Durham is steeped in a thousand years of history and presents a distinctive collection of historic landmarks, all bringing the past to life. It was dubbed “a perfect little city” by writer, Bill Bryson, while Traveller magazine readers voted it the “Best City in the UK”. Our cruise on the meandering River Wear through this splendid metropolis will treat you to the very best views of the Romanesque cathedral, Norman castle and ancient bridges. Afterwards, perhaps visit the museum which is housed in a historic church and showcases local history. Head to the Oriental Museum with its artefacts from countries such as China, Japan and ancient Egypt or discover the National Trust’s Crook Hall where you’ll find a mix of medieval, Jacobean and Georgian architecture as well as English style gardens. We call at Barnard Castle on market day to soak up the friendly atmosphere. We also head to Whitby where you could visit Captain Cook’s harbourside house or view the spooky settings from the gothic horror novel Dracula.