Durham, England

Town of Durham, England

Durham is a city in County Durham in North East England.

Durham is well known for its Norman Cathedral and Castle, as well as Durham University.

Durham is situated 21 km. (13 miles) to the south west of Sunderland, in North East England.

The River Wear flows north through the city, enclosing the centre on three sides to create Durham's "peninsula". Durham is a hilly city, claiming to be built upon the symbolic seven hills. Upon the most central and prominent position high above the Wear, the cathedral dominates the skyline. The steep riverbanks are densely wooded, adding to the picturesque beauty of the city. West of the city centre, another river, the River Browney, drains south to join the Wear to the south of the city.

The county town of County Durham, Durham is located in the City of Durham local government district, which extends beyond the city and has a total population of 87,656, and covers 186.68 km.

Durham railway station is situated on the East Coast Main Line between Edinburgh and London's Kings Cross Station.

By road, the A1(M), (Great North Road), passes just to the east of the city.

Newcastle Airport lies to the north, and Durham Tees Valley Airport to the south, both being approximately 40 km. (25 miles) away.

The present city can clearly be traced back to 995 AD, when a group of monks from Lindisfarne chose the strategic high peninsula as a place to settle with the body of Saint Cuthbert.

Official Town of Durham, England website: www.darlington.gov.uk