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National campaign encourages holidaymakers to make Durham their Next Stop 

Partners get on board with latest national marketing campaign, left to right: Pam Porter Locomotion Museum, Richard Kaye Dalton Park, Duncan Peake Chair Visit County Durham, Matt McWhinnie Dalton Park, Sanjay Gidda Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, Sally Pearson The Bowes Museum, Dennis Wood The Auckland Project, Rhiannon Hiles Beamish Museum.

Visit County Durham has launched a major national destination marketing campaign to inspire consumers to make Durham their next stop for a staycation, positioning the county as a must-visit destination for UK holidaymakers.

Running from autumn 2025 to spring 2026, ‘Next Stop, Durham’ will highlight the county’s wealth of world-class attractions and events, outdoor adventures, hands-on history, and exceptional food and drink, and is designed to influence consumers to stop, stay, and explore everything the county has to offer.

Visit County Durham – Durham County Council’s tourism service – is delivering the campaign in partnership with visitor economy businesses including The Auckland Project, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Locomotion, Raby Estates, Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, The Bowes Museum, and Dalton Park, with additional support from accommodation providers Lumley Castle, Seaham Hall Hotel, and Radisson Blu Durham.

It comes as last year’s campaign reached over 18m people and contributed an estimated £165m visitor spend – the Local Visitor Economy Partnership is confident in delivering even greater results in the future.

The new campaign taps into a key opportunity as many people travel through County Durham by road or rail on their way to well-known tourist destinations such as York, Edinburgh, or the Lake District. ‘Next Stop, Durham’ aims to change that as consumers are now actively looking for alternative locations and new experiences, making the county perfectly placed to capitalise as a rising star in the UK staycation market.

It is set to further support the strong performance of the county’s visitor economy, which generated a record £1.38 billion in 2024, an 11.7% increase on 2023. Latest figures show 8% of the county’s visitors staying overnight, but contributing 43% of all expenditure, which is why growing the volume of visitors staying for longer breaks is a key priority for the campaign. As part of Visit County Durham’s commitment to positioning the county as a year-round destination, the campaign aims to extend the visitor season—bringing long-term benefits to local businesses and communities.

Duncan Peake, Chair of Visit County Durham and Chief Executive of Raby Estates, said: “We’re proud to be part of this high-profile national campaign, working in partnership to benefit the county’s visitor economy. By teaming up with partners across the sector for the Next Stop Durham campaign, Visit County Durham can deliver additional, high-profile marketing activity that shines a light on just how much there is to do in County Durham. It is important to highlight the county’s visitor offer which includes award-winning attractions, incredible heritage and fantastic places to eat and drink.”

Cllr Karen Allison, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Regeneration and High Street, Durham County Council said: “Encouraging visitors to make County Durham their next stop is an important message, as evidence shows that many potential visitors pass through the county instead of taking the time to stay and explore. By highlighting the huge amount there is to do we are encouraging people to not just visit County Durham but to stay longer, which is crucial to supporting tourism businesses and delivering sustainable economic growth.”

The Next Stop Durham campaign will reach audiences through national media partnerships and editorials, influencer campaigns, digital advertising across key platforms, and high-impact out-of-home advertising. With strong partnerships, bold messaging, and a clear mission, Next Stop Durham is set to put the county firmly on the map for UK travellers looking for their next great escape.

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Durham University named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026 

Durham University students featured within the Times newspaper

We have been named the UK’s University of the Year 2026 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

The rankings are widely regarded as the definitive guide to UK universities, measuring criteria including student experience, teaching quality and graduate prospects. 

We are ranked third overall in the league table.  

We scored highly across the board, with the panel impressed with our high student satisfaction rates thanks to our exceptional college system and student enrichment opportunities.  

Durham graduates have excellent job prospects and our strength in preparing students for graduate careers also saw us named joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026.  

Judges also praised our teaching and research. 

Our strong performance in these prestigious rankings reflects how our diverse community of students are each supported as individuals to achieve the extraordinary.  

Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said our ‘stellar academic performance’ was boosted by improvements in teaching quality and student experience, and praised our ‘significant achievement’. 

An outstanding place to study   

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, said: “Durham is an outstanding place to study. We ensure that every student can grow and thrive here.   

“Our loyal, engaged alumni are testament to the impressive career prospects that await our graduates.  

“As a diverse and global community, we are making progress in welcoming more under-represented students, including from our city and region.   

