Media Room
Latest News
All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.
Spend a night at the museum as Beamish opens first self-catering cottages
11 Apr 2025
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North is giving visitors a chance to spend a night at the museum with the launch of its first overnight accommodation. Guests can enjoy a trip back in time and stay in the Georgian-style holiday cottages, which are located in the County Durham museum’s stunning...
Read More about Spend a night at the museum as Beamish opens first self-catering cottagesThe Pink Book
9 Apr 2025
VisitEngland has published the latest edition of its Pink Book outlining regulatory requirements for accommodation providers and attractions in England. 'The Pink Book: legislation for tourist accommodation and attractions' provides guidance for running an accommodation business or attraction on...
Read More about The Pink BookNational Hotel Marketing Conference
9 Apr 2025
This year's National Hotel Marketing Conference, takes place on Thursday 1st May at the Hilton at St George's Park, the English FA Centre of Excellence. The conference programme and its 30 speakers on hotel marketing are featured at hotelmarketingconference.co.uk. All Visit County Durham Partners...
Read More about National Hotel Marketing ConferencePennine Way Anniversary
9 Apr 2025
Visit County Durham is supporting the 60th anniversary of the Pennine Way, with the 24th April marking the official opening of England's first National Trail in 1965. If your business is located on or near the trail, utilise the anniversary in your own marketing activity. Our activity includes...
Read More about Pennine Way AnniversaryFamily Holiday Charity
9 Apr 2025
Family Holiday Charity helps disadvantaged families get time away together, often for the first time ever. The charity is looking for partners who can donate accommodation capacity to help them reach more families with a campaign launching later this year. If you're able to help, please get in...
Read More about Family Holiday CharityChester-le-EATS Festival returns to Durham Cricket with an exciting new line-up
8 Apr 2025
Durham Cricket is thrilled to announce the return of the Chester-le-EATS Food, Drink, and Music Festival for its fourth consecutive year. Food and music lovers can firmly pencil Saturday, 27th, and Sunday, 28th September 2025 into their diaries as the event returns to the Banks Homes Riverside in...
Read More about Chester-le-EATS Festival returns to Durham Cricket with an exciting new line-upDiggers, thrills, and 25 years of adventure - Diggerland UK celebrates a milestone anniversary
3 Apr 2025
United Kingdom – April 2025 – Diggerland, the world's premier construction-themed adventure park, proudly marks its 25th anniversary this month, celebrating a quarter-century of delivering unique, exhilarating experiences to families across the UK and beyond. A Vision Realised In 1996,...
Read More about Diggers, thrills, and 25 years of adventure - Diggerland UK celebrates a milestone anniversaryNew 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...
Read More about New exhibition tells story of Durham University’s stolen Shakespeare First FolioKynren 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...
Read More about Kynren reimagining its iconic Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Parade for tenth anniversary seasonRegion’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...
Read More about Region’s Tourism Champions Set to Compete on National StageRaby Castle joins prestigious group of historic homes
1 Apr 2025
Raby Castle in County Durham has been invited to join the Treasure Houses of England, a small group of the country’s finest houses, palaces and castles. The Treasure Houses is a collection of ten important houses across the country dedicated to bringing their history and collections to a wider...
Read More about Raby Castle joins prestigious group of historic homesDurham shortlisted for national award
1 Apr 2025
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. Readers can vote for their favourite destination, which sees Durham up...
Read More about Durham shortlisted for national awardBanks Group acquires naming rights to Durham Cricket’s Riverside Stadium
1 Apr 2025
Durham Cricket are thrilled to announce Banks Group will become the club’s new principal partner acquiring the naming rights to its Riverside ground. The Chester-le-Street venue will be known as the Banks Homes Riverside Stadium as part of a multi-year sponsorship deal that forms part of Banks’...
Read More about Banks Group acquires naming rights to Durham Cricket’s Riverside StadiumTwo Top Awards in Two Months for Hall Hill Farm as it is now crowned the North East’s Best Large Attraction
31 Mar 2025
Hall Hill Farm near Lanchester, County Durham, is celebrating a huge win after being named Best Large Attraction at the 2025 North East England Tourism Awards and winning the GOLD award. This follows their recent win in the esteemed National Farm...
Read More about Two Top Awards in Two Months for Hall Hill Farm as it is now crowned the North East’s Best Large AttractionDiggerland Durham Scoops Silver at North East Tourism Awards 2025
31 Mar 2025
Durham, UK - [26th March 2025] - Diggerland Durham is celebrating after being recognised as one of the region’s top attractions at the North East England Tourism Awards 2025. The popular family theme park was shortlisted in the ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ category and proudly took...
Read More about Diggerland Durham Scoops Silver at North East Tourism Awards 2025