Durham is a beautiful and historic city that can follow its roots back more than 1000 years with the arrival of a religious commune searching for a resting place for the remains of St Cuthbert. Following the Norman invasion of 1066 King William realized that this location was an ideal place to control Northumbria and could additionally provide defence against the Scots to the North.
Shortly after this work began on the building of a sizeable cathedral to accommodate the remains of St Cuthbert and of a castle to protect the city. The building of the cathedral was one of the most important projects undertaken in the middle ages and the results were very impressive and it is at this time recognized as a world heritage site. Durham continued to prosper with pilgrims from all around the planet coming to the city and helping to make it one of the richest in England.
In the mid 19th century the University was founded owing largely to the vision of Bishop Van Mildert and Durham Castle turned into the first University College. In later years the industrial revolution further enhanced Durham’s place as it turned into the hub of the coal industry in the North east and the place of the world’s first passenger railway.
Today Durham is a highly sought-after place in which to live and work and this is reflected in the areas house prices. The city of Durham is relatively small compared to most UK cities although it still has a widespread range of up to date facilities. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised and a large range of shops and restaurants sit next to the historic Victorian marketplace making it a fantastic place to spend your leisure time. Just 5 minutes stroll is all it needs to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre and find yourself on one of the many paths that lead down to the riverbanks and a little serenity and quiet.
Some of the various attractions in the city include the annual Durham regatta, the Miners Gala and the recently opened Millennium Place development which includes the Gala Theatre and Cinema. The nearby Walkergate Development has a broad selection of cafes, bars and restaurants and is the centre for Durham’s bustling nightlife.
If you are looking to rent or buy Durham property you earliest haven of call must be one of the well qualified and knowledgeable Durham estate agents. A skilled Durham estate agent will be able to keep you informed on Durham properties that have recently come on to the marketplace and the current prices that you might expect to pay for the many distinct areas of Durham. Houses to rent in Durham do not tend to remain on the market for long as there is high demand for renting in Durham from the great student population.
If you intend to rent property in Durham you have to be quick off the mark as there is fierce competition for property rental in Durham. Durham is one of the UKs most striking and desirable places to live with a mixture of the old and the new combining to make the picture perfect little city. A high-quality guide to Durham is available online from Durham council which was voted one of the finest in the UK by the residents and is very handy for newcomers to the city.