Art Galleries in and around Durham City
Durham has a surprising number of art galleries, museums and creative spaces, both in the city centre and within easy reach. From small independent galleries and craft studios to major collections such as the Bowes Museum and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy art in and around Durham.
Art Galleries in Durham City
Durham city centre has several small galleries and art spaces, alongside university collections and independent artist studios.
Durham University Campus
Durham University’s Art and Sculpture Collection is on display in and around buildings across the University campus. The displays in the Palatine Centre include artworks that investigate differing notions of printmaking by artists. The Palatine Centre is also the location of the annual Durham University Student Art Prize exhibition. The Outdoor Art Gallery outside the Bill Bryson Library presents a changing programme of exhibitions featuring their collections, contemporary artists and research.
Hours: Palatine Centre 9.00-17.00, Outdoor Gallery and sculptures 24/7, Charges: Free, Café: In the Palatine Centre, Access: disabled access, Transport: 20 min walk from city centre, No. 6 and P&R 2 (Howlands) buses.
Burlison Gallery, Durham Town Hall
This room in the Town Hall is named after local artist, Clement Burlison, who made a living painting views around Durham. The gallery and Town Hall display some of his finest works, including reproductions of paintings by masters such as Turner, Raphael and Titian. The gallery is part of the Town Hall in the Market Place
Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10.00 - 15.00,Charges: Free, Café: No, but many in city centre, Access: Disabled access with lifts and accessible toilet,Transport: in city centre
Dead Dog Gallery, Sixth Form Centre, The Sands DH1 1SG
The Dead Dog Gallery is a free, contemporary arts space in the heart of Durham City. It opened in July 2023 and is situated in the grounds of Durham Sixth Form Centre. See website for events , workshops and activities.
Hours: Wed & Sat 9.30-3.30 or by appointment, Charges: Free, Access: Disabled access and toilet, Transport: 10 min walk from city centre
The Light (Opening Summer 2026)
Once the site of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery, The Light will present an ambitious programme of temporary and touring exhibitions that showcase world class art from the North East, the UK and across the globe. A dedicated DLI Gallery, meanwhile, will retain the building's historic connection to the Regiment, telling the story of the 'Durhams' through objects, documents and film footage from the DLI Collection.
Hours: opening mid 2026. Transport: 20 min walk from city centre
Durham Art & Craft Shops
Elvet and Bailey, 24, High St, Durham, DH1 3UJ
A gallery and gift shop showcasing products by a cooperative of local artists, crafters and makers. Also run craft courses
Open Mon – Sat 10.00 – 17.00, Sun 11.00-16.00
Fowlers Yard, on the riverside behind the market is an area devoted to Arts and Craft Businesses:
April 11 An arts and crafts shop specialising in local work. They run an in-house design studio and run workshops. Open Mon - Sat 1000 - 1600, Sun 1100 - 1600.
Ashcroft Jewellery Workshop. Open by appointment, phone 0191 383 0020 or contact via website www.ashcroftjewellery.com
Tracy A Franklin Embroiderery Independent specialist in traditional embroidery and Textile artist.
A Wing and a Bear: Fibres with Flair Wool, dying and yarn specialists, 100% British materials, with associated tools. Classes in knitting, spinning and crochet.
The Sustainable Atelier Makes linen clothing for women and children, and do embroidery
Art Galleries near Durham City
Within a short drive or bus journey from Durham you can visit galleries in places such as Spennymoor, Seaham and Bishop Auckland.
Bob Abley Gallery, Spennymoor Town Hall
High Street, Spennymoor, Co Durham DL16 6DG. 01388 815276 6 miles from Durham City X21 and no 6 bus
The Gallery hosts permanent works by artists involved in the Spennymoor Settlement, including Norman Cornish, Tom McGuiness, George Robson, Jack Roach and many more. It has a small reconstruction of Norman Cornish’s art studio and video of him discussing his work.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 0900 – 1630, Friday 0900 – 1600, Charges: Free
One of the signs from the Cornish trail showing one of the artists' paintings
The Norman Cornish Trail
Spennymoor, Co Durham DL16 6DG6 miles from Durham City.
After viewing some of the artist’s work in the Bob Abley Art Gallery, follow the 1.5 mile Norman Cornish Trail around the town to identify the locations of many of his iconic works.
EDAN Gallery , Seaham
East Durham Artists Network is a gallery run by a Cooperative of Artists in East Durham. Exhibitions change regularly. Arts and Craft courses are run. See the website for current details.
Hours: Tues – Sat 11.00-15.00, Charges: Free, All at ground level, Transport: 12 miles from Durham City. No 65 bus from Durham City
Ushaw Historic House, Ushaw Moor, DH7 7DW
Once a Catholic seminary, Ushaw now hosts regular exhibitions including those from local art groups. You can also find a collection of wooden sculptures in the gardens.
The Building of Durham Cathedral c1968, oil on canvas, Ushaw
Hours: 10.00 - 16.00, Charges: £14 adult, £8 child, Historic house members free Annual membership £28 adult £18 child £57 family, Café, Disabled access and toilets, Transport: 5.7 miles from Durham City. Bus 14 or 52, or 48 to Bearpark, then 30 min walk.
The Auckland Project
This is a set of galleries and gardens, centred on the Bishop's Palace at Bishop Auckland. Kynren, a very popular community-based historical show takes place during summer evenings. The pricing structure depends on how many of the different parts of the project are visited and are best understood by visiting their website. There are reductions for people travelling by bus or train, or who live in certain local postcodes or who are members of English Heritage. The prices given below are for single visits to individual galleries without any reductions. The gardens and park are free. All of the project is wheelchair accessible apart from the Walled Garden.
