Durham University Things To Do

Durham University Things To Do Durham University’s museums, galleries and gardens offer opportunities for fun and learning for all. Not monitored 24/7.

Come and visit our Botanic Garden, Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology and Cosin’s Library, and join one of our tours of Durham Castle, located at the heart of Durham's World Heritage Site. Botanic Garden: Durham University's 10-hectare Botanic Garden is set amongst beautiful mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham city and offers a wide variety of landscapes to explore and discove

r. Durham Castle Tours: Sitting at the heart of Durham's World Heritage Site and occupied continuously since the 11th century, the Castle is now home to the students of University College, part of Durham University. Visitors are welcome to join our guided tours and special events. Oriental Museum: From Ancient Egypt to modern China, the Oriental Museum is devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia. Museum of Archaeology: The Museum of Archaeology's collections range from the prehistory to modern times. Our gallery charting the story of Durham is housed within Palace Green Library. Cosin’s Library: One of the earliest public libraries in the Northeast of England, the library was founded in 1669 by Bishop John Cosin. Now open to the public after being closed for several years for essential conservation work, the library is now more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with a visit to the Museum of Archaeology's newly re-opened upstairs gallery! Discover arch...
03/09/2026

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with a visit to the Museum of Archaeology's newly re-opened upstairs gallery! Discover archaeology behind the scenes through hands-on activities, curator tours, and special displays.

Learn how collections are cared for, researched and displayed with activities including:

👉 Learn museum conservation
👉 Get hands on with natural history with the Skull Index
👉 Discover the science of osteology and how archaeologists study human remains
👉 Meet Artist in Residence Stephen Livingston
👉 Create your own exhibition
👉 Get creative with family-friendly craft activities

Join a 20-minute Curator Tours, running every hour at half past the hour (first come basis maximum of 15 people).

No booking required, sign up for the curatorial tours when you arrive.

Eager to discover more of our fascinating collections? Explore our exciting new Gone But Not Forgotten temporary exhibition, combining museum specimens with original artwork by Stephen Livingstone!

This is Durham Durham Pointers The Skull Index

Art and Science meet at the Museum of Archaeology!The Museum of Archaeology is bringing natural history to life with art...
27/08/2026

Art and Science meet at the Museum of Archaeology!

The Museum of Archaeology is bringing natural history to life with art and science to celebrate our Gone But Not Forgotten temporary exhibition on Friday 28 - Saturday 29 August.

Meet Artist in Residence Stephen Livingstone and become an animal anatomy expert with the Skull Index at the Skulls, Science and Investigation workshops. Feeling inspired? Grab a sketching pencil and create your own unique artwork!

Skulls, Science, and Investigation: join experts from the Skull Index CIC and learn to identify species by investigating real skeletons. Discover the difference between wild and domestic species and explore the ecology of animal extinction. Pick up a colouring sheet to take home or enjoy on the day, suitable for all ages.

Artist Stephen Livingstone will be in residence upstairs in the Museum of Archaeology, Wolfson Gallery and working on a tryptic of drawings in charcoal inspired by our magnificent elephant skull. Stephen is the artist behind our temporary exhibition: Gone But Not Forgotten, which explores the stories of animals that have disappeared from Britain or become increasingly rare, combining his original artworks with museum specimens. He works with historic sites and buildings and museum collections, drawing upon forgotten histories, and his works engage with the factors changing landscapes and habitats.

📅 Friday 28 - Saturday 29 August
💷 FREE and no need to book, just drop in and enjoy!

This is Durham Durham Pointers The Skull Index

Join us tomorrow and get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden! 📅Thursday 27 August🕙10:30am until 4pm...
26/08/2026

Join us tomorrow and get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden!

📅Thursday 27 August
🕙10:30am until 4pm
📍Botanic Garden

Enjoy hands-on, animal encounters with rabbits, frogs, snakes, spiders, mice and other animals.

Normal admission charges apply.

This is Durham

Whose shell is this?Its a pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)!The Museum of Archaeology is bringing natural history to life w...
25/08/2026

Whose shell is this?

Its a pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)!

The Museum of Archaeology is bringing natural history to life with art and science with our Gone But Not Forgotten temporary exhibition.

Hone your skills and become an animal anatomy expert at one of our FREE family friendly Skulls, Science and Investigation workshops at the Museum of Archaeology: 28-29 August and 12 September.

Join experts from the Skull Index CIC and learn to identify species by investigating real skeletons. Discover the difference between wild and domestic species and explore the ecology of animal extinction. Pick up a colouring sheet to take home or enjoy on the day, suitable for all ages.

