Once considered coal mining country, County Durham has been moving back to its pastoral roots over the past few decades, highlighted by the pretty villages and market towns with their medieval hubs amid the lush, green landscape. The North Pennines and Teesdale Hills are within the borders of County Durham, and the landscape then flattens out across the region as it heads for the coast following the routes of the Tees and Wear Rivers. Beautiful Durham has many of the county’s major man-made sights, and is one of the best places to stay in County Durham if you’re here to explore further afield or just for a mini-break. But many of our recommendations are rural manor houses turned country house hotels, with plenty of dog friendly options, offering elegant escapes to County Durham’s spectacularly lush countryside.

If you do opt for Durham it’s the Anglo-Norman cathedral that will probably top your list, built in the Romanesque style with England's first stone-rib vaulted roof — a sight to behold, even for those not usually moved by architecture. Another highlight is Durham Castle, built in the 11th century, and now updated to accommodate Durham University. The Beamish Open-Air Museum is also worth a visit, a fabulous warts-and-all, living museum portraying industrial life in the north east.

If Beamish appeals, you may find some of the best places to stay in County Durham in nearby Chester-le-Street, which is also known for its regular market days, county cricket ground, and scenic Pennine backdrop. Bishop Auckland is another great choice for sightseers, with its castles, markets, ruins of a Roman fort, and vast open air theatre. Darlington is ideal if you’re hoping to visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park, or the North York Moors National Park.

The Best Places to Stay in County Durham

For a Special Occasion

• Lumley Castle, which is just outside Chester-le-Street, has the kind of towers, battlements, and crenelations loved by those who illustrate books about King Arthur. And it has interiors to match: think grand, vaulted banqueting halls, flagstone floors, lavish drapes, spiral staircases, thick walls, four-poster beds, and staff in medieval dress. There are 73 rooms and suites, though only some are in the castle. Others are in the converted stables, and there’s a mews of pretty cottages — ideal for families. The largest rooms have four-poster beds or baths theatrically set on a dais behind curtains. The top castle rooms are awash with swags and pelmets, some with bathrooms behind secret doors; huge fun. Food is traditional English with a twist and the dining-room is all you’d want from a castle: stone pillars, vaulted ceiling and soft candles. Don’t miss the proper afternoon teas served in the library. And if your stay coincides with an Elizabethan banquet or murder mystery dinner, well, who knows what might happen...
• Wynyard Hall Hotel & Spa has been lovingly converted from a Georgian era stately home, surrounded by parkland. Impressive and grand both inside and out, there are only 22 rooms and suites — all vast — plus three cottages, all sleeping six. Plus there's a gourmet restaurant and pampering spa.

For a Country House Escape

• Rockliffe Hall is a country house hotel converted from a striking red-brick mansion surrounded by acres of parkland. It’s now a 61 room hotel, with a vast spa complex, four restaurants, a championship golf course, tennis courts and a gym, and a chic bar. For kids there’s an adventure playground, fun menus and plenty of space inside and out, including self-catering apartments and houses.
• Seaham Hall and Serenity Spa is a very grand, Georgian era country house, turned 22 suite hotel, known for its impressive Asian-inspired spa, glorious parklands and delicious culinary options. Everything is spacious and well appointed here, from the super contemporary bathrooms to the gym. Close to the coastline, and about 30 minutes drive from Durham.

For Foodies

• The Raby Hunt is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant-with-rooms, on the Grade II Listed Raby Estate, in the charming hamlet of Summerhouse. While the restaurant’s building is historic, the interiors, including the dining room and guest rooms, are styled with contemporary flair. The restaurant is very much the main event, operated by a self-taught chef who has an adventurous and original tasting menu, and an incredible set of deserts.

For Historic County Durham

• Converted from the magnificent redbrick building designed in the Victorian era to be the County Offices, the Hotel Indigo is an impressive sight, inside and out. The spacious interiors hold 83 rooms and suites, plus the vast Marco Pierre White Steakhouse restaurant — which occupies the former council chambers — and a cafe, bar and spa. The decor is striking, and very contemporary compared to the exterior: it's ‘masculine’, with clean lines and bold colours, but not too many frills or flourishes. Ten minutes stroll from Durham cathedral.

For a Countryside Escape

• Westgate Manor is a converted Victorian manor house just outside Bishop Auckland in the Weardale countryside. There are only four rooms, all spacious and carefully decorated with a collection of lovely antiques that match the period. Our Gurus enjoyed the serene library and the atmospheric dining room restaurant. Ideal for an escape.
• Clow Beck House is a sprawling stone farmhouse turned 13 room hotel. The views are lovely, overlooking the farmland belonging to the farm’s estate. Inside the decor is unique, varying from room to room, and featuring antique and contemporary pieces, a couple of chandeliers and colourful original artworks. The restaurant serves homemade meals, with quite a lot of the produce sourced as locally as the hotel’s estate. Family friendly and well located for exploring County Durham.
• The Runa Farm buildings have been converted from a cluster of farm outbuildings, so there’s plenty of variety and privacy, though they all share spectacular views of the Teeside Moors. The largest of the 24 rooms and suites have their own hot tubs, and they all have a Mediterranean vibe, plus extra touches like lovely robes and locally made chocolates. There’s a chic little cocktail bar, just for residents, and the old blacksmith’s workshop has been converted into a stylish restaurant with a menu heavy on local produce and well-cooked pub classics. Romantic, but good for families too — there’s a separate farmhouse which sleeps up to 12. Conveniently located for Barnard Castle.

