1 / 6County Durham packs an enormous amount into one corner of North East England, from a world-famous living museum to a theme park where kids drive real diggers. Whether you want history brought to life, wild outdoor play or a rainy-day indoor adventure, here are the best days out with kids in County Durham, all genuine family favourites you can plan a visit around.
🎟️See things to do in County Durham on GetYourGuide →Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Beamish is an award-winning open-air living museum spread across 350 acres near Stanley, recreating North East life in the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s with costumed staff, working trams, steam buses, a colliery village, a town and a farm. Kids love riding the vintage trams and buses, exploring a Victorian sweet shop and an old-fashioned school, meeting farm animals and watching real crafts and trades in action, making the whole day hands-on and immersive. Find it at Beamish, near Stanley.
Diggerland Durham
Diggerland Durham is a construction-themed adventure theme park in Langley Park where visitors ride, drive and operate real full-size diggers, dumpers and other construction machinery, with around 20 rides and drives plus indoor soft play. Subject to height limits, children actually operate genuine diggers and construction vehicles, and there is a two-storey indoor soft play with a ball pit and slides plus a Little Tikes area for under-5s. It is based in Langley Park.
Adventure Valley
Adventure Valley at Union Hall Farm in Brasside is the North East's biggest family adventure park, with 50+ activities across seven play zones including 18,000 sq ft of indoor play plus outdoor forts, go-karts, jumping pillows and a farmyard. There is huge indoor and outdoor play, go-karts, jumping pillows, slides and animal encounters like pony grooming and rabbit cuddling, with something for toddlers up to older kids, and families can bring their own food. You'll find it at Brasside, Durham.
Raby Castle (The Plotters' Forest & Deer Park)
Raby Castle is a medieval castle set in 200 acres of deer park and walled gardens near Barnard Castle, home to The Plotters' Forest, an immersive treetop adventure playground built into a Christmas tree plantation. The Plotters' Forest lets kids climb, slide and explore an elevated wooden adventure playground, and there are roaming deer, adventure trails and acres of parkland to run around in. It sits in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle.
Locomotion (National Railway Museum at Shildon)
Locomotion is a free national railway museum in Shildon, the world's first railway town, housing Europe's largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles with around 99 vehicles across its halls. Entry is free, there is a huge collection of historic trains and engines to explore up close, plus an outdoor playground, picnic areas, a cafe and free family activities all year round. Visit it in Shildon.
The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a grand French chateau-style art museum in Teesdale at Barnard Castle, housing paintings, ceramics, textiles and the famous life-size 18th-century Silver Swan automaton that performs daily. The daily-performing Silver Swan is a real crowd-pleaser for children, alongside family activity trails, a fashion and textile gallery, and extensive grounds to explore. It is located in Barnard Castle.
Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral is a World Heritage-listed Norman cathedral in the heart of Durham City, a working cathedral and famous filming location, with the Open Treasure exhibition and a climbable central tower. Kids recognise it as a Harry Potter filming location, can climb the tower for city views, spot the interactive exhibits in Open Treasure and explore the cloisters, and general entry is free. Find it in Durham City.
Tips for a family day out
- Book big attractions like Beamish and Diggerland ahead online, especially during school holidays and weekends when they get busy.
- Mix an indoor option (Locomotion, The Bowes Museum) with an outdoor one so you have a rainy-day backup ready.
- Check height and age limits before you travel, particularly for Diggerland's rides and drives.
- Several sites let you bring your own food, so packing a picnic can keep costs down on a full day out.
- Free attractions like Locomotion and general entry at Durham Cathedral are great for balancing a budget across the day.
FAQs
What is the best day out for younger children in County Durham?
Adventure Valley and Diggerland Durham both have dedicated under-5s areas and plenty of soft play, making them great choices for toddlers and pre-schoolers, while Beamish offers gentle tram rides and farm animals.
Are there any free days out with kids in County Durham?
Yes. Locomotion in Shildon is a free railway museum with an outdoor playground, and Durham Cathedral offers free general entry, so you can enjoy a full day without paying admission.
What is the best rainy-day option in County Durham?
Locomotion and The Bowes Museum are largely indoors, and Diggerland and Adventure Valley both have large indoor soft-play areas, so any of these work well when the weather turns.
🎟️ Top things to do in County Durham
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