There is parking nearby for all the Bishop Auckland attractions at the Bondgate car park (£4 for the day) and bus routes from Durham include 21, X21, 56 and 56A. 11miles from Durham City
The Auckland Project attractions include:
The UK’s largest gallery of its kind outside London, dedicated to the art and culture of the Spanish Golden Age with works by El Greco, Murillo, Zubaran and Velazquez. Sign posted in English and Spanish for their numerous international visitors and there are large print guide books in each gallery.
Hours Wednesday to Sunday 1030 to 1600. Tours can be booked for the morning and it is open to other visitors from 1200.
Entry £15 adults £5 children.
An intimate and awe-inspiring collection of 420 works of art by local artists. No tours but there are talks - see the website for current details. There are large print guide books in each gallery. No photography allowed, for copyright reasons.
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 1030 to 1600., Charges £8 adult £5 children
Built as the Palace of the Prince Bishop of Durham, who ruled Northern England on behalf of the English King., Auckland Palace includes works of art such as those by the Spanish artist Zurbarán, a statement of religious, political and social tolerance. There is a superb new building housing the Faith Museum as part of the site.
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10.30 to 16.00., Charges £20 adults £5 children
A view of Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Also in Bishop Auckland...
Bishop Auckland Town Hall hosts three permanent pieces of work, The Steps to the Shaft by Tom McGuinness, The Miners Gala Mural by Norman Cornish and Flower Show in Auckland Park by John Wilson Carmichael, as well as showing a range of other works on a curated rotation through each year. The temporary exhibition space hosts regular changing exhibitions
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10.00 – 16.00. Closed Bank Holidays. It is open in the evenings for cinema and theatre performances, Café: 10.00 - 15.00, Bishop Auckland Town Hall is fully accessible
18 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL14 7PG
In 2020 the gallery was awarded the Prestige Art Gallery of the Year for the North of England and in 2023 the Northern Enterprise Best Contemporary Art Gallery of the Year in County Durham. Its motivation is to display high quality contemporary art whilst promoting and increasing the recognition of artists in a search that is both national and international.
Hours: Wed to Sat 11am - 5.30pm; most Sundays & bank holidays 12 - 4pm.
51 Fore Bondgate, DL14 7PE
Specialises in watercolours by Eric Thompson. . Phone for opening hours. 01388 665919
46 Fore Bondgate, DL14 7PE 07434669821
Open Fridays 10.30 – 16.00, Saturdays 10.00 – 16.00.
Other Major Art Galleries in the North East
A little further afield are some of the North East’s best-known galleries, including national collections and large contemporary art spaces.
The silver swan at Bowes Museum
Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8NPA Victorian stately home built in French Chateau style, standing proudly in the heart of Teesdale, The Bowes Museum is the vision of a pioneering woman, Joséphine Bowes and her husband John, specialising in Art, Fashion and design.
Hours: 10.00 – 17.00. 5 January to 28 February 2026 10.30 – 16.00, seven days a week, Charges: The charges depend on a variety of factors including where you live - best to check on the website., Café/restaurant, Access: The Bowes Museum is dedicated to ensuring that all visitors can enjoy their experience by offering a range of accessible facilities and services to make their day as comfortable and enjoyable as possible., Transport: 25 miles from Durham City
Shipley Art Gallery
Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, NE8 4JB
The North East's leading gallery of craft and design. Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10.00 – 16.00 Saturday 10.00 – 17.00, Charges: Free, donations welcome, Fully accessible, Transport 14 miles from Durham City. Bus 21 to Newcastle stops nearby
Laing Art Gallery
New Bridge St, Newcastle NE1 8AG
The Laing hosts a collection of art recognised by Arts Council England as one of national importance. Highlights include Pre-Raphaelites and landscapes, with regular changing exhibitions
Hours: Monday - Saturday 1000 - 1630, Charges: free but charges for special exhibitions. Donations welcomed, Café, Access: Fully accessible with provision for deaf and hard of hearing, and blind and partially sighted, Transport: 18 miles from Durham City X21, X12 buses Durham to Newcastle.
Modern art at the Baltic
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
Four floors of art, a sensory room, a library and a shop. Two viewing galleries with superb vistas over Newcastle, Gateshead and the Tyne. Exhibitions change - see website for up to date information
Hours: wed – Sun 10.00-18.00, Charges: Free, Café, Access: Disabled access & toilet. Wheelchairs can be hired for the visit (booking advised). Provision for deaf and hard of hearing, and blind and partially sighted, Transport: 18 miles from Durham City X21, X12 buses Durham to Gateshead.
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
℅ National Glass Centre, Liberty Way Sunderland SR6 0GL 0191 515 5555
A leading gallery for contemporary arts in the north east. (Location and future of the National Glass Centre is unclear at 6 Feb 2026)
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm, Charges: free, Café Opening Times 10.00 – 16.30 Monday to Saturday Breakfast 10.00 – 11:45, lunch 12.00 – 15.45, Transport: 14 miles from Durham City comprehensive guide on their website. X20 and 20, 22 buses from Durham
Darlington Library Art Gallery
Crown Street, Darlington DL1 1ND
Contact website for current exhibitions
Hours: Monday to Friday 09.00 – 17.00 Saturday 09.00 - 15.00
Explore More in Durham
Durham is a compact historic city, making it easy to combine several attractions in one trip. Many of the galleries listed above are within walking distance of the city centre, close to Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle, and the riverside paths along the River Wear.
If you’re planning a day out exploring art in Durham, you might also enjoy some of our other guides to the city and surrounding area.
Discover the history of the River Wear crossings in our guide to the Bridges of Durham
Find the best places to leave your car with our guide to Parking in Durham
Take a stroll through the historic streets around Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle
Explore seasonal exhibitions and events happening across the city
Simon has been a Durham Pointer for 5 years and has a keen interest in art and music.