For Walkers

• The Morritt Arms is an elegant, Georgian era coaching inn, with a pillared entrance, and a pleasingly symmetrical facade. The 27 rooms and suites are a good mix of traditional and contemporary decor, some with four-posters, others light and airy, with a hint of Scandinavian style. Some of the suites would suit a family. The restaurant has a menu focused on seasonal, local produce, while the bistro serves upscale pub grub. The garage has been converted into a spa. Just ten minutes from the Lake District, and an hour from the Yorkshire Dales. So ideal for walkers.
• The Lord Crewe Arms is an excellent pub-with-rooms in the picturesque village of Blanchland — which is a fantastic base for walkers. There are 21 rooms and suites, decorated with simple rustic style, a very nice collection of rugs and throws, and a palette to match the landscape. The pub downstairs has a far-better-than-average menu, which is heavy on local produce and game and served in hearty portions. Expect walking maps and tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms, and roaring fires when required.
• The Rose & Crown is a rather beautiful 18th century coaching-inn, converted into a classic village hostelry, but with stylishly understated decor, award-winning food and drinks — including real ale — and wonderful rural views of wild moorland and the sheep-dotted fields of the North Pennines. We love the welcoming village pub atmosphere, but the inn is adamant that it’s the fantastic food that draws back repeat visitors. Some of the rooms have small patios, and these are the ones the hotel recommends for dogs.

For Romantics

• The Town House has been converted from an elegant, Grade II Listed, Georgian townhouse in the heart of Durham. It has 11 rooms and suites, all individually designed with luxury and cosseting in mind — expect velvet drapes, damask, chandeliers, gilt, and oil paintings. Some rooms border on opulent, and anyone looking for romance will like the French boudoir style, intimate dining room and cocktail bar, and the outdoor hot tubs. Romantic, and close to everything.
• Forty Winks is another romantic offering in Durham; a flamboyantly and eccentrically furnished guest house on South Street, with enviable views of the city’s cathedral and castle. The eight rooms and suites range in style, from opulent at one end, through grand, to classically luxurious at the other. The owners bought this to be their home, and furnished it with personal treasures, including a taxidermy giraffe, skeletons, and a stuffed snake in the umbrella stand. An impressive breakfast is cooked to order. Not for minimalist!

For a Country House Hotel

• Headlam Hall is an elegant but relaxed country house hotel, surrounded by lush grounds that have had a golf course incorporated into them. Accommodation-wise there are 40 rooms and suites, and facilities-wise there’s an expansive spa, tennis courts, a library, plus the bar, a restaurant and bistro, grand piano room and drawing room. The interior decor complements the creeper-clad and pillared exteriors, with large windows, stone-flagged or wooden floors, Chesterfields and tweedy chairs, four-posters and period antiques.

For Families

• Ramside Hall Hotel is a large, family-friendly, resort-hotel, converted from an impressive country house in beautiful grounds. It’s got 130 rooms and suites and excellent facilities including two championship golf courses, plus a swish Espa spa, impressive leisure centre with indoor and outdoor pools and a choice of three restaurants. The rooms are in a patchwork of styles as well as sizes, with the largest featuring extras like cinema-sized TV screens and free-standing baths.

Best Pubs-with-Rooms

• Run by award-winning restaurateurs, Darlington’s The Devonport is a carefully renovated and pub with rooms — but one with a very, very highly regarded restaurant. The decor is a contemporary take on the cosy pub, with woollen throws, just the right amount of velvet and a lovely, sage/botanical colour scheme. The bathrooms are large and stylish.
• The South Causey Inn is a family-run pub-with-rooms in the picturesque Beamish Valley, with 40 uniquely decorated rooms and suites featuring everything from Roman centurion shields, to clocks with smiley faces and multiple bicycles. Some of the suites have hot tubs, and one of them has been converted from a double decker bus. The pub restaurant is known for its classic pub food and Sunday carvery.

For Great Value

• The Park Head Hotel is a comfortably stylish, 38 room property in the centre of Bishop Auckland. This is a friendly pick, especially if you want in on local insight or advice, with a wonderful restaurant which is also very home grown. Rooms are well designed, and are in a good range shapes and sizes, which includes family-sizes suites. The hotel also has a children’s play area.

Best B&Bs

• Dowfold House in Crook, is a homely, three room B&B converted from a lovely stone cottage. The rooms are all individually decorated — two featuring double beds and one two singles. It feels very much like a home still, and guests are welcome in the tastefully decorated sitting room and gardens. The breakfast is substantial.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• If you’re aiming to arrive in County Durham by air you could use Teesside International Airport, which is between Darlington and Stockton-on-Tees, or Newcastle International Airport. If you’re travelling by train via London you’ll need to leave from Kings Cross. Trains take about two and a half hours to get to Darlington, two and three quarters to Stockton-on-Tees, three hours to reach Durham, three and a half to Chester-le-Street,
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• County Durham isn’t known for extreme temperatures, it’s warm, rather than hot in the summer, and cold rather than freezing during the winter. There’s a smattering of rain all year round, but it’s not known for inclement weather. If you’re planning to do a lot outside, then spring and summer are the obvious times to visit, with lighter days, milder temperatures and wildflowers. If you’re planning to do a lot indoors there’s good reasons to visit during autumn and winter too, with a calendar of festivities that packs plenty into the cooler months — including Durham’s Christmas Market.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Refine your search to one of County Durham’s centres: the best places to stay in Durham being the obvious choice, but there’s also Chester-le-Street, Darlington or Bishop Auckland
• Refine your search by the kind of holiday you’re planning and consider our Gurus’ recommendations for the best pubs-with-rooms in Country Durham or the best pubs-with-rooms in Northumberland
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.