Discover Bishop Auckland
The Weardale Railway now extends to the historic town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, where you can discover more than 2,000 years of history thanks to The Auckland Project - a unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries and gardens centred around the magnificent Auckland Castle.
Auckland Castle is one of the best-preserved palaces in Europe, surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and a 150-acre Deer Park.
A short walk away in the Market Place you will find Auckland Tower, with a free viewing platform offering 360-degree views of Bishop Auckland and the countryside beyond. The Market Place is also home to the Spanish Gallery and Mining Art Gallery, where art lovers can admire works by masters of the Spanish Golden Age as well as local mining artists.
The Auckland Project organises a number of events and exhibitions throughout the year, including the spectacular Christmas light trail 'AGLOW'. Check their 'What's On' page to find out what's happening on the day of your visit.
The Auckland Project's attractions are all within easy reach of Bishop Auckland Station, either by bus or by foot. Ticket prices start from £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for children, with family tickets and annual passes available. The attractions are open from 10.30am until 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays.
Auckland Castle
Auckland Tower
Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle
The Auckland Project - Attractions
Auckland Castle
Once home to the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham, Auckland Castle is now the centre attraction of the Auckland Project and tells a story spanning 1000 years of history. The castle was reopened in 2019 after undergoing major conservation work to restore the state rooms to their original Georgian Gothic splendour.
Spanish Gallery
The UK's first gallery dedicated to the art, history and culture of Spain, in the heart of Bishop Auckland. Auckland Castle has been home to these 16th and 17th century Spanish masterpieces for over 250 years.
Mining Art Gallery
An inspiring art collection that depicts life in the coal mines and the communities that grew around them. The renowned Gemini Collection of Mining Art consists of more than 420 works by local mining artists.
Auckland Tower
The tower features many striking architectural details and is the ideal place to begin your visit to Bishop Auckland.
Deer Park & Walled Garden
The Prince Bishops created the 150-acre Deer Park as their own private hunting ground over 800 years ago. It retains its medieval features including fish ponds and woodland paths. The Walled Garden was built in the 17th Century, with its vegetable patches yielding harvests for The Auckland Project's cafés and restaurants.
Faith Museum
The Faith Museum explores how faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain over the past 6,000 years, with over 250 objects including rarely seen items and national treasures. It can be found in the Grade 1 listed Scotland Wing of Auckland Castle.
All images on this page courtesy of The Auckland Project.