Durham is a city of striking contrasts. You have this imposing and spectacular Norman architecture sitting alongside a chaotic and bustling student scene. During school term, the city’s population more than doubles. Likewise, the brutal hike up some of the town’s steep cobbled streets contrasts with the lazy, meandering River Wear below.
Finding a hotel that bridges these worlds isn’t easy, but could the Radisson Blu, located on the river’s gentler northern banks, somehow achieve it? After all, it sits at the intersection of Durham’s bustling heart and its tranquil waterfront, so let’s take a closer look at whether this modern haven is the perfect base for exploring the ancient city.
The reception After parking (there is parking on site), we entered the hotel where we were immediately greeted by Józef’s Riverside Bar. Resisting the temptation to grab a drink, we continued on to reception just beyond.
Our check-in process was handled more than competently by Emily, despite wearing a training badge, who single-handedly greeted us and directed us to the elevators.
The room We stayed in room 408 on the fourth (and top) floor of the building. This is a Premier River View Room, which in high-end travel parlance translates to a private seat overlooking the Durham Water Highway.
Upon entering our room we are first greeted by a hallway/storage area to the left, a bathroom to the right and a bedroom beyond. The layout is judiciously deployed. There is a lovely large bed, a soft seat at the end and a large, generous window seat with storage underneath (which looks like it could easily be made into a guest bed to create a family room).
Outside, the view is quite magical, undoubtedly helped by our visit coinciding with good weather. The meandering River Wear lies just below, in stark contrast to the sharp, modern angles of Durham University Business School on the opposite bank. The Penny Ferry Walkway connects the hotel to the other side, named after the historic ferry that once crossed this very spot.
The piece is very functional without losing its high-end character. There is a stylish office area, ideal for business travelers and a large Samsung TV for relaxing times. A new copy of Business Traveler sits on the desk and, although it appears to be primarily a business hotel, I imagine it receives its share of leisure visitors as well.
Storage space includes a full-length mirror, digital safe, luggage rack, iron and ironing board. For those in need of a caffeine boost, a Krups coffee machine is available, as well as a stock of Costa Rican and Guatemalan pods, in addition to decaf options. And for non-coffee drinkers, there’s tea, Galaxy hot chocolate, a kettle and an empty mini fridge ready to be stocked with personal favorites.
It’s as if everything has been thought of since there is even a shoe horn, a sewing kit, shoe polish, laundry/dry cleaning bags and a real hairdryer. In the bedroom itself, there’s a diptych of abstract landscape artwork and the bed is dressed with lots of pillows and cushions (but not so many that you spend a significant portion of your evening removing them to go to bed) and a matching heather gray throw at the foot of the bed. Contemporary ball-shaped lights flank each side, and there is backlit lighting throughout the headboard.
A bedside telephone is at your disposal in case you need an urgent printing of a document, a late-night snack or a restaurant recommendation – just dial 0 for reception. Direct dial options are also present for the Pace Health Club, Business Center or in case of emergency.
WiFi is easy to join and worked well throughout our stay.
The bathroom The minimalist, beige-toned bathroom has a combined shower and bathtub, as well as a Villeroy and Bosch sink and toilet. There is a dedicated shaving point and an adjustable shaving mirror.
The toiletries are from Radisson’s own collection, which leans heavily on botanical luxury. Near the sink, you’ll find a hand wash with goji berry and sea salt extracts, as well as a hand and body lotion infused with ginkgo biloba and silk extracts. In the shower, a shampoo infused with green tea extracts, a conditioner with aloe and kelp extracts and a body wash with goji berry and sea salt extracts. A vanity kit and carefully packaged shower cap are also provided.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026 The facilities The hotel has been given a facelift following a £1.5 million renovation in 2024, with much of the investment going into changes to the ground floor of the hotel. At the heart of the hotel is Józef’s Riverside bar and restaurant, named after Józef Boruwłaski, a Polish-born dwarf and artist who retired to Durham in the 18th century. He lived the last 40 years of his life in the city before passing away at the age of 97 and is buried inside the cathedral. His name lives on with this restaurant that looks like a British brasserie, combining traditional northern flavors and modern techniques. The adjacent bar and outdoor terrace are perfect for a drink before or after a meal.
We dined there twice, enjoying starters ranging from black pudding and crispy pork belly served with pepper sauce, to roasted beet salad with roasted squash, beetroot, pumpkin seeds, feta, watercress and balsamic vinaigrette.
The menu included classic northern dishes such as beer-battered fish and chips, and the hearty slow-braised rolled beef blade with roasted root vegetables, creamy mash and red wine jus.
We only opted for dessert once, but we can recommend the chocolate and orange torte served with winter berry compote.
The other notable feature on the ground floor is the renovated Pace Health Club and Spa, which houses an expansive fitness room, indoor heated pool, spa bath, sauna, steam room and five Nu Spa treatment rooms where guests can book treatments and massages for pampering on a grand scale.
The location The hotel is ideally located on the banks of the River Wear, a little away from the city center and opposite Durham University Business School.
Its position means there are superb open views both upstream – where Durham Cathedral rises majestically above the tree line and downstream, towards the rolling countryside on the north-eastern outskirts of the town, for all of the hotel’s river-facing rooms.
The city’s most famous landmark is of course the cathedral, widely considered one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe, and recently famous for its appearances in various Harry Potter films. If you’ve never been before, you really should: it’s free but donations are strongly encouraged to support the conservation and running costs of the building.
Much closer to the hotel – practically next door in fact – is the National Trust’s Crook Hall Gardens which we had not visited before.
This magnificent site is home to a 13th-century medieval manor house surrounded by an idyllic series of themed gardens, including a labyrinth, a bustling orchard and much more. If you like gardening, this will give you lots of inspiration and is definitely worth a look.
Other Nice Touches Upon arrival, we were presented with vouchers for welcome drinks to redeem at the bar, a perk that I think usually comes with Radisson Rewards VIP status.
The hotel is also clearly making efforts when it comes to sustainability initiatives. An in-room glass jug of water, which can be refilled at filtered water stations located near the elevator and lobby on each floor, is a worthy effort to eliminate single-use plastics. The station I visited displayed a digital counter indicating that 16,303 plastic bottles had been saved by customers. I don’t know if it was just this one machine, or what the time period was, but I still thought it was impressive.
The cost Standard rooms generally start at around £160 per night including breakfast.
Premium river view rooms usually start at around £200 per night, including breakfast.
The best piece Location, location, location. Not only does the Radisson Blu Durham offer stunning views of the river and Durham Cathedral beyond, but its riverside location also means effortless proximity to the city center, reachable on foot in less than 15 minutes.
The final verdict Whatever the reason for your visit to Durham – whether for business or pleasure – the Radisson Blu will more than meet your expectations. We were there for leisure purposes – a chance to explore the city a bit, but also to combine the trip with a visit to our son during his final year at university – but business travelers would also find this hotel a perfectly refined and comfortable experience.
Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Radisson Blu Durham.
Paul Johnson Paul Johnson is the editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. He is the winner of the Innovations in Travel “Best Travel Influencer” award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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