Mon–Fri
09:00–17:00
Thurs
09:00–19:00
Sat–Sun
10:00–17:00
Café
Daily
10:00–16:00
Café will be CLOSED Wednesday 4 December 11:30 – 13:45
Collections room
Mon–Fri
10:00–16:00
Thurs
10:00–19:00
Certificate issue
Mon–Fri
10:00–16:00
Bank holiday
Closed (unless stated)
Accessing our facilities
The Story welcomes everyone and strives to be accessible to all.
Location
The Story
Mount Oswald
South Road
Durham
DH1 3TQ
What3Words
What3Words is an application you can download to your mobile device. It maps out the globe in 3x3m squares and with 3 words, you can pinpoint a location. It integrates with google maps and many other satnav systems. The Story entrance location is grand.every.dime. Use this to find us!
Travel
Located just two miles from the centre of historic Durham City, The Story is accessible by a number of sustainable routes including walking and cycling, and it has a free car park for visitors.
By Foot
The Story is (approximately) a 35-minute walk from the centre of Durham City. The grounds can be accessed from South Road via a public footpath or the surrounding estate.
By Bike
The Story is accessible by bike, with traffic free paths leading from Durham City to the Mount Oswald development. We have a covered shelter with free to use bike racks. Cycling in Durham City 2023.
By Bus
Several bus routes regularly stop near The Story including number 6 and number 42. The nearest bus stop is at the bottom of The Story’s drive. For further details on bus routes and times please visit Durham County Council’s Bus Timetable information website.
By Train
The nearest station is Durham City, which is a 45-minute walk from The Story, including routes along the river. Up to date train times and tickets can be found at the Trainline website: Trainline : Search, Compare & Buy Cheap Train Tickets (thetrainline.com). If you want to take public transport once you arrive at the train station, Durham bus station is a short 5 minute walk away.
By Car
The on-site car park is free to use for visitors and less than one minute walk from the main entrance. Please note: The Story operates a one-way system, with entry via South Road and exit via The Drive. There are 70 car park spaces, including 5 larger accessible bays, and 11 EV chargers. Spaces are allocated on a first come first serve basis and cannot be reserved beforehand. If you are driving and using a sat nav to find your way here, you should use the postcode DH1 3TQ. Our electric charging points utilise the MER payment system.
Accessible Parking
The Story has 4 accessible parking bays (2 with access to electric charging via a dual bay charger). A WAV bay is also available with level access from the visitor car park to the main entrance. A blue badge must be displayed to use accessible parking and are available on a first-come first-served basis, with the exception for whom the bays are essential. If an accessible parking bay is essential to your visit, please contact The Story team at info@thestorydurham.org at least 48 hours in advance to reserve a space.
By Coach
The Story has one free coach parking bay on site, size restrictions apply and pre booking is essential. Please do not make any travel arrangements until we have confirmed your booking. If you are planning a group visit and do not require use of a coach bay, please contact us at info@thestorydurham.org with the following information:
- your name
- date of visit
- your email address or a contact phone number
- the expected number of people in your group
- reason for visit.
Large groups are welcome at The Story but pre-booking is required for groups of 16 or more.
Other attractions
The Story sits close to the heart of captivating Durham City, home to Durham Cathedral and Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the medieval streets and seek out independent boutiques and craft shops, take some time out with a relaxing riverside walk or enjoy some fantastic food and drink at the range of cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants. Discover the county’s great outdoors with walking and cycling routes offering breathtaking views in the Durham Dales, North Pennines Area of Outstanding Beauty and from the Durham Coast. Don’t miss High Force – one of England’s most impressive waterfalls. When in the city, a visit to Durham Cathedral and Castle is a must, and you can delve further into the county’s fascinating heritage at award-winning attractions across the county including Beamish – The Living Museum of the North and Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon. To find out more, visit thisisdurham.com.
Looking for a place to stay?
Want to stay longer? We recommend visiting thisisdurham.com accommodation listings