Durham Monks, Miners and cathedral secrets tour with mobile app

Durham was built around a dead man's bones — monks fleeing Vikings carried a saint's body to a hilltop, and an entire city grew from that moment. This self-guided audio walking tour lets you uncover that story straight from your phone, at your own pace. It also includes a free tour of the Durham cathedral. Walk past the bridge where England's first Tower of London escapee left his mark, hear about Britain's most prolific female serial killer, and learn why Durham's bishops minted their own coins and raised their own armies. You'll follow the river beneath ancient oaks and end at the cathedral still sheltering a thousand-year-old body. No fixed start time, no group to keep up with. Pause for coffee, linger at a viewpoint, or skip ahead — it works offline too. Over 20,000 travelers have used our self-guided tours, and yours comes with a full refund guarantee. If you'd rather explore Durham on your own terms than be herded between stops, this Durham audio tour is for you.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Pass by

   The Journey Sculpture – Stand before the wooden figures bent under a coffin that sparked an entire city into existence.

2. 2

   Durham Market Place

   Pass by

   The Market Tavern – Step into the birthplace of a movement that outlived the very industry it was built to protect.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   The Market Place – Spot the hidden clay animals scattered above the square where severed heads once hung on poles.

4. 4

   Durham Town Hall

   Pass by

   Durham Town Hall – Meet the three-foot-three celebrity who charmed European royalty and won a grave inside the cathedral.

5. 5

   Durham Cathedral

   1 hour

   This tour begins at the entrance of Durham Cathedral, where you'll discover its remarkable history and architectural journey. You'll then explore the knockers on the portals, uncovering the stories they depict. As you step inside, the tour guides you through the cathedral’s awe-inspiring stained glass windows, sacred relics, and the tombs of influential bishops—each with its own story and significance. You’ll learn why these figures were laid to rest here and how they shaped the city’s past. The tour concludes at the very place it began: the humble entrance. In total you will go through 25+ stops on this tour.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Pass by

   Statues of Neptune and the Soldier – Trace a granite timeline born from a ten-year-old boy's letter to the local newspaper.

7. 7

   Durham Riverside Walk

   Pass by

   The Riverside Walk – Follow the river gorge where a shepherd boy's vision set off a chain that shaped northern England for centuries.

8. 8

   Framwellgate Bridge

   Pass by

   Framwellgate Bridge – Cross the bridge built by a man who escaped the Tower of London hidden inside a barrel of wine.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Pass by

   The Bailey – Walk one of England's finest medieval streets, once held by soldiers whose rent was paid in loyalty.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    Pass by

    Palace Green – Weigh the power of bishops who minted coins, raised armies, and answered to no king.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    Pass by

    Silver Street – Search for the plaque marking where a raven dropped a gold coin at the feet of a penniless boy.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    Pass by

    The Watergate and City Walls – Pass beneath the medieval gate that helped a castle stay unconquered for nearly a thousand years.

13. 13

    Durham Castle

    Pass by

    Durham Castle – Enter the oldest inhabited university building in the world, haunted by a student who misread a notice board.

14. 14

    Shakespeare Tavern

    Pass by

    Saddler Street and Shakespeare Tavern – Hear why Durham's most haunted pub still rattles a sewing machine no one has touched.

15. 15

    Prebends Bridge

    Pass by

    Prebends Bridge – Pause where a saint's coffin suddenly refused to move — and a lost cow showed the monks where to go.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.