I will be in England during September. Due to limited time on one of the days, I can only visit one of these historic sights - either Bamburgh Castle or Durham Cathedral.
Which one should I select and why? Thanks for your expert opinions.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Easy answer - Bamburgh, set in a stunning location on one of the best coastlines in the UK and with lots of history.
Durham Cathedral is much like many other cathedrals in the UK and the city of Durham is a bit disappointing. I would prefer a day at nearby Beamish Museum to a day in Durham.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7208 posts
I too vote for Bamburgh. If you found you had a little extra time, nearby Alnwick castle is also nice, but not directly on the coast. Parts of a couple Harry Potter movies were filmed at it.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Thanks so much for your input!
Bamburgh it will be!
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
Well, just so you know Bamburgh isn't a unanimous recommendation....
I thought Durham was one of the best, most interesting cathedrals I've seen, and I've seen a lot in Europe. It's on a bluff overlooking the river, a great example of Norman architecture, with an excellent tour if you want one. The part of Durham near the cathedral is charming, though other parts of the city not so much.
Bamburgh Castle is in a spectacular coastal setting but the castle itself is just another stately home, full of suits of armor and banners and half-empty halls. But it won't take as long to visit, or appreciate, as Durham Cathedral, so if you're pressed for time it might be a better choice. Plus it's in a rural area so you don't have to navigate a city, like Durham, to get there.
You won't have time for Hadran's Wall or the Beamish Museum or Newcastle or Alnwick, I guess.