Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

A historic estate near Durham well worth a visit

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens sits just outside Durham and has a genuinely long history — the estate was in Catholic ownership for centuries before passing to the Catholic Church in 1808, and it served as a seminary for many years afterwards. Today it's open to visitors and offers an insight into Britain's Catholic heritage as well as the wider history of the North East, drawing tourists, students and researchers alike.

The grounds are one of the highlights — carefully maintained gardens with a wide variety of plants and mature trees, home to two chapels (dedicated to St Cuthbert and St Peter) along with monuments, statues, ponds and fountains dotted around the site. It's a genuinely peaceful spot for a walk, with woodland trails and plenty of wildlife, including birds, deer and foxes, and the estate runs its own café using produce grown in the on-site gardens.

Ushaw runs guided tours, interactive displays and audio tours throughout the year, along with seasonal events such as outdoor theatre and family activities including Easter egg hunts and local history talks. It's only a short drive from Durham city centre, making it an easy addition to a day out if you're already in the area, and its education programme offers school groups hands-on learning about local history, conservation and ecology. If you're planning a fuller day of culture, Durham Museums and Galleries is another good stop nearby.