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Future is bright for The Light following opening weekend 

People standing at the Light exhibition with rainbow colours in the background

Visitors of all ages took their first steps into The Light, Durham’s brand-new cultural attraction, as it officially opened its doors to the public.

An unforgettable programme of activities was held across Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August to celebrate the launch of our venue, which serves as the region’s latest destination for culture, creativity and community.

Officially opened by our Chairman, Cllr Robbie Rodiss, the building’s celebrations brought live performances, including music from Pittington Brass Band, acrobatics by Cequin Circus, and live sets from some of the North East’s talented singer-songwriters.

Children and their families also got to explore new sights and experiences with science inspired lawn games.

Inside The Light, visitors made their mark on the venue by contributing to a collaborative illuminated sculpture inspired by moths drawn to light.

They were also invited to experiment with fluorescent materials within a glowing creative playground, where their drawings and messages will become part of an ever-changing light installation.

And guests got to see the venue’s inaugural exhibitions for the very first time – We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry Exhibition and Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light.

A huge success

Cllr Rodiss said: “This has been a long-anticipated day for Durham City and I’m pleased to say that the opening celebrations for The Light have been a huge success.

“The Light is a venue that not only honours the building’s past, but showcases its future as a centre for art, innovation, and history. This has been a significant investment into Durham’s cultural offering, and we are delighted to have already received an incredibly positive response from visitors.

“We can’t wait to welcome more people into The Light and inspire them through an amazing programme that is planned for the rest of the year and beyond.”

Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light brings together groundbreaking works by artists who use light in extraordinary ways, including Tracey Emin, Dan Flavin, Olafur Eliasson, and Chila Burman. Running until Sunday 17 January, it explores light as both subject and material, sparking questions of perception, nature and the cosmos.

Visitors to The Light will also have the chance to discover more about the DLI at a fascinating new permanent exhibition. Featuring images, sounds, hands-on activities and rich sensory experiences, We Are The Durhams builds upon the venue’s military heritage to tell a deeply human story of identity, belonging and community.

The celebrations continue

The opening weekend celebrations will continue into the final weeks of the summer holidays with a packed programme of artist-led workshops and creative activities inspired by light, colour, perception, and imagination.

Details of The Light’s autumn/winter programme will be announced soon.

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Visit County Durham shortlisted for Travel For Every Body Awards 2026 

Everybody logo

Visit County Durham has been shortlisted in the Destination category at the Travel For Every Body Awards 2026, recognising its work to make County Durham a more accessible and inclusive destination.

The awards, organised by travel industry publication Selling Travel, celebrate organisations and initiatives helping to make travel more inclusive and accessible. 

Visit County Durham is shortlisted alongside destinations from across the UK and around the world, including Experience Grand Rapids, New York State, Spanish Tourist Office, Tenerife, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Travel Oregon, Visit Austin, Visit Düsseldorf and VisitEngland. 

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “We want County Durham to be a destination where everyone can enjoy the experiences, attractions, landscapes and hospitality we have to offer. Being shortlisted for the Travel For Every Body Awards is fantastic recognition of the work taking place across the county to improve accessibility and create a welcoming experience for all visitors. It also highlights the importance of working together with our tourism businesses and partners to make inclusive tourism part of everything we do.” 

The recognition highlights County Durham’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that visitors with a wide range of access needs can enjoy the county’s attractions, accommodation, experiences and landscapes. 

The winners will be announced at the Travel For Every Body Awards ceremony at voco Manchester on 1 October 2026. 

View the full Travel For Every Body Awards 2026 shortlist: Finalists for Travel For Every Body Awards 2026 – Selling Travel

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A new mark of excellence: Seaham Hall celebrates landmark Michelin Key achievement

Seaham Hall Hotel with the Michellin logo

Seaham Hall, the five-star luxury hotel and spa based in County Durham, has been awarded a coveted MICHELIN Key by the MICHELIN guide, in recognition of its outstanding hospitality and commitment to exceptional guest experiences.

The MICHELIN Key is a highly selective accolade and is the hotel equivalent of the MICHELIN Star, celebrating hotels that demonstrate excellence across design, service, character, value and sense of place.

Awarded following rigorous, anonymous inspections, the Key recognises hotels that deliver an exceptional overall stay and showcase distinctive character, high-quality service and a strong connection to their surroundings.

Seaham Hall, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, is the only hotel in County Durham to be awarded with the prestigious award and is now one of two MICHELIN Key hotels in the North East region. The hotel joins the highly exclusive list of 18 new Key hotels added across the UK and Ireland, with now only 150 hotels holding the title across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Seaham Hall is highly decorated, with a recent recognition in the prestigious La Liste, where it claimed the top spot in the North East and placed number 51 in the UK. The hotel has also recently been shortlisted in the AA Spa and Hospitality Awards for its commitment to delivering exceptional wellness experiences, outstanding facilities and exemplary service.