“Through a range of scholarships and one of the most generous bursary schemes in the country, we are supporting students to come here and participate in the wider opportunities available to them at Durham.   

“Every student can achieve remarkable things.”  

A World Top 100 University   

We are world top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, a position we have maintained every year since 2010.  

The QS also ranks us 64th globally for employability and 22nd for sustainability  

We are in the top five for all three major UK rankings: The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, the Guardian University Guide, and the Complete University Guide.   

In recent years we have seen an increase in positive responses via the National Student Survey, reflecting our ongoing focus on educational quality alongside a welcoming culture.  

This latest ranking success reinforces our position as a globally competitive university which welcomes talented students from all backgrounds to apply and thrive with us.  

Find out more  

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Champions set to showcase Durham on a global scale

Left to right- Tony Hanson, Corporate Director, Regeneration, Economy and Growth, Durham County Council; David Jackson, Marketing Director, Durham Cricket; Rhiannon Hiles, CEO, Beamish the Living Museum of the North; Emma Gaudern, CEO, EMG Solicitors; Richard Baker, Director Economic Development & Commercialisation Durham University.

Businesses, organisations and individuals from across County Durham have come together for the first Durham Champions – an exciting new county-wide network made up of people who are passionate about the place and want to see it thrive.

It follows the recent launch of the county’s place brand – ‘The Durham Story’ – spearheaded by Durham County Council, including its Visit County Durham and Business Durham services, and Durham University. The 12-month project saw engagement with hundreds of stakeholders from across the region, to identify a compelling new proposition for the county which will showcase County Durham on a global scale.

The Durham Story is an extraordinary blend of beauty, enterprise, heritage, culture and ambition, found in all four corners of the county. It shines a light on what makes County Durham special, its distinctiveness and character, and the opportunities for the growth and development.

This new approach will see organisations and individuals join forces and unite behind the brand to build the county’s image, identity and reputation, and harness profile-raising opportunities to reach audiences essential for economic success.

The first Durham Champions event took place on Thursday 25 July at Durham Cricket and was attended by over 50 businesses and individuals who want to work together to promote County Durham, and raise its profile as a place to live, work, invest, study and visit. Speaking at the event were Emma Gaudern, CEO, EMG Solicitors, David Jackson, Marketing Director, Durham Cricket, Rhiannon Hiles, CEO, Beamish the Living Museum of the North, Richard Baker, Director Economic Development & Commercialisation Durham University, and Tony Hanson, Corporate Director, Regeneration, Economy and Growth, Durham County Council.

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “The purpose of the new place brand for the county is ultimately to help it prosper. We are lucky that County Durham already has many individuals and businesses who are great ambassadors for our wonderful part of the world. We want to build on their fantastic contribution, and we want more of them, so we can create a powerful ‘team Durham’ approach. We have an amazing story to tell, and we all need to play our part in getting that story out there. Collaboration has never been more important, and together, the Durham Champions will demonstrate the confidence we have in our future and play a part in making that happen.”

Emma Gaudern CEO, EMG Solicitors hosted the event and said: “I am proud to be one of the first Durham Champions and part of this powerful new network. The Durham Story is inspiring and reflects the passion and ambition we have in abundance across the county. As an employer I was excited to see the Durham Story unveiled, and what this new approach to promoting the county can achieve through working together. The brand will support businesses and organisations to retain and attract talent, secure investment, and create opportunities by putting the county even more firmly on the map.”

To find out more about The Durham Story, visit Durham-UK.com and sign up to become a Durham Champion.

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Durham Cricket to host three England International fixtures at Banks Homes Riverside in 2026 

People watching a game of cricket at Chester-le-Street

The stadium, one of the country’s most picturesque and fan-friendly venues, will welcome fans for an exciting summer of international action featuring New Zealand Women, India Men, and Sri Lanka Men. 

Confirmed Fixtures at Banks Homes Riverside in 2026: 

  • England Women vs New Zealand Women – One Day International
    Sunday 10 May 2026 
  • England Men vs India Men – T20 International
    Wednesday 1 July 2026 
  • England Men vs Sri Lanka Men – One Day International
    Tuesday 22 September 2026 

These matches form part of Durham’s ongoing commitment to delivering world-class international cricket and creating unforgettable moments for fans across the North East and beyond. 

Tim Bostock, Chief Executive of Durham Cricket, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting three England internationals next summer.

