Show-stopping shopping

Make sure you leave space in your luggage when you pack for your County Durham break, because our shops are impossible to resist! In towns throughout the county, high-street names vie for attention alongside specialist stores run by generations of local families, with new retail areas and atmospheric, pedestrianised streets literally paving the way for a more enjoyable shopping experience.

In Durham City you can while away hours, be it pampering yourself in chic hairdressers' poring over antique books or sampling specialist teas and gourmet foods. All your favourite leading brands can be found in The Prince Bishops and Gates indoor shopping centres and tempting little eateries invite you to mull over your purchases with coffee and cake. And if you're looking for a bargain, go east to Dalton Park in Murton, a purpose-built retail development with huge reductions on everything from designer clothing and handbags to sportswear.

Barnard Castle is renowned for its antiques and tea-rooms, while in nearby Weardale, smaller communities such as Stanhope and Wolsingham offer their own unique shopping experiences. Book accommodation nearby.