The hotel holds a reputation as one of the North East’s leading coastal hotels, spa and wellness destinations and has undertaken a number of significant refurbishments over the past year in its commitment to offering exceptional guest experiences. In April the hotel re-opened its Zen Garden within its world-renowned Serenity Spa following a major £1 million investment. Alongside this, Seaham Hall has also launched two refined hospitality offerings including Japanese-inspired spa restaurant, Geko, and Harvey’s Bar, a modern speakeasy inspired by the hotel’s remarkable history. 

Ross Grieve, Managing Director of Seaham Hall said: “Receiving a MICHELIN Key is a fantastic achievement for our entire team at Seaham Hall and something we are incredibly proud of. To be recognised among just two hotels in the North East is a real honour and reflects the care and attention that goes into every aspect of the guest experience, from our outstanding levels of hospitality to our approach to food and our connection to the region. It is incredible to see that commitment recognised by the MICHELIN Guide, and we look forward to continuing to build on this achievement.”

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National staycation campaign delivers 11% boost to County Durham visitor spend

From left: 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

A national campaign encouraging visitors to make County Durham their next stop has contributed to an estimated 11 per cent increase in visitor spend, while inspiring more people to stay overnight, stay longer and discover more of the county.

Next Stop Durham, Visit County Durham’s latest national destination marketing campaign, reached more than 18 million people between autumn 2025 and spring 2026, helping to raise awareness of County Durham as a destination for a UK break.

Visit County Durham is Durham County Council’s tourism service, working with businesses and attractions across the county to grow the visitor economy and promote County Durham as a leading destination.

Independent evaluation found that estimated visitor spend was 11 per cent higher than during the previous campaign, demonstrating the impact of targeted destination marketing in encouraging visitors to choose County Durham and spend more during their visit.

The campaign also supported Visit County Durham’s strategic ambition to increase overnight stays, with the proportion of survey respondents who said the campaign had influenced them to stay overnight increasing from 11 per cent in the previous campaign to 15 per cent.

Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, Regeneration and High Street, said: “Encouraging visitors to make County Durham their next stop is an important part of growing our visitor economy. We know many people travel through the county without always realising the incredible range of experiences available here, and Next Stop Durham has helped showcase why County Durham is a destination worth stopping for. It is particularly encouraging to see more visitors being inspired to stay overnight, spend longer here and discover attractions they may not have previously considered. This supports our tourism businesses, strengthens the local economy and helps spread the benefits of tourism across communities throughout County Durham.”

The campaign was designed to capitalise on County Durham’s strategic position on the London-York-Edinburgh tourist corridor, with many people travelling through the county by road or rail on their way to other destinations.

Through Next Stop Durham, visitors were encouraged to stop, stay, explore and experience more of the county, helping to increase visits, extend stays and support businesses across the visitor economy.
The campaign was delivered through national media partnerships, influencer collaborations, out-of-home advertising in London, Manchester and along the East Coast rail corridor, alongside targeted digital advertising.

It showcased County Durham’s diverse visitor offer, from world-class attractions and outdoor adventures to food and drink, accommodation and heritage.

Tourism businesses and attractions involved in the campaign included The Bowes Museum, Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, The Auckland Project, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Locomotion, Raby Estates, Dalton Park, Lumley Castle Hotel and Seaham Hall Hotel.

Visitors influenced by the campaign also reported staying longer and spending more per night during overnight stays, while day visitor spend increased compared with 2024-25.

More than half of respondents said the campaign had definitely influenced their decision to visit County Durham, either for a day trip or a longer stay.

The campaign also encouraged visitors to explore beyond their original plans, with 71 per cent of respondents saying it had encouraged them to visit an attraction they had not originally planned to visit.
For those who already had a visit planned, 14 per cent said they stayed longer in the destination because of the campaign.

The campaign is expected to continue delivering benefits beyond the activity period, with 27 per cent of respondents saying it had changed their perception of County Durham and made them more likely to visit in the future.

Duncan Peake, Chair of Visit County Durham and Chief Executive of Raby Estates, said: “Next Stop Durham demonstrates what can be achieved when the tourism sector works together to promote the county. By combining our strengths and showcasing the variety of experiences available, we have been able to inspire more visitors to choose County Durham, stay longer and explore more. The campaign has delivered strong results, from increasing visitor spend to encouraging more overnight stays and helping people discover attractions they may not have previously considered. This highlights the strength of County Durham’s tourism offer and the value of continuing to raise awareness of everything the county has to offer.”