Meet Artist in Residence Stephen Livingstone on 28 and 29 August and discover the the fascinating Gone But Not Forgotten temporary exhibition, bringing together museum specimens and Stephen's original artwork. Find out more here:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/events-calendar/2026/07/gone-but-not-forgotten-remembering-britains-vanished-species-through-art-and-science/

Workshops are free and drop-in, no need to book.

This is Durham Durham Pointers

There are a few spots remaining for the Art of Seeing Drawing workshop at the Oriental Museum on Saturday 5 September, 2...
25/08/2026

There are a few spots remaining for the Art of Seeing Drawing workshop at the Oriental Museum on Saturday 5 September, 2.00 - 3.45pm.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced drawer, artist Paul Thompson will share his tips on composition and selective focus.

Bring along a image to use as inspiration for your own drawing and work with Paul to create a unique artwork.

Book your spot at Eventbrite. £6.50 per person. All materials provided.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-art-of-seeing-tickets-1997141612324?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

This is Durham Durham Pointers

Meet Stephen Livingstone, Artist in Residence at the Museum of Archaeology (28-29 August) and the artist behind our temp...
24/08/2026

Meet Stephen Livingstone, Artist in Residence at the Museum of Archaeology (28-29 August) and the artist behind our temporary exhibition: Gone But Not Forgotten.

Stephen will be in residence upstairs in the Museum of Archaeology, Wolfson Gallery and working on a tryptic of drawings in charcoal inspired by our magnificent elephant skull.

You are invited to quietly join Stephen in observing the beauty of our natural history collection on display. Pick up some sketching materials and produce your own artistic response, joining art with science.

📅 Friday 28 - Saturday 29 August.

💷 FREE. No need to book. All ages welcome.

Gone But Not Forgotten: Remembering Britain's Vanished Species Through Art and Science draws on rarely displayed objects from Durham University's Natural Science Collection. The exhibition features skeletons, skulls, taxidermy and paintings that reveal the traces animals leave behind and invite us to imagine the lives they once lived. From the giant deer and Great Auk to wolves and lynx, these remarkable species help tell a story of change, loss and survival. Find out more here:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/events-calendar/2026/07/gone-but-not-forgotten-remembering-britains-vanished-species-through-art-and-science/

Check out our Skull, Science and Investigation workshops in partnership with the Skull Index CIC and discover the fascinating world of animal anatomy and ecology. Find out more here:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do/whats-on/events-calendar/2026/08/skull-index-at-the-museum-of-archaeology/


Not long now until Colin Young and his team visit us at the Botanic Gardens to showcase Kobudo Shodai Ryu Zanshi on Thur...
24/08/2026

Not long now until Colin Young and his team visit us at the Botanic Gardens to showcase Kobudo Shodai Ryu Zanshi on Thursday 27 August!

Demonstrations are scheduled for 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.

The style uses live (fully sharpened) blades, short swords (wakizashi), long swords (katana), VERY long swords (nodachi - 57" blade) and, occasionally, the Japanese glaive (naginata).

They have given demonstrations in Japan, France and all over the UK and are currently in their 22nd year of teaching in the UK.

Curious about what everyday life was like for women living in China 150 years ago? Free tours in English, Cantonese, or ...
21/08/2026

Curious about what everyday life was like for women living in China 150 years ago? Free tours in English, Cantonese, or Putonghua (Mandarin) are now available for booking on Eventbrite. Join the curator of the special exhibition ‘Everyday Elegance: Daily Lives of Women in Late Qing China’ in exploring the very first public display of the Huang Kam Chak Yee Collection, an important recent addition to the Oriental Museum.

Free, booking essential, please ensure you select the right language for your tour.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curators-tour-at-the-oriental-museum-tickets-1997555500274

This is Durham Durham Pointers

Join Colin Young and his team teaching Kobudo Shodai Ryu Zanshi on Thursday 27 August at the Botanic Garden!Demonstratio...
20/08/2026

Join Colin Young and his team teaching Kobudo Shodai Ryu Zanshi on Thursday 27 August at the Botanic Garden!

Demonstrations are scheduled for 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.

The style uses live (fully sharpened) blades, short swords (wakizashi), long swords (katana), VERY long swords (nodachi - 57" blade) and, occasionally, the Japanese glaive (naginata).

They have given demonstrations in Japan, France and all over the UK and are currently in their 22nd year of teaching in the UK.

This is Durham

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day on Thursday 27 August from 10:30am until 4pm at...
20/08/2026

Get interactive with the Crazy Creatures visiting the Garden for the day on Thursday 27 August from 10:30am until 4pm at the Botanic Garden.

Enjoy hands-on, animal encounters with rabbits, frogs, snakes, spiders, mice and other animals.

Normal admission charges apply.

This is Durham

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