Find out the quickest and cheapest way to get to Durham, not only from nearby Newcastle but also from other UK cities.

By air

Durham does not have its own airport, although in earlier times airports Teesside MME was called "Durham Tees Valley".

This airport lies 40 km south of Durham and has only a couple of flights a day, including KLM' s international service to Amsterdam.

Much more important and also more accessible is the airport Newcastle NCL with a large number of routes throughout Europe.

There is no direct public transport from Newcastle Airport, but the journey through Newcastle city centre to Durham will take no more than an hour.

The Metro from the airport to the main station takes about 30 minutes and the train to Durham takes an average of 15 minutes several times an hour.

By train

Durham railway station is located approximately 1km from the city centre (see location on map) and is accessible on foot and by local bus service 40 (see Transport section).

For the cheapest and easiest way to buy train tickets across the UK, use the Comparator thetrainline.com. The best time to buy is around 2-10 days before departure. Tickets can be slightly more expensive on the day of departure.

Trains are the fastest transport option to Durham from these cities:

• Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Price: from 3,70 gbp
  • 12 to 16 minutes
  • Frequency: 3-5 times per hour
  • Read our guide to Newcastle
• London
  • Price: from 50 gbp
  • Travel time: 3 hours
  • Frequency: 1-2 times per hour
  • Read our guide to London
• Leeds
  • Price: from 22 gbp
  • Travel time: 75 minutes
  • Frequency: 1-2 times per hour
• Middlesbrough
  • Price: 3 gbp to 10 gbp
  • Journey Time: 1 hour
  • Frequency: direct trains 1x per hour
• Darlington
  • Price: 5,50 gbp to 7 gbp
  • Journey time: 18 minutes
  • Frequency: 3-4 times per hour

Book a train ticket to Durham

By bus

Bus services are convenient for travel to the nearest surrounding villages and regional buses also run to Newcastle, where they are a slightly cheaper option to the train, but considerably longer.

However, all bus services between Newcastle and Durham are covered by the TNE Day Saver ticket for 7,50 gbp, as opposed to trains.

Regional routes

All regional buses stop at the central bus station on North Road just about 500 metres from the historic centre (see location on map).

Single ticket prices for all regional services within the Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Consett zone are 2,50 gbp. Durham lies within the TNE Day Saver zone for 7,50 gbp, which can be used for all regional services to Newcastle, Sunderland or Hadrian's Wall.

Single tickets to other destinations cost 3 gbp or 3,50 gbp.

These buses are worth using for travel to the following destinations:

• Sunderland
  • Go North East Lines 20, 20A
  • Journey time: 50 minutes
  • Frequency: 2-3 times per hour
  • TNE Day Saver ticket can be used
• Newcastle
  • Go North East's lines 21 (towards the centre - Eldon Square), X21 (towards Gateshead Interchange with a change to the tube)
  • Arriva line X12 (direction city centre - Eldon Square)
  • Journey time: 50 minutes on X12 and X21 and 70 minutes on 21
  • Frequency: 2-4 times per hour
  • TNE Day Saver ticket can be used
• Consett
  • LinesX15, 16B of Go North East
  • Journey time: 45 minutes
  • Frequency: 2x per hour
  • TNE Day Saver ticket can be used
• Hartlepool
  • Arrivalines22, 24, 58
  • Journey time: 95 minutes
  • Frequency: 2-3 times per hour
  • Cannot use TNE Day Saver ticket

Long-distance lines

Durham is also served by long-distance carriers National Express and Megabus.

Always buy tickets online 2-5 weeks in advance for the lowest price.

National Express stops near the central regional bus station on Sutton Street (see map).

Buses always run once a day from Durham to along these routes:

• Durham - Blackpool
• Durham - Darlington - Manchester - Manchester Airport
• Durham - Darlington - Milton Keynes - London
• Durham - Newcastle - Edinburgh
• Buy your ticket at nationalexpress.com

The Megabus only stops in the south of the city at Durham University Palatine Centre (see map) and only runs once a day on this route:

• London - Sheffield - Leeds - Durham - Newcastle - Dunbar - Glasgow
• Tickets can be bought at megabus.co.uk