areas within County Durham
| Barnard Castle | Consett | Durham | Peterlee |
| Bishop Auckland | Darlington | Newton Aycliffe | Seaham |
Spectacular landscapes and unspoilt countryside.
Living in County Durham
County Durham is cradled between the Lake District to the west, the River Tyne to the north and the River Tees to the south.
Spectacular landscape and memorable scenery are hallmarks of the county, which has some of the most beautiful and least spoilt countryside in Britain.
County Durham borders the North Sea and has a varying landscape including the dales and moors of the Pennines. The majority of the county's population live around the coastal regions.
Newcomers to the county have an unsurpassed variety of locations in which to find their ideal home, settle down and develop a lifestyle of their own. House prices are still amongst the lowest in the UK. There are a large number of towns, villages and hamlets, varying in size and population density, ranging from over 88,000 in the City of Durham district to as few as 70 in one of the small hamlets.
The compact size of the county enables travel to and from work to be achieved with speed and ease, regardless of where you live.
For city living, choose Durham, home to the third oldest university in the UK, and with the proud traditions of the area's mining heritage and community spirit still very much in evidence.
South Street is the top address in the city. Opposite the cathedral the great views come at a premium. Shincliffe and Brancepeth are the best of the villages on the city's outskirts.
If you fancy living close to the sea take a look at Seaham, a town that has benefited from much regeneration, including the construction of East Shore Village, an estate of modern houses on the site of the former Vane Tempest Colliery.
Further inland is Peterlee, a small town built in 1948 to provide homes for coalminers. Many of the original houses are being replaced with modern townhouses, some of which are near the natural beauty of Castle Eden Dene.
Transport
By road County Durham is served by excellent trunk roads. The A1/A1(M) provides easy access from the south. From the north, choose from the A1 coastal route or the A68 cross-country 'holiday route'.
There are around 16 high-speed mainline railway services to Durham from London (approximately 3 hours).
County Durham is easily accessible from Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley Airports, both served by regular domestic and international flights.
Once in County Durham you will discover a good network of regular public transport services.
For further information visit www.durham.gov.uk
History and culture
Set within the natural scenic backdrop of the County are a rich tapestry of historic buildings, such as Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and Bowes Museum.
And while the city's mediaeval heritage lives on in its winding streets and alleyways, the Durham of today has embraced modern times with verve.
For further information visit www.durhamcathedral.co.uk