Wharton Park, Durham

Wharton Park is a Victorian hilltop park perched above Durham Railway Station, offering one of the finest views of Durham Cathedral and Castle rising above the wooded loop of the River Wear. Laid out in the 1850s by William Lloyd Wharton of Dryburn Hall as a public pleasure ground for the townspeople, it is now managed by Durham County Council.

The park was extensively restored with Heritage Lottery Fund support and reopened in 2016. You'll find restored features including the Battery, a mock fort with cannons that stages the famous cathedral view, an ornamental gazebo, the Wharton Park Lodge visitor centre and café, a bandstand, a play area and gardens planted with seasonal bedding.

It's an easy 10-minute climb up from Durham city centre or directly from the railway station forecourt. Come for the panorama over the cathedral, especially at sunset, or for a relaxed hour with a coffee and a walk around the paths and lawns. Events and outdoor performances run through the summer.