Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens

Free with membership

Facilities

Accessible loos
Accessible parking
Bike storage facilities
Cafe / restaurant
Facilities for children
Free parking
Mostly wheelchair accessible
Parkland / open spaces
Picnic area
Shop

Accessibility

It is important to us that our House and Gardens can be enjoyed by everyone.

Level access provides a wheelchair friendly entrance to all our buildings including our chapels, café, theatre and exhibition spaces.

Our gardens have pathways that are suitable for wheelchairs and other walking aides.

If you need access to our Main House we have accessible parking by the East Wing entrance.

Please call at the Visitor Centre Car Park and our staff will give you access to the route and alert colleagues in the main house to your arrival.

Does our information need updating?

Let us know here

Ushaw is a place where wonder, curiosity and amazement collide. Our arts, heritage and events venue is waiting for you to escape the everyday, stop the world for a while and be surprised.

Tucked away in beautiful open countryside near Durham City, Ushaw’s Historic House, Chapels & Gardens are open to all. Young or old, each corner of Ushaw is a curiosity, waiting to wow.

Lose yourself in our grounds, be amazed by beautiful buildings and marvel at centuries of art, history and heritage.

Our Historic House is beautiful, and plenty call it breath-taking. It was shaped in the mind of Augustus Pugin – architect for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

We want you to Ushaw-in unforgettable experiences, with family, friends, work-mates, a furry companion – yup our gardens & grounds are dog friendly – or content in blissful solitude.

Our packed calendar of events is a great reason to keep dropping by. From classic car shows to live music, theatre and family fun, plus an ever-changing programme of exhibitions; there’s always something to capture your imagination at Ushaw.

Our mission is to provide an experience beyond belief, to amaze and entertain you all – from family fun seekers to doting dog walkers and fine art lovers. Ushaw in good times – plan your visit today.

Opening Times

Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.

The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.

View website

General Opening Times

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens is open daily from 10am to 4pm. This includes access to the house, chapels, gardens, exhibitions, and family facilities.

Regular Tours

Guided House & Chapels Tours are offered regularly at 1:30pm – 2:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer season.

Exhibitions

Three exhibitions are currently on display, each open daily from 10am to 4pm:

150 Years of Wedding Dresses Exhibition
Extinction Exhibition
Snapshot Exhibition

Religious Services and Spiritual Activities

Friday Mass: Every Friday, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Open Prayer in St. Cuthbert's Chapel: Every Tuesday morning, 9:30am – 10am
Sung Vespers (Evening Prayer): Once a month at 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Regular Activities and Events

Ushaw Historic House parkrun: Every Saturday at 9:00am
Forget Me Notes Choir: Recurring sessions at 10:30am – 12:00pm
Treasures of Ushaw: A Library Experience: Twice monthly at 11:00am – 12:30pm
Discover Big Library: First Friday of every month (July–December 2026), 11:30am – 2:45pm, with access limited to allocated 30-minute time slots

Summer Holiday Activities (18 July – End of Summer Holidays)

During the summer holidays, Ushaw offers a range of family-friendly activities included with admission:

Summer Holidays at Ushaw: Daily, 10am – 4pm
Lawn Games & Activities: Daily, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Singing Bunnies: 10 July, 1:15pm – 2:00pm
Summer Singing Bunnies: 24 August, 10:30am – 11:15am

Summer Holiday Workshops and Special Events

Throughout the summer holidays, Ushaw hosts a variety of workshops and themed activities:

Saturday Young Stitchers: 18 July and 15 August, 1pm – 3pm
Tales & Craft: 21 July, 28 July, 5 August, 12 August, 18 August, 25 August at 11am and 1:30pm
Stop Motion Animation: 22 July and 20 August at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Mosaic Makers: 6 August and 26 August at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Author Workshop: 7 August at 11am
Backpack Decorating: 10 August at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Inflatable Golf: 30 July, 10 August, and 30 August, 10am – 4pm
World Friendship Day at Ushaw: 30 July, 10am – 4pm
Dinosaur Takeover: 1 August and 2 August, 10am – 4pm

Seasonal Events

Ushaw Flower Festival: Thursday 10 September – Sunday 13 September 2026, 10:00am – 4:00pm. A daily Flower Market runs throughout the festival. On Saturday 12 September, Specialist Plant Nurseries will be present. On Sunday 13 September, Plant Heritage North East will offer tours of the National Collection of Physocarpus (Ninebark).

Family Facilities

The following facilities are available during opening hours (daily, 10am – 4pm):

Digital Guide
Family Friendly Interactive Trail
Woodland Play Park

Parking

Accessible Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available next to the entrance with 24-hour access.

Public Transport

Ushaw is served by several bus services:

Durham Explorer Bus 874 (Summer Service): Operates 23 May – 31 August 2026 on Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays
Gateshead Central Taxis Bus No. 52: Limited timetable every 2.5 hours, Monday to Saturday, daytime only (no evening or Sunday service)
Arriva Bus No. 48: Available (see route information for details)

Admission

Free entry for Historic Houses members.

House, Gardens & Parkland

Adult – £14 (£12 online pre-booked price)
Child – £8 (£7 online pre-booked price)
Under 5s – Free

Accessibility

It is important to us that our House and Gardens can be enjoyed by everyone.

Level access provides a wheelchair friendly entrance to all our buildings including our chapels, café, theatre and exhibition spaces.

Our gardens have pathways that are suitable for wheelchairs and other walking aides.

If you need access to our Main House we have accessible parking by the East Wing entrance.

Please call at the Visitor Centre Car Park and our staff will give you access to the route and alert colleagues in the main house to your arrival.

Does our information need updating?

Let us know here

Getting here

Durham, DH7 7DW

By Car: use postcode DH7 7DW when navigating with SatNav. This will take you to the main visitor entrance. Some GPS systems will take you to the wrong location when using the postcode DH7 9RH or typing our old name – Ushaw College.

By Train: Ushaw is 10 minutes by taxi from Durham Rail Station.

By Bus: from Durham Bus Station, take number 52 bus direct to Ushaw main visitor entrance.

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Our volunteers

We have a wonderful team of volunteers who keep Ushaw open to the public, provide tours and maintain the historic gardens.

Forthcoming events