Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels and Gardens
A former Catholic seminary with a long association with the Pugin family.
Durham, DH7 7DW
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Picnic area
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Shop
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.
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.
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.
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 all visitor facilities.
Regular Guided Tours
House & Chapels Guided Tour takes place at 1:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.
Group Visits
Group visits are available by advance booking. Please contact the site to arrange your visit.
Exhibitions
Two exhibitions are currently running daily during standard opening hours (10am–4pm):
- Extinction Exhibition
- Snapshot Exhibition
Special Events & Festivals
Ushaw Flower Festival 2026 runs from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 September, 10am–4pm daily. During the festival, National Collection of Physocarpus Tours are offered on Sunday 13 September at 11am, 12pm and 1pm.
Heritage Open Days at Ushaw 2026 take place on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September, from 10am to 4pm.
Autumn Leaves (October Half Term Activity) is scheduled for Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October 2026, 10am–4pm.
Regular Visitor Experiences
Discover Big Library runs on the first Friday of every month from July to December 2026, 11:30am–2:45pm.
Treasures of Ushaw: A Library Experience takes place twice monthly at 11am–12:30pm.
Boundless Books is held on the first Friday of every month at 11am–12pm.
Visitor Facilities & Resources
A Digital Guide and Family Friendly Interactive Trail are available during all opening hours to enhance your visit.
Worship & Spiritual Activities
Open Prayer in St. Cuthbert's Chapel is held every Tuesday morning from 9:30am to 10am.
Friday Mass takes place every Friday at 12:30pm–1:30pm.
Sung Vespers (Evening Prayer) is offered once monthly.
Community & Family Activities
Forget Me Notes Choir meets on Wednesdays, 10:30am–12pm.
Singing Bunnies is held on select Fridays, 1:15pm–2pm.
Saturday Young Stitchers takes place on Saturdays, 1pm–3pm.
Gardens & Grounds
The gardens and grounds are open daily during standard site hours (10am–4pm). The rhododendrons are particularly spectacular during May and June.
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
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.
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.
Become a Historic Houses member
Explore the nation’s heritage from just £71 per year.
Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.
Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
