Durham – City Guide

Places to eat

Durham is filled to the brim with lovely coffee shops. One popular haunt is Flat White, near Elvet Bridge. They offer delicious breakfast and lunch options, as well as some pretty fantastic coffee. If you are craving something sweet, Be Tempted sells mouth-watering cupcakes; my personal favourite is the Rocky Road.

For dinner, Nadon Thai provides exceptional Thai food at a reasonable price; they also offer a good variety of vegetarian dishes. Situated just outside of the main shopping area, its authentic décor really adds to the lovely atmosphere.

And what guide to Durham would be complete without a mention of the immensely popular La Spaghettata; aka ‘Spag’s’. The food, whilst not spectacular, is tasty and, above all, very cheap. But be warned, even if you book ahead, busy nights will see you waiting for a seat for quite some time, so get there early. It’s also great for large groups and socials.

Nights out

Wednesday is an extremely popular night out, with the majority of students heading to Loveshack (cheesy music, £5 entrance) or Lloyd’s (popular music, free entrance). As they’re right next to each other, you won’t need to decide where to go until you get there!

For a chilled atmosphere, Whisky River serves incredible cocktails; situated right next to the river, it’s a lovely location. It serves a large range of high-quality cocktails, making it difficult to choose sometimes! Don’t miss the French Caramel.

Finally, one rather famous aspect of the nightlife in Durham is that of Klute. Voted the second worst nightclub in Europe, it doesn’t disappoint with its sticky floors, terribly cheesy music, and a perpetual shortage of basics such as Coca Cola and lemonade. Despite this, it is a lot of fun and an essential part of the Durham student experience.

Accommodation

Student accommodation in Durham is on the expensive side. The most popular areas, the Viaduct and Elvet, see average weekly prices of £93 and £108 respectively. However, as Durham is a small city, more affordable accommodation can be found in Claypath (£90/week), Gilesgate (£77/week) and Neville’s Cross (£75/week); all of which are still convenient for access to the city centre and the University buildings.

MY PERFECT DAY

As I live in the Viaduct area, getting to town takes only ten minutes, so breakfast at Flat White is a must. They have such delicious options, and the coffee is unbeatable in my book! Next, I might have a look through the charity shops on North Road; there are always some good bargains.

I would then go to the famous Cathedral, which is an unmissable sight. I love spending time there because of the stunning architecture. I would also take a walk along the riverside, where it’s so peaceful, it’s easy to forget you’re so close to a bustling city.

In the evening, Whisky River is my favourite place to go for a few cocktails with friends; the drinks are absolutely incredible! Then, if it was Wednesday, we would head to Lloyd’s. On any other night, we would choose Klute as, despite the sticky floors and immense crowds, it’s always a fun night out!

Addresses

Flat White
21A Elvet Bridge
Durham
DH1 3AA

Be Tempted
51 Saddler Street
Durham
DH1 3NJ

Nadon Thai
69 Crossgate
Durham
DH1

La Spaghettata
66 Saddler Street
Durham
DH1 3NP

Loveshack
3 Walkergate
Durham
DH1 1WA

Lloyd’s
Walkergate Leisure
Walkergate
Durham
DH1 1WA

Whisky River
47 Prince Bishops Shopping Centre
1-2 High St
Durham
DH1 3UJ

Klute
Elvet Bridge
Durham
DH1 3AF