cathedral
Durham Cathedral
UNESCO-listed Romanesque masterpiece perched above the River Wear, widely regarded as the finest Norman building in England.
15 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Bishop Auckland
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland works well as a base: 5 minutes from Shildon, 28km from Richmond Castle.
Bishop Auckland is in England, United Kingdom, with about 26,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Shildon, about 4 km away.
Bishop Auckland ( AWK-lənd) is a market town and civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, England. It is 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Darlington and 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Durham. It had a population of 23,354 at the 2021 census.
Much of the town's early historyRead more
surrounds the Bishops of Durham and the establishment of Auckland Castle's predecessor, a hunting lodge, which became the main residence of Durham Bishops. This is reflected in the first part of the town's name. During the Industrial Revolution, the town grew rapidly as coal mining became its largest industry. Decline in the coal mining industry during the late twentieth century has changed the town's largest sector to manufacturing.
Since 1 April 2009, the town's local authority has been Durham County Council. The unitary authority replaced the previous Wear Valley District and Durham County councils. The parliamentary constituency of Bishop Auckland is named after the town. It is currently held by Sam Rushworth of the Labour Party. The town is twinned with the French town of Ivry-sur-Seine.
Where to Stay in Bishop Auckland
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bishop Auckland?
Within an hour or so of Bishop Auckland: Durham Cathedral (15 km), Durham Cathedral Cloister (Hogwarts) (15 km), Croft Circuit (24 km), Richmond Castle (28 km).
Are there any good drives near Bishop Auckland?
The nearest famous roads are B6270 Swaledale, A689 Alston to Stanhope (Weardale) and Buttertubs Pass.
Where is Bishop Auckland?
Bishop Auckland is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Shildon.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 26,050
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 54.6555, -1.6771
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Bishop Auckland
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Durham Cathedral Cloister (Hogwarts)
The Norman cathedral's cloister garth is where Harry releases Hedwig in the snow, and its chapter house was Professor McGonagall's transfiguration classroom.
15 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
Croft Circuit
A former World War II airfield in North Yorkshire that hosts BTCC and is known for its mix of fast straights and tight chicanes.
24 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Richmond Castle
One of the oldest stone-built Norman fortresses in England, its great keep standing above the River Swale and the market town of Richmond.
28 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Angel of the North
Striking 20-metre steel sculpture with a 54-metre wingspan standing on a hilltop in Gateshead, England.
29 km · about 35 min drive
waterfall
Low Force, Teesdale
A set of broad falls on the Tees above Bowlees, crossed by the Wynch Bridge, an early chain suspension footbridge.
31 km · about 35 min drive
waterfall
High Force Waterfall
England's largest waterfall by volume, plunging 21 metres over the Whin Sill escarpment in a cloud of spray in Upper Teesdale.
32 km · about 35 min drive
waterfall
High Force
A 21m waterfall where the Tees drops over the Whin Sill dolerite, one of England's most powerful falls.
33 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Bishop Auckland
- 40 kmB6270 SwaledaleThe narrow dale road from Richmond to Nateby past Gunnerside and Keld, drystone walls and barns the whole way.
- 40 kmRoseberry ToppingA distinctive half-cone hill on the edge of the North York Moors, its shape the result of a 1912 landslip caused by mining.
- 43 kmA689 Alston to Stanhope (Weardale)A remote high Pennine road over Killhope with wide moorland views and almost no traffic; England's highest market town at one end.
- 47 kmButtertubs PassA high, narrow Dales road over the moors, named for deep limestone potholes and ranked among Britain's best drives.
- 47 kmHigh Cup NickA perfect U-shaped glacial valley in the North Pennines rimmed by dolerite columns, reached by a walk from Dufton.
- 52 kmA684 Wensleydale (Sedbergh to Leyburn)A flowing dales road along the Ure past Hawes, linking to Buttertubs and the Ribblehead country.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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