Durham is a historic cathedral city in England, famed for its Norman architecture, riverside peninsula, and vibrant university atmosphere, offering rich cultural and scenic experiences.
16 Sep, 19 Sep
Heritage Open Days at Crook Hall Gardens 2026 offers free entry to explore the Grade I listed medieval hall and a series of interlinking gardens with features like a maze, secret walled garden, orchard, wildlife-rich moat pool, and views of Durham city and cathedral. On 16 September, visitors can join guided tours including history and literary links, seasonal poetry walk, and horticulture tours with gardener volunteers.
25 Oct, 15 Nov
Join a guided circular walk from Crook Hall Gardens to Durham University's Oriental Museum, learning about the city's history along the way. The walk covers about four miles and includes a 20-minute visit to the museum.
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
Join a guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens to explore Durham’s history, from its Anglo-Saxon origins onwards. The approximately two-mile route visits the city centre before returning to the gardens.
17 Oct–1 Nov, 6–8 Nov
A self-led autumn trail at Crook Hall Gardens invites visitors to throw a wellie, look for bat species, play in fallen leaves and explore the season’s colours.
31 Oct
In this flower-arranging workshop, attendees turn a fresh pumpkin into a vase and create a seasonal arrangement using chicken wire and water. Florist Debbie provides step-by-step guidance, and the ticket includes a drink, a baked treat and entry to Crook Hall Gardens.
14 Nov, 12 Dec…
A guided walk around Crook Hall Gardens featuring poetry inspired by the seasons, the garden’s flora and the local area. The walk lasts about 50 minutes and includes several stops.
30 Oct
A drop-in, hands-on autumn craft activity where visitors can make lanterns and baskets inspired by autumn leaves, harvest colours and pumpkins. It is suitable for children aged 3 and over, who must be accompanied by an adult.
9 Oct, 16 Oct…
Join volunteer guides for a tour of Crook Hall Gardens, learning about seasonal flowers, plants and shrubs and nature-friendly, sustainable gardening.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
A volunteer-led guided tour of Crook Hall Gardens and its medieval hall, exploring the site's history, the families who lived there and its literary connections.
12 Sep
This workshop offers participants the chance to arrange seasonal dahlias and other late-summer flowers with guidance from a professional florist, focusing on sustainability. It is suitable for adults and older teens and is a mindful activity to develop floral design skills.
Crook Hall Gardens offers interlinked gardens with varied plantings, tranquil water features, and views of Durham Cathedral close to the city centre. The garden showcases seasonal flowers, a walled garden, an orchard, and a living maze, providing a peaceful outdoor experience for visitors.
19 Oct
Local musicians Julie and William perform dance music from England and Western Europe, spanning the medieval period to the 20th century. Performances take place in the gardens, or in the medieval hall in poor weather.
8 Nov, 14 Nov
Take part in a creative walk with the Being Human team from Crook Hall Gardens to Finchale Priory, exploring Durham’s natural and cultural heritage through activities such as writing haikus, photography and sound recording. The walk is followed by refreshments, with return transport to Crook Hall by coach.
30 Aug–3 Sep
Summer of Play at Crook Hall Gardens 2026 is a family-focused event where visitors can play games, dress up, and participate in various physical and creative activities throughout the gardens. The event includes led pop-up events and self-led activities such as family yoga, outdoor sports, puppet shows, and creative dress-up areas. The event runs daily from 30 August to 3 September 2026, 10:00 to 17:00, with no booking required but normal admission charges apply.
A 25-acre University Botanic Garden featuring diverse plant collections, accessible glasshouses, woodland areas, and a children's play area, with food available on-site and partial wheelchair accessibility. Access is free for RHS members on select days.