Washington Old Hall

Last week we spent a gentle afternoon exploring Washington Old Hall, the small but beautifully kept manor house tucked away in Washington Village. The National Trust site is proud of its connection to the family of George Washington, the first U.S. president. Even though he never lived here, this is where the Washington name itself began. It’s about a 20 min drive from Durham though a slightly more complicated bus ride. Approached through quiet residential streets, the Hall appears almost unexpectedly, a solid, honey-coloured stone building surrounded by clipped lawns and mature trees. Its story reaches back to the 12th century when William de Hertburne exchanged lands with the Bishop of Durham and took the name de Wessyngton, a title that would evolve into Washington and cross the Atlantic centuries later.

Stone steps leading up to Washington Old Hall, flanked by two carved eagles and framed by autumn sunshine and golden foliage.

Getting there

Address: The Avenue, Washington Village, Tyne & Wear NE38 7LE
Parking: Small car park on site (free for National Trust members). Street parking also available nearby.
By bus: Regular services from Sunderland, Durham and Newcastle stop in Washington Village, about a five-minute walk from the Hall.
Accessibility: The ground floor and gardens are accessible; the upper floors have stairs. Accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities available.
Website: National Trust – Washington Old Hall

Inside the historic kitchen at Washington Old Hall, complete with stone hearth, wooden tables and displays of fruit and vegetables.

A place to pause

The gardens invite lingering. Even in late autumn, ivy, fig, and climbing roses frame the stone walls, and the formal steps up to the Hall give the impression of arriving somewhere quietly significant. nside, the rooms are dressed with period furniture and subtle details that suggest everyday life in a gentry household — carved oak panels, tapestries, and window light falling across worn flagstones. The historic kitchen is particularly atmospheric, its vast hearth filled with the props of Tudor cooking: bowls of fruit, bunches of herbs, and brass ladles on the wall.

It’s a compact site, easy to explore in an hour or two, with a small café and garden seating that make it a pleasant stop for tea and cake.

Looking for more days out ideas? Visit our Days out from Durham section for guides to woodland trails, riverside strolls and family-friendly routes.

Janice is a founding member of Durham Pointers.