What’s Happening in Durham in October 2025?
The Pointers’ season officially ended on 3 October, which means that until next Easter you will no longer see our volunteers standing in the Market Place helping visitors, or braving the cold and rain!
Over the coming months, we’ll continue to share updates about events, attractions and heritage in Durham here on our website and social media, and we’ll still be available to respond to messages or meet and greet coach parties when requested.
October brings new energy to the city as Durham University’s students settle into term. Cafés, bars and pubs are busier, and the city hums with life. Most first-year students live in colleges close to the city centre, while others share houses in and around Durham. If you’re planning a visit this month, here are some of the best things to do in Durham in October.
Food and Drink
The month begins with Durham Restaurant Week, taking place 3–10 October 2025. Organised by Durham BID, this popular annual event offers discounted meals at participating cafés, bars and restaurants. It’s a great way to explore the city’s growing food scene, and with venues booking quickly, it’s worth checking the BID website early to plan ahead.
Following immediately afterwards is a brand new event:Durham Wine Week, running 10–19 October 2025. Many local bars and restaurants, including several in the surrounding area, are taking part. Visitors are encouraged to buy a wristband in advance, which entitles you to half-price wine at participating venues.
Busy evening scene on Saddler Street, Durham, outside popular eateries Coviello and Fusha - two of the many venues taking part in Durham Restaurant Week and Durham Wine Week.
Culture
The Durham Book Festival (10–12 October) is one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events, attracting both local and international authors each year. Events include author talks, Q&A sessions, book readings, story times for children, and creative writing workshops. In previous years, highlights have included a musical reading of Cuddy by Benjamin Myers, performed by Toby Jones.
Most sessions take place at Gala Durham, with some additional events across the city. Many offer both in-person and online streaming options, so everyone can take part.
Another highlight this month is the return of Luxmuralis to Durham Cathedral (8–12 October). This year’s theme, The Storytellers, transforms the interior of the Cathedral through a blend of light and sound, creating a magical evening experience. Entry is by timed ticket, and visitors can also book a discounted ticket to see the Magna Carta exhibition in the Cathedral Museum.
Luxmuralis: The Storytellers light installation at Durham Cathedral, transforming the interior with colour, light, and sound.
Spotlight on Durham Cathedral in October
A visit to Durham Cathedral is a must at any time of year, whether to admire its 1,000-year-old architecture or explore its fascinating history. Visitors can book a guided tour, speak with knowledgeable volunteer guides, or climb the Cathedral tower for panoramic views of the city.
A particular highlight this autumn is the Magna Carta exhibition in the Cathedral Museum, featuring three copies of the Great Charter, one of which is unique in existence. The museum also houses St Cuthbert’s relics, including his coffin remains, Cuthbert’s cross, and intricately embroidered silk robes, along with the original Sanctuary Ring and Conyer’s Falchion, a ceremonial sword traditionally presented to each new Bishop of Durham when they cross Croft Bridge into the county.
One of our volunteers, Terry, who also serves as a Cathedral guide, recommends looking out for the misericords in the Tunstall Chapel. These “mercy seats” were hinged wooden supports allowing clergy to rest during long services, often carved with humorous or symbolic figures beneath. One depicts a farmer pushing his drunken wife home in a wheelbarrow, perhaps echoing the old rhyme:
“The rats, and the mice, they made such a strife,
I was forc'd to go to London, to buy me a wife.
The streets were so broad, and the lanes were so narrow,
I was forc'd to bring my wife home, in a wheelbarrow.
The wheelbarrow broke, and give my wife a fall, The duce take wheelbarrow, wife & all”
A child’s creative interpretation of the Magna Carta, made during an interactive activity at Durham Cathedral’s Magna Carta exhibition.
A carved misericord from the Tunstall Chapel at Durham Cathedral, depicting a humorous scene of a man pushing his wife home in a wheelbarrow - one of many intricate and witty carvings found beneath the chapel’s wooden seats.
Exploring Durham This Month
For more ideas of Durham attractions open in October, visit our Things to Do in Durham pages. You’ll find links to museums, galleries, heritage sites and seasonal activities with up-to-date opening hours.
Follow Durham Pointers on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates on free attractions in Durham city centre, hidden gems, and upcoming events.