Bishop Auckland Market Place

Bishop Auckland Market Place is the historic heart of the town, a broad open square framed by Georgian and Victorian buildings and dominated at its northern end by the gatehouse of Auckland Castle. For centuries this was the seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, and the market place developed around the castle gates as the commercial focus of the surrounding Wear Valley.

The square has been substantially regenerated in recent years as part of The Auckland Project, with buildings restored, new attractions added and the paving reworked to open up the space. The imposing Town Hall of 1861, with its French-inspired clock tower, stands on the western side, and the Mining Art Gallery, the Spanish Gallery and the Auckland Tower viewing platform are all clustered around the square.

A market is still held here, and the surrounding cafes, pubs and independent shops make it a pleasant place to pause. From the square you can walk straight into Auckland Castle grounds or head down along the Wear Valley to Newton Cap Viaduct.