Why Durham?

 

Are we sure we are all talking about the same place? There are a number of places around the world called Durham but only one that is a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. The two most famous landmarks, the cathedral and the castle were built facing each other across Palace Green just after the 1066 Norman Conquest. The cathedral is regarded as one of the finest Romanesque cathedrals in Europe and the beginning of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. The university can claim to be the oldest in England after Oxford and Cambridge. For more scene setting start with this link. Any of you who were hitherto unfamiliar with Durham should be realising by now that it is a rather special place. It was a gaslit lamp-post in the snow in Durham that inspired C.S.Lewis's lamp-post in the Chronicles of Narnia. It's a fantastic place to explore your self.

lamp-post 


Read More    |    Durham - wikipedia

Where is Durham?

 

The City of Durham lies on the River Wear in the North East of England. If that is still a bit of a mystery look here and then zoom in and out to your heart's content.
 Durham is on the main East Coast railway from Edinburgh to London. Trains leave every half hour at peak times. Journey times from London King's Cross are generally under 3 hours. There are two airports, each 25 miles from the City of Durham. The Great North Road (A1M) lies just to the  east of the City. Have a look at the Frequently asked questions section for more details.

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How to get there

 

By Car


From the North
Durham City is easy to approach from the A1 motorway. Leave A1(M) at Junction 62 and take the A690 to Durham. At the second roundabout turn left across the River Wear. Continue straight on through two sets of traffic lights and ascend past the University Science site which is on the left. Keep going up the hill, go past Grey and Collingwood Colleges on the left, then at the top of the hill, turn right onto Elvet Hill Road. Take the first left and Van Mildert College is then on your left. The car park for the College is just past the main College buildings, on the left.


From the South
Leave A1(M) at Junction 61, signposted A177 Peterlee and Coxhoe. At the roundabout take first left on to A177 Bowburn and Durham. Go through Bowburn and Shincliffe and continue for approx. 3-4 miles. Ascend to a roundabout, take the first left past the University Science Site (on your left) and turn left at traffic lights by the New Inn pub. Ascend the hill (South Road) past Grey and Collingwood Colleges on the left, and take the right turn at the top of the hill, onto Elvet Hill Road. Take the first left and Van Mildert College is then on your left. The car park for the College is just past the main College buildings, on the left.

(See Durham City Map for more details)


By Rail

Fourteen trains per day travel from London and Edinburgh to Durham. The journey takes less than three hours from London, one-and-a-half hours from Edinburgh and forty-five minutes from York.

By Bus

There are several express coach services daily from most major cities

By Air

The nearest airports are Newcastle upon Tyne and Durham Tees Valley. Newcastle airport is linked to Durham by rail and Metro. There are excellent links to Europe via most UK airports and the link to a direct train service from Manchester Airport may be a very good option. (Follow this link for a sample timetable)

Guests Staying at the College
Check In: from 2.00pm
Check Out: by 10.00am (Luggage can be stored if required)

On arrival please report to the Reception, which is open 24/7..

Address:


Van Mildert College
Mill Hill Lane
Durham
DH1 3LH

Contact Details


College Reception
Tel: 44 (0) 191 334 7100 
Internal Tel: Ext 4710

Download instructions and map   |    Map of Durham City

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