online on Thursday 16th January at 8:30am. This month we will be joined by tourism leaders from across the region as we delve into 2025 travel and tourism trends, take a look at the big events and major developments...
Read More about DDP updateShortlists Announced
8 Jan 2025
Shortlists for the three new local categories of the North East England Tourism Awards have been announced. We are delighted that Kynren features in both the Volunteer of the Year and Tourism Events & Festival of the Year categories, and Durham Fire & Ice joins Kynren in the Tourism Events...
Read More about Shortlists AnnouncedFaith Museum takes Britain's most beautiful building title
24 Dec 2024
The Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland, has been awarded ‘Grand Winner’ in the Royal Fine Art Commission Trust’s 2024 Building Beauty Awards. Designed by Níall McLaughlin, The Faith Museum opened to the public in October 2023 and is part of The Auckland Project’s collection of...
Read More about Faith Museum takes Britain's most beautiful building titleVisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists revealed
20 Dec 2024
VisitEngland has today, 20 December, announced the 10 finalists to make the shortlist of its annual search to find the unsung hero of England’s tourism industry. VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar competition, now in its 13th year, seeks out champions working in tourism who provide the most...
Read More about VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists revealedCounty Durham cultural venue is a success story
20 Dec 2024
A County Durham heritage and registration venue has attracted almost 60,000 people in its first five months – more than twice the number of visitors projected. From its opening day on Friday 14 June to the end of November, The Story welcomed 57,763 people, and is on track to double its annual...
Read More about County Durham cultural venue is a success storyMillions of Brits planning a domestic holiday during festive season, bringing estimated £2.5 billion boost to economy
18 Dec 2024
Survey also shows that going out for a meal and visiting a Christmas market are most popular festive activities. VisitEngland’s Christmas Trip Tracker Survey published today, 18 December, shows that 8.8 million Brits are planning an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the Christmas and New...
Read More about Millions of Brits planning a domestic holiday during festive season, bringing estimated £2.5 billion boost to economyCountdown to Durham Brass 2025 begins as Brassed On acts sought
16 Dec 2024
Up-and-coming musicians from across the North East are being invited to apply to be part of one of the region’s biggest events. The ever-popular Durham Brass Festival returns next July with live music, indoors and out, promised at an array of venues in the city and across the county. The event...
Read More about Countdown to Durham Brass 2025 begins as Brassed On acts soughtFree After 3pm returns to County Durham this Christmas
11 Dec 2024
A North East council has announced it will once again offer free parking after 3pm in its car parks this festive season. Durham County Council’s Free After 3pm scheme will return on Monday 16 December and run through to Friday 3 January. The aim is to encourage people to shop on their local high...
Read More about Free After 3pm returns to County Durham this ChristmasKynren celebrates a decade of spectacular shows!
9 Dec 2024
Following the success of its 2024 season, tickets are now on sale to experience Kynren – An Epic Tale of England in 2025. Bishop Auckland’s renowned live-action show is set to mark its 10th anniversary in 2025, with tickets now available for its milestone season. The County Durham...
Read More about Kynren celebrates a decade of spectacular shows!Industrial artwork celebrates past and future of Durham cultural attraction
9 Dec 2024
An industrial artwork at the heart of the DLI Museum and Art Gallery will serve as a unique time capsule celebrating the venue’s past and future. Durham County Council has commissioned local blacksmith artist Graeme Hopper to emboss an inscription onto a steel plate, which will form part of the...
Read More about Industrial artwork celebrates past and future of Durham cultural attractionNorwegian Airlines lands at Newcastle Airport with new flights to Copenhagen
9 Dec 2024
Newcastle Airport is delighted to welcome Norwegian Airlines to the North East, which will offer flights to Copenhagen from 2 May 2025. The airline, one of Europe's leading low-cost carriers, has confirmed today that it will operate twice-weekly flights to the Danish capital every Monday and...
Read More about Norwegian Airlines lands at Newcastle Airport with new flights to CopenhagenSeaham Food Festival dates confirmed – trader applications open now
3 Dec 2024
Though the weather might be getting colder, organisers of one of the region’s biggest summer food festivals have announced dates for next year. Durham County Council has confirmed that Seaham Food Festival will return for 2025, on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August. The festival welcomes thousands of...
Read More about Seaham Food Festival dates confirmed – trader applications open nowEngland's Historic Cities launch new travel trade itineraries and resource
28 Nov 2024
A new England Originals Travel Trade Guide, brought to you by England’s Historic Cities, has been launched this autumn. England’s Historic Cities is a consortium of 13 Historic Cities in England, including Bath, Cambridge, Canterbury, Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Greenwich, Lancaster,...
Read More about England's Historic Cities launch new travel trade itineraries and resource