History and drama are woven into the cobbled streets and ancient buildings of this corner of the north-east. On our Durham short breaks, we immerse ourselves into centuries of daily life at Beamish, a remarkable open-air museum, and enjoy a free day to explore Durham’s UNESCO-listed castle and cathedral. We also take a tour of the iconic Alnwick Castle, which starred as Brancaster Castle in ‘Downton Abbey’ - fans can explore familiar rooms, then see the fascinating First World War exhibition.