Last weekend I had the privilege to go see the small but very vibrant and historical town of Durham. There was some tension considering my heart now belongs with York yet I didn’t let that ruin my journey. What I found was Durham was a very charming city.

If it makes sense, Durham feels very English. While walking through it you pass through defining moments of British architecture, modern and old. Most streets are cobbled and there are plenty of picture perfect bridges however upon wondering around it won’t be too soon before you find a signature British Iceland store tucked under some retro 60s building.

What makes Durham so special is the way the light filters through it. It’s embossed in trees and winter nature, the buildings are densely packed and this makes it incredibly difficult for the sun to illuminate small nooks and crannies. Yet I insist this doesn’t make Durham seem unfriendly at all, quite the opposite you can feel the northern charm among the bustling streets of people. The space possess a dark romantic yet comfortable vibe.

At some points it’s easy to forget your in a town. The building isolated from the city centre are shrouded in hibernating stalks. Small parts of ice flow along the rivers. The trips purpose was to go see the market which I have to say was much better than York’s own. The Christmas Decorations were suttle but brought some festive feel to the place.

A lot of the more modern building in Durham are how I would imagine some German towns for some reason. It does feel very detached from the rest of England, like a parts of history taken out of Britain’s puzzle and placed together somewhere hidden. The Castles and Cathedral left a lasting impression on me. The architecture of the main cathedral left my jaw wide open. It was in a Gothic style much like the Notre Dame de Paris. The black soot marks gave off an even darker appearance. The inside was a complete contrast. The space seemed very well lit for such a huge space. Unfortunately no photography was allowed inside.

Although the outside may look impressive I was even more enchanted by the gigantic columns with tiny detailing and the stained glass windows. We walked in roughly at sunset and the tint caused by the lighting was phenomenal. My finger continually itched for the shutter button but I managed to pull myself together and respect the rules.

Some more UK travelling to come perhaps? I’ve always wanted to see Edinburgh