Go to a Cathedral candlelight performance
Durham Cathedral is already magical by itself but around Christmas it becomes even more special. The candlelight performances are worth seeing, especially over December. There are also carol concerts and other festive performances happening that are worth checking out.
Pantomime at the Gala theatre
There is truly nothing that screams Christmas more than a pantomime and there are plenty to see in Durham. This year Jack and the Beanstalk is on until the end of December and you can get tickets on the Gala website.
Local Christmas markets
There are plenty of Christmas markets in the Northeast, from bigger events like those at Edinburgh and Newcastle to smaller markets at Raby Castle and South Causey Inn, there is something for everyone.
Durham Christmas Festival
From the 5th to 7th of December Durham will be hosting its Christmas Festival which will have market stalls around the city centre and cathedral cloisters.
Beamish
Not too far from the city centre, Beamish outdoor museum transforms into one of the most festive locations in the North. From 22nd November to the 24th December you can step back in time and experience Christmas as it was from the Georgian period to the 1950s. There are also plenty of festive activities as well as Christmas evenings taking place around the museum.
Carvery
You simply cannot beat a Sunday roast around Christmas time. I would personally recommend Whitechurch for a great carvery although there are also plenty of cute pubs around Durham where you can go to warm up!
Go to see a Christmas film at the cinema
With both the Gala and Odeon on your doorstep, when better than to go and see a festive film to get you feeling Christmassy! There’s also a student discount!
Look out for society events
It is common for sports/societies committees to run festive events, themed nights out and other craft activities around this time of year. Keep an eye out on Facebook and Instagram pages and sign up to anything that seems interesting to you. Remember that societies often run events cheaper than other places, so they are always good ways to have fun and get stuck in on a budget.
Discover more
Durham Christmas Festival https://durhamchristmasfestival.com/
Raby Castle Christmas events https://www.raby.co.uk/christmas/
Beamish Christmas events https://www.beamish.org.uk/christmas-2025/
Newcastle Christmas markets https://newcastleschristmas.com/markets
South Casey Inn Christmas events https://southcausey.co.uk/christmas-at-south-causey-inn/
