What’s On Events Calendar
Building closure - upcoming dates
Due to extensive roofing works at Palace Green Library, there will be times when we have to close the building to visitors between summer 2024 and spring 2025, with no access to Museum of Archaeology, Cosin’s Library, Penned and Printed exhibition and World Heritage Site Visitor Centre.
Visit our Tickets and Times pages at each venue for more information.
Annual Easter Chick Hunt
09 April 2023 - 10 April 2023
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Easter Chicks are hiding in the Garden. Pick up your spotter sheet and see how many you can find in this fun family event.
- Holiday activities
- Public
- Everyone
Little Dragons
12 April 2023 - 12 April 2023
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Oriental Museum
Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
- Creative
- Public
Sail Away
12 April 2023 - 12 April 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Check out our dhow boat and make your own boat.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Twilight Opening at Palace Green Library
13 April 2023 - 13 April 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Fragments of History: Family Stitching Morning Workshop
14 April 2023 - 14 April 2023
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Durham Castle
Join us for this family-friendly stitching workshop in the Bishop’s Dining Room, Durham Castle. After a guided tour of our new exhibition Fragments of History, participants will be able to learn about stitching techniques from the past and, with the help of expert stitchers, try them out.
- Public
- Workshop
- Everyone
Fragments of History: Family Stitching Afternoon Workshop
14 April 2023 - 14 April 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Durham Castle
Join us for this family-friendly stitching workshop in the Bishop’s Dining Room, Durham Castle. After a guided tour of our new exhibition Fragments of History, participants will be able to learn about stitching techniques from the past and, with the help of expert stitchers, try them out.
- Public
- Workshop
- Everyone
Clay and Play
14 April 2023 - 14 April 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Come along for messy clay fun. Create your own sculptures and pots inspired by the Oriental Museum.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Celebrating Vaisakhi
15 April 2023 - 15 April 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Vaisakhi is the Sikh New Year festival. Find out how Sikhs celebrate and make a Khanda symbol mosaic.
- Outreach & community
- Everyone
Green Woodworking Event
16 April 2023 - 16 April 2023
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Botanic Garden
Local green woodworker, Chris Helliwell, will be demonstrating his traditional wood-turning craft skills using a pole lathe and shave horse, and giving people an opportunity to have a go.
- Public
- Everyone
Little Dragons
19 April 2023 - 19 April 2023
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Oriental Museum
Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
- Creative
- Public
Little Dragons
19 April 2023 - 19 April 2023
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Oriental Museum
Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
- Creative
- Public
Fragments from History exhibition tour
20 April 2023 - 20 April 2023
3:15 AM - 4:15 PM
Durham Castle
Learn more about the current exhibition hosted inside Durham Castle and have more time to enjoy it at the end of a standard tour.
- Exhibition
- Public
- Tour
- Everyone
Twilight Opening at Oriental Museum
20 April 2023 - 20 April 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Oriental Museum is open until 7pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Celebrating Eid Al-Fitr
22 April 2023 - 22 April 2023
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Celebrate Eid Al-Fitr at the Oriental Museum and join us for an afternoon of arts and crafts, food and readings on Saturday 22 April 2023, 12.00 – 3.00pm.
- Festival
- Everyone
Little Dragons
26 April 2023 - 26 April 2023
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Oriental Museum
Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
- Creative
- Public
Little Dragons
26 April 2023 - 26 April 2023
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Oriental Museum
Join us at the Oriental Museum on Wednesday mornings for Little Dragons, our FREE session for children under 5 and their families/carers. Each session will be packed full of exploring the museum galleries, fun craft activities, singing, games and stories.
- Creative
- Public
Fragments from History exhibition tour
27 April 2023 - 27 April 2023
3:15 AM - 4:15 PM
Durham Castle
Learn more about the current exhibition hosted inside Durham Castle and have more time to enjoy it at the end of a standard tour.
- Exhibition
- Public
- Tour
- Everyone
Twilight Opening at Palace Green Library
27 April 2023 - 27 April 2023
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Palace Green Library is open until 7pm the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.
- Exhibitions
- Lates
- Public
- Everyone
Tiny Tales
29 April 2023 - 29 April 2023
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Oriental Museum
Netsuke are a type of toggle worn with Japanese kimonos. See our new exhibition of these tiny works of art, get hands on with some netsuke and find out about the stories behind them.
- Creative
- Outreach & community
- Public
- Everyone
Student Art Prize Exhibition 2022/23
01 May 2023 - 18 March 2024
10:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Palatine Centre
This exhibition showcases the shortlisted entries to Durham University’s fourth annual Student Art Prize.
- Creative
- Exhibition
- Public
- Student experience
- Alumni
- Everyone
- Students in HE
What’s on across our venues
Our unique cultural attractions include Durham Castle, Botanic Garden, Historic Libraries at Palace Green, Oriental Museum, Museum of Archaeology and our World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Whatever your interest, there's something for everyone to enjoy.