“The opportunity to bring elite-level men’s and women’s cricket to Chester-le-Street is not only great for our supporters, but also for the wider community and local economy. These fixtures highlight the trust the ECB places in our club and our venue.” 

“The 2026 schedule showcases the best of white ball cricket, promising fans a rich mix of fast-paced action and top-level competition. The inclusion of another women’s international reflects Durham’s growing role in supporting the development of the women’s game, following its successful launch of their Tier 1 professional women’s team. 

Ballot & Tickets 

Members and season ticket holders will be given priority purchase windows. Due to expected high demand, Durham Cricket will be operating a ticket ballot system, with further ticketing announcements to follow in the coming weeks.  

Fans are encouraged to sign up to receive ticketing updates using the link below: 

www.durhamcricket.co.uk/international-cricket-2026 

Supporters who register will be the first to hear when ballot entries open, giving them the best chance to secure seats to these blockbuster fixtures. 

 Hospitality is available now from our partner Seat Unique: 

https://www.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/cricket/england-cricket-at-the-banks-homes-riverside-tickets

  England Women v New Zealand – ODI: 

https://www.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/cricket/england-cricket-at-the-banks-homes-riverside-tickets/b7578cb2#28985d51

England v India – IT20:

https://www.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/cricket/england-cricket-at-the-banks-homes-riverside-tickets/a0d87f95#6d3e486d

England v Sri Lanka – ODI:

https://www.seatunique.com/sport-tickets/cricket/england-cricket-at-the-banks-homes-riverside-tickets/4aa6220a#56b4d82c

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Bumper investment drives continued growth for Durham’s visitor economy

Visit County Durham STEAM Results 2025 Anna Warnecke and Cllr Lyndsey Fox

Latest tourism figures show a major boost for Durham’s visitor economy as the county sees overall visitor expenditure rise to a record £1.38billion, with the number of day visitors now 7.6% higher than pre pandemic figures, and overnight visitors also rising by 1.8%.

Visit County Durham, the county’s Destination Management Organisation and Durham County Council’s tourism service, has welcomed the results which show visitor expenditure rose by 11.7% in 2024, with the value of the county’s visitor economy reaching record levels for the third year in a row.

Overall, 21.56 million people visited the county last year, an increase of 7%. The number of people employed in tourism in Durham has also risen and is up by 4.7% according to the latest STEAM* results.

The major study which tracked visitors to the region throughout 2024 has shown an increase in the number of people staying overnight and has highlighted the county as the only area in the North East to see a rise in overall visitor numbers.

Significant levels of investment in the county’s visitor offer have helped to drive this continued growth, whilst marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships have raised the profile and appeal of the county on a global scale. New and enhanced visitor attractions have played a major part in this success with the New Hall expansion at Locomotion, the transformation of Raby Castle’s Rising development, new experiences at Beamish Museum and developments at The Auckland Project.

With even more investment and developments in the pipeline, including major investment in our hotels, Redhills Durham Miners Hall and plans for a historical theme park at Kynren, the sector is looking to the future with optimism.

From high-profile events and cultural programmes at major attractions to vibrant grassroots festivals and community celebrations, Durham offers year-round reasons to visit, with experiences that reflect the county’s rich heritage, creativity, and warm welcome.

Duncan Peake, Chair of Visit County Durham and CEO of Raby Estates said: “These results illustrate the ambition and resilience of the county’s visitor economy. We have not only survived the challenges of the last few years but have emerged much stronger.

We continue to see new developments take shape across the county and wider region, as well as continuing to reap the rewards of recent investment. However, we must not slow down, we must keep moving forward at pace to ensure the county’s visitor economy continues to prosper, which in turn creates jobs and opportunities for residents.”

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We are thrilled with the latest economic assessment STEAM results, which are testament to the incredible partnerships across the county that are committed to working together to grow our visitor economy. Durham continues to grow as an exciting and attractive visitor destination and has greatly benefited from new developments over recent years, and with more to come it puts us in a strong position for 2025 and beyond.”

Jane Ruffer, co-founder of The Auckland Project, said: “These results are a powerful endorsement of the vision and long-term investment that have gone into County Durham’s visitor economy. At The Auckland Project, we’ve experienced first-hand how cultural regeneration and community-led programming can reinvigorate a place and attract both day and overnight visitors. The continued growth in visitor numbers and expenditure is not only good news for our sector but for the communities and local businesses that benefit from this shared success. It’s a clear signal that County Durham’s heritage, creativity and hospitality are resonating with people like never before.”