Private Tour
Durham’s Landmarks and Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
This self-guided walking tour takes you on a journey through time to explore the dramatic peninsula of Durham city.
You’ll make your way from the bustling heart of the city, along tranquil riverside footpaths and medieval bridges, to the world-famous Durham Cathedral. You’ll see some of the most spectacular vantage points around, and hear tales of St. Cuthbert and his miraculous journey to the city roughly 300 years after his death! Along the way, you’ll encounter the legendary kings and ferocious rivalries that have shaped Durham since Anglo-Saxon times.
From wealthy and eccentric Prince Bishops to humble locals, you’ll meet the people who have made the city what it is today. Allow an hour for the tour without any additional stops but you can pause the tour whenever you want for refreshments enroute.
You'll need to download the tour onto the VoiceMap app which uses your location to move the story along at the right time and place. The tour can also be enjoyed virtually at home.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
Lifetime access to this tour in English
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
What To Expect
The tour starts in Durham Market Place. You'll learn about the square's history, how to use the VoiceMap app which you'll use to take the tour and why there's a statue of Neptune in the square.
Framwellgate Bridge
The tour takes you over the Framwellgate Bridge. From the bridge, you'll have a great view of Durham Castle which you'll learn about.
Options
Durham’s Landmarks and Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Path closure stopped tour!
809KeithB,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00The app download was problematic. Unfortunately the pathway at the second part of the route was closed for repairs (16th September at 11:00am) which threw the walking plan so after only a few minutes we were unable to complete the tour. The path closure was not the fault of VoiceMap tours so they cannot be blamed for the situation but it was zero value for money as it transpired.
Durham landmarks in the sunshine
890debbiep,
May 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A nicely paced audio tour with interesting facts along the way. Excellent weather added to the experience. The GPS tracker wasn't always accurate so the tour didn't automatically kick in at all the landmarks but not a problem as you can play each landmark manually...and not the fault of the tour!
Brilliant little tour
JAGwoodley,
Feb 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really great app and tour that knows your location and stops and starts as you walk. Really great content and really enjoyed it. Well recommended
Clever tour
644deborahe,
Jul 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friend and I really enjoyed this tour and the interactivity worked like magic! It was So clever how the app knew where we were and started and stopped so we could keep our phones safely in our pockets. The guide was very informative and knew lots about the city and the place where we started and the cathedral where we finished were exactly what we wanted.
waste of money
Jimmy R,
Jun 26, 2024
- Review from Viator
1.00Audio guide did not do justice to the magnificent cathedral and it's history. Clearly out of date as referenced by mentioning "Covid restrictions."
Missed the tour
391lornad,
Nov 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Couldn’t log on to site so missed the tour. Really disappointed and cost £6.70 too. No one to call to tell me what to do. Such a shame.
Not a bad option
lindaandrichard2017,
Sep 24, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Was in Durham for two days but no walking tours running on a Friday so took up the self guided option. It was actually really informative easy to follow the directions and we would never of found our way around with out it. Took just over an hour, a pleasant walk with history details but at a nice pace. Well done would recommend. (You do have to go down steps to the river)
Great storytelling, not so great in other areas…
Jennifer D,
Aug 6, 2023
- Review from Viator
3.00While the storyteller was very good, there was too much quiet - I was unsure that I was going the right way several times, and my husband actually did go the wrong way, because he was having a lot of problems with the gps getting his location right!
Great walking tour!
Suzanne H,
Jul 9, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00I was impressed by the knowledge of the audio guide. Also with the VoiceMap technology that allowed the description to know where we were so the commentary was appropriate for the location.
Great way to get an insight into Durham.
Janice S,
Jul 3, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Easy to use self guided tour. Easy to understand and to navigate and a great insight into the area. An economically way to transverse the area. Highly recommend.
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Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours