Bishop Auckland is a town in County Durham, England.

Get in

By road from the south follow A1 past Scotch Corner onto A68 then A6072. From the north leave A1 at Bowburn (Durham services) for A688.

Arriva Bus 1 runs every 30 min from Darlington, taking an hour via Shildon and continuing to Crook; alternate buses carry on to Tow Law.

Bus 5 runs every 30 min from Darlington, taking 90 via Newton Aycliffe, with the last bus towards 11PM.

Bus 6 runs every 20 min from Durham, taking 40 min via Spennymoor and continuing to West Auckland.

Trains run hourly from Middlesbrough (some starting from Saltburn), taking an hour via Thornaby, Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Shildon. Change at Darlington for London, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

1 Bishop Auckland station is central in town. It has a ticket office and machines, but no waiting room or toilets. There is step-free access to the sole platform.

See

1 Auckland Castle, Market Place DL14 7NR, ☏ +44 1388 743750. Mar-Dec W-Su 10:30AM-5PM. The castle or palace was home to the Bishops of Durham from 1183 to 2012, each of which embellished it in that period's style. The exterior is Restoration Gothick; highlights within are the Throne Room, the 17th century chapel, and the 13 paintings by Zurbarán in the Long Dining Room. Visit by guided tour. Adult £15, child £7, AP Pass free. (updated Feb 2024)

2 Binchester Roman Fort (1.5 miles away, on the Dere Street Trail). Daily 11AM-5PM. An old Roman fort that only has a small part of its remains excavated. They include an impressive bathhouse, some of the forts defences along with other settlement buildings. Adult £2.25, child or adult over the age of 60 £1.00; free parking is available on site. (updated Jan 2017)

3 Raby Castle (8 miles west, on the A688 between Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle). Apr-Oct: Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. Built in the 14th century, but much prettified in the 17th and 18th centuries. (updated Nov 2020)

4 Escomb Church. One of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England. (updated Nov 2020)

Do

1 Weardale Railway, between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland, ☏ +44 1388 526203. The train line runs between Stanhope and Bishop Auckland:  

• 2 Wolsingham Station, DL13 3BL. (updated Mar 2023)
• 3 Stanhope Station, Bondisle Way, Shittlehope, DL13 2YS. the principle station on the Wearsdale Railway (updated Mar 2023)

4 Kynren, Flatts Farm. Sa late June to mid-September. Outdoor historical show. (updated Nov 2020)

Buy

The main shopping area is around Newgate street. Asda and Morrisons supermarkets are near the southern end of Newgate Street

1 Newgate Centre. M-Sa 8AM - 6PM, Su 10AM - 4PM. Small shopping centre with 15 shops including Wilko and B&M. (updated Nov 2020)

2 Boyes, 84 Newgate Street. Discount department store (updated Nov 2020)

Drink

1 The Bay Horse, 39-40 Fore Bondgate, DL14 7PE, ☏ +44 1388 609 765. 10AM-midnight. (updated Mar 2023)

2 The Green Tree, 13 Cockton Hill Rd, DL14 6EN. Opposite Bishop Auckland Hospital (updated Mar 2023)

Sleep

1 Park Head Country Hotel & Restaurant, New Coundon, ☏ +44 1388 661727. 

Connect

As of June 2022, Bishop Auckland and its approach roads have 4G from EE and Vodafone, and 5G from O2 and Three.

Go next

• North 11 mi (18 km) to Durham
• South west 15 mi (24 km) to Barnard Castle