Rhiannon Hiles, Chief Executive of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, said: “Next Stop Durham has been a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the visitor economy works together. Beamish is proud to have been part of a campaign inspiring more people to discover everything County Durham has to offer. By showcasing the county’s outstanding attractions, beautiful landscapes and welcoming places to stay, the campaign has encouraged visitors to spend more time here, benefiting businesses and communities across the destination.”

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Bishop Auckland attraction shortlisted for three international awards

A bird at kynren

An attraction in Bishop Auckland has been shortlisted for three international awards just weeks after launching its latest venture.

An attraction in Bishop Auckland has been shortlisted for three international awards just weeks after launching its latest venture.

Kynren – The Storied Lands, County Durham‘s new live-action show park, is a finalist at the 2026 Park World Excellence Awards, competing against leading attractions from across Europe and beyond.

It has been nominated for Best Regional Park, Best Live Entertainment, and Best Marketing, standing alongside attractions such as Puy du Fou España, Walibi Belgium, Bellewaerde, and Doha Quest.

Read more

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National honour for Durham University’s globally significant Japanese collections

Visitors enjoying the Japanese collections at Durham University’s Oriental Museum.

The Japanese collections at Durham University’s Oriental Museum have been awarded Designated Collection status by Arts Council England, recognising their national and international significance.

The status places the collections among a select group of museum, library and archive collections recognised as being of outstanding importance outside of England’s national museums. 

There are currently just over 160 designated collections in England – and Durham University now holds five of these.  

They are the Chinese, Egyptian and Japanese collections at the Oriental Museum, alongside Cosin’s Library and the Sudan Archive, both held within Palace Green Library. 

The newly recognised Japanese collections have grown significantly in recent years and are now one of the Oriental Museum’s fastest expanding collections.  

Items span centuries of Japanese history and culture, from the Muromachi period through to contemporary works. 

Highlights include swords and armour, intricately embroidered silk kimono, ceramics, woodblock prints and traditional folk toys.  

The collections also reflect modern Japan through contemporary ceramics, manga, street fashion and digital art. 

Rachel Barclay, Senior Curator at the Oriental Museum, said: “Being awarded Designated status is a wonderful recognition of the work that has gone into developing our Japanese collections over many years.  

“What began as a relatively small collection has grown into one of the museum’s greatest strengths, supporting teaching, research and public engagement while helping us build partnerships across Japan and East Asia. 

We are delighted to see their national and international significance recognised, and we look forward to sharing these remarkable collections with even more visitors through future exhibitions, research and public programmes.” 

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “This collection tells the rich and complex story of Japanese art, culture and history across four centuries and the historic links between Japan and the North East of England.

“Covering everything from 16th century porcelain to modern day street fashion and anime, there’s something here for everybody. I would like to congratulate the team for their award.”

Over the past decade, the University’s Japanese collections have more than doubled in size through major donations and acquisitions.  

Significant additions in recent years include the Hyatt King Collection of Japanese ceramics, donated by David and Anne Hyatt King, and a major gift of almost 600 woodblock prints and postcards from Durham University alumnus John P Scott. 

The museum also holds a nationally significant collection of traditional Japanese folk toys collected by Jane Irissa. 

The collections play a central role in Durham University’s long-standing partnership with the National Museum of Japanese History in Japan, helping to strengthen international research, cultural exchange and diplomatic links. 

They represent years of work by University staff to broaden the scope of the collections through building positive relationships with museums, universities and cultural organisations in Japan. 

Shuji Maeda, Minister at the Japanese Embassy in London said: “Having visited Durham University twice over the past year since my arrival at the Embassy, I feel this recognition is very well deserved. This collection brings authentic Japanese culture to people across the UK, including younger generations.

“The fact that such a rich Japanese collection is accessible to those who live beyond London is particularly significant and symbolises that strong historical ties are felt across the country. I pay tribute to Rachel and her colleagues, as well as Professor Yoshi Miki, for their dedication.” 

The award of Designated Status comes ahead of a major new exhibition at the Oriental Museum, ‘Breaking the Mould: Japanese Ceramics from the Hyatt King Collection’, which opens on 2 October 2026.  

It will showcase highlights from the collection of more than 2,000 ceramics donated by the eminent collectors David and Anne Hyatt King. 

It features the work of 20th century masters including Suwa Sozan, Fukami Sueharu and Tsukamoto Kaiji, whose creativity helped redefine Japanese ceramics in the modern era.  

Displays also explore the achievements of the renowned Seifu family workshop of Kyoto and the technical brilliance of Hirado porcelain.