We are free to visit and open to everyone, providing a warm welcome to visitors of all ages, including children and family groups.
Summer at The Story
Summer activities | Throughout summer 2026
We’re delighted that our summer activities will be taking place outdoors this year, in the grounds with our learning team and special guests.
What Can I Tell You?
The value of diaries in archives | Thursday 27 August | 18:00-19:00 | £5 per person
This talk will look at the idea of diary writing and why people do it, give examples from The Story’s collections, and explain why it is important that we keep collecting them.
History Wardrobe presents: Love and Marriage
Lucy Ridley invites you to enjoy highlights from the History Wardrobe collection on the theme of romance.
Heritage Open Day 2026
Sunday 13 September 2026 | Some events are bookable
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. This year The Story is celebrating by hosting exciting tours and activities.
Ceremony Rooms – Open Evening
Thursday 3 September 2026 | 17:00 – 18:30 | Drop in | Free
Take the chance to explore our romantic settings for weddings, ceremonies and the renewing of vows.
People in the Pages touring exhibition
Bringing The Story to local libraries, our People in the Pages exhibition takes you on a fascinating journey through Durham’s church registers, spotlighting stories from towns and villages around the county.
Book Bus team at The Story
Each Tuesday take the opportunity to explore the Book Bus and speak to our friendly library staff about the range of library services on offer.
A Debt Beyond Words
A powerful new exhibition exploring how conflict has shaped the people and places of County Durham.
May 2026-January 2027
Wellbeing Walk
Tuesdays | Meet at 10:00 | Approximately 1 hour
Move walking – Free weekly wellbeing walks for all abilities to help develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Afterwards, stay for some social time in our Café.
What’s the Story | Episode 6 – All things spring!
What’s The Story is a brand new podcast produced and presented by The Story’s team of young Volunteers. The team will explore the history of Durham from ghosts to gifts, mining to mysteries and much more.
Spotlight Talks
Fridays and Saturdays | 11:00 and 14:00 | Free | Drop in
Find out more about our collections and exhibitions in a free to join, bitesize Spotlight Talk. In these informal talks, The Story Team will share their insights into a story or theme in the exhibition using objects on display. If the times don’t work for you then don’t worry, you can always get the same information from speaking to our amazing team of staff and volunteers.
Archaeology Records
Durham County Council Archaeology Section completed a major HER enhancement project in March 2025. Explore the records using the link below.
DLI Friends drop in
Last Thursday of each month | 10:00 – 14:00 | Free | Drop in
The DLI Friends are volunteering at The Story on the last Thursday of every month. Drop in between 10:00-14:00 and have a chat with this extremely knowledgeable, passionate and friendly group. You may want to find out more about your local regiment, or your family who were in the DLI. The DLI Friends is a charity run for, and by, people who support and work with the DLI Collection. For more visit: https://dlifriends.com/
Access our Archives
Access to all collections is in purpose-built facilities on the first floor of the new building, with interactive screens and 16 computer terminals for accessing digital content, a secure research area (the ‘collections room’) for viewing collection items from the strong rooms and a separate reception area for enquiries relating to historic civil registration. On demand access to the Historic Environment Record (HER), the collections database and popular records such as church registers and newspapers will be available digitally in our ‘Search and Discover’ space.
While many collection items will be available ‘on demand’ some, including larger objects, will require several days’ notice.
Exhibitions
Our exhibition space is free to visit and shares stories of County Durham’s varied and exciting past throughout its history.
Teacher Advisory Group
Our Teacher Advisory Group provides invaluable guidance and helps answer questions on how we can continually improve our offer at The Story to best suit local schools. Run in partnership with Durham University Museums and Special Collections, it also gives teachers the chance to network with like-minded colleagues from across the county, helps to shape our developing offer and you will be the first to hear of any opportunities to take part in pilot workshops or funded projects. Please get in touch with our learning team if you’d like to come along by emailing learning@thestorydurham.org