DURHAM From Bede to Bishop Puiset
3 days | £1195 per person | 14 - 16 October 2026
From Bede to Bishop Puiset
Described by Sir Walter Scott as “half church of God, half castle ’gainst the Scot” Durham Cathedral is perched upon a rocky promontory surrounded by a meander of the River Wear. It is justly viewed by many as the finest, and most precocious, example of English Romanesque architecture. By 1093 when the present building was founded, the area already possessed an illustrious past. In the 7th and 8th centuries, Northumbria was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the British Isles, and home to a number of monasteries that were beacons of culture and learning. One of the kingdom’s most famous sons, the Venerable Bede, was a monk at the twin monasteries of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. His most famous work, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, earned him the title ‘The Father of English History’.
Our visits to churches in the vicinity of Durham chart the development of religious architecture from the Anglo-Saxon church at Escomb to the serene simplicity of the Romanesque at Pittington, as well as offering the chance to look at wall paintings, sculpture and coloured glass windows. Finchale Priory was built on the site of the hermitage of St Godric, a retired sailor and merchant, who settled here after a life of adventure and travel, was an outpost of Durham Cathedral and functioned as a holiday retreat for the monks until its suppression in 1538. The final day of our tour is devoted to a thorough exploration of Durham Cathedral, where St Cuthbert’s shrine space survives as well as Bede’s tomb in Bishop Hugh de Puiset’s Galilee Chapel; and the excellent Treasury Museum.
Day to day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Durham in the afternoon and settle into your hotel room. Our introductory walk through the historic city centre will include a guided tour of Durham Castle, which was begun in the late 11th-century by William the Conqueror and functioned as the home of the mediaeval Prince Bishops of Durham.
Day 2
By coach to St Paul’s Monastery, Jarrow. Founded by the Northumbrian nobleman Benedict Biscop (c.628-690) after he was inspired by the Christian life he saw in Rome. St Paul’s was one of the most influential centres of learning and culture in Europe. The monastery’s reputation spread throughout the continent chiefly because of the scholarly writings of the Venerable Bede, who entered St Paul’s as a child oblate in about 680. We continue to nearby Finchale Priory, founded in 1196. After lunch we visit Pittington Church, with its fine Romanesque architecture and wall paintings, before continuing to one of England’s oldest surviving Anglo-Saxon churches in the pretty village of Escomb. Return to Durham for dinner.
Day 3
Today we undertake a thorough study of Durham cathedral – the finest example of English Romanesque architecture. We continue to the newly opened Cathedral Treasury Museum to marvel at the stunning metalwork and stone objects on display in the magnificent Claustral buildings. After a private lunch in the Prior’s Hall, we return to the hotel where the tour concludes.
Hotel Indigo, Durham
Set in former university offices at Old Shire Hall, Indigo Durham is conveniently situated in the centre of Durham city. Step into a world of Victorian luxury; brass etchings, marble tiled floors and stained glass. Bespoke prints and textiles furnish elegant guest rooms.
Tour Price: £1195
Single Supp: £95
Deposit: £350
Departure Dates:
14 - 16 October 2026
Duration:
2 nights / 3 days
Your Holiday Includes:
- Two nights’ accommodation at the Hotel Indigo in Durham
- Private coach transfers and excursions
- One evening meals and one lunch
- Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
- Services of the Tour Lecturer and a Tour Manager
- Detailed programme and study notes
- All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
Tour Lecturers
Dr Sally Dormer
As Director of the Early Medieval Year Course at the V&A, Sally is an expert in medieval art and history. She completed her PhD at the Courtauld Institute, and was, until recently, Dean of European Studies, a study-abroad semester for undergraduates at the University of the South and Rhodes College, TN, USA. Sally also lectures for the Art Fund, the Arts Society, and Ciceroni.
Travel Information
The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.
Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.
Stamina
Please note that some of our tours can involve a fair amount of walking, sometimes across uneven ground. Please contact us if you would like more information.
