Getting here - Durham Regatta

Getting to the Regatta

Durham is about 15 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne and 65 miles north of York and is easily accessible by car, rail, coach and air.

Durham Regatta 2024 car parking arrangements

Please note that due to restrictions on use of land at the regatta, public and competitor car parking will be in our Regatta Car Park the football field off Green Lane (main spectator parking).

Please observe the traffic flow guidance in the map below. Volunteers will be assisting in the flow of traffic and the parking of cars.

The following charges apply:

• Charge per day: £3.00
• Friday 7 – Sunday 9 June inclusive: £5.00

Access to the Durham Regatta car park is on a first come first served basis. Additional public car parking is available at various locations around the City and the Durham Park and Ride facilities will be operating between 07.00 and 19.00. Local charges apply.

Please note that no vehicles will be permitted beyond the Car Park without a valid site access permit.

Click to enlarge the image.

You should use the relevant postcode below to obtain driving directions online or on your satnav.

Visitor car parking

Parking in the Regatta car park is very limited and we strongly advise you to use the Durham Park and Ride, or park in one of the city centre car parks (such as Prince Bishops car park), and complete your final journey by public transport or on foot. Note that from 1st April 2024 on street parking in the city attracts a charge every day.

Durham Park and Ride
The primary park and ride site is Belmont (near the A1) – post code DH1 2SR.

The Belmont Park and Ride (operates all days) can be found just off Junction 62 of the A1. Exit the roundabout onto the A690 towards Sunderland, and turn left at the traffic lights.

Other park and ride sites are

Howlands Farm, operates Monday to Saturday (near the A167, southwest of Durham) – post code DH1 3TQ
Sniperley, operates all days (near the A167, northwest of Durham) – post code DH1 5RA

Buses operate between all park and ride sites and Durham Bus station located on North Road, every ten minutes between 7 am and 7 pm. To walk to the Regatta from the Bus Station, use the instructions found here, beginning at instruction 3.

Prince Bishops car park
The post code for the Prince Bishops car park is DH1 3UJ.

Regatta car park (spaces limited)

The post code for the Regatta car park is DH1 3JU.

Directions from the A1

1. Exit at Junction 62, signposted for Durham. Then follow the A690 (dual carriageway) towards Durham City Centre.
2. At the first roundabout, take the third exit, continuing on the A690 down the hill.
3. At the next roundabout, turn left to cross Leazes Bridge.
4. Stay in the left-hand lane, to turn left onto Old Elvet at the first set of traffic lights, just after the Delta Hotels Royal County Hotel.
5. Continue along Old Elvet and take the second left onto Green lane (about 0.2 miles).
6. The Regatta car park can be found half way down Green Lane on the left hand side.
  Classic cars and competitors with boat trailers see instructions below.

Disabled Parking

Blue badge holders are able to park in the Regatta car park without charge. Limited blue badge parking is available adjacent to the regatta start for those with mobility issues by prior arrangement with the Regatta Secretary.

Boat and trailer parking

Follow the directions to the Regatta car park and continue to the end of Green Lane. All boat trailers must be parked in the trailer field adjacent to Durham Amateur Rowing Club.

Classic car parking

Follow the directions to the Regatta. As you turn on to Green Lane immediately turn left down the track towards the University Cricket Pavilion – post code DH1 3BN.

Durham Station is on the East Coast main line, between Newcastle and Darlington. The following table will give you an idea of travel times.

To/From	Approximate transit time
London	3 hours (high speed train)
Birmingham	3 hours
Manchester	2.5 hours
Edinburgh	1.5 hours
York	45 minutes

A full list of train services and schedules can be found on the National Rail web site.

It is about a twenty-minute walk to the Regatta site from Durham Station. The walk is clearly sign-posted for pedestrian access.

Exit Durham Station and follow the road (Station Approach) down the hill.
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Road and cross the roundabout to continue on North Road on the opposite side of the roundabout.
Proceed down North Road past the bus station and turn right at the Sainsbury’s Local (continuing on North Road).
Turn left onto Framwellgate Bridge (the pedestrian street). Once across the bridge, follow Silver Street up the hill to the Market Square.
As you enter the Market Square, bear right onto Saddler Street (next to Nationwide Bank).
Take the second left onto Elvet Bridge (by the steps opposite Waterstones).
Turn right at your first opportunity through the arch (follow the signs towards Flat White Coffee Shop). Then follow the lane down the hill under the bridge.
At the riverbank, bear left and continue along the riverside path upstream, past Browns Boathouse.
Turn right and cross the river on the footbridge (Baths Bridge) and, once across, turn left to enter the Regatta enclosure.

From another city

National Express coach services operate from several UK cities and stop outside Durham Bus Station on North Road.

From a park and ride

For visitors using the Durham Park and Ride (operates each day at Sniperley/Belmont and on weekdays and Saturday only at Howlands), buses operate between all park and ride sites and Durham Bus Station on North Road, at ten-minute intervals between 7 am and 7 pm.

From Durham Bus Station

Bus services 20, 58 and 59 all stop within 0.25 miles of the University Pavilion, which is located on Green Lane adjacent to the Regatta race course. The Regatta enclosure can be accessed from Old Elvet, by proceeding down Territorial Lane and turning right onto Elvet Waterside.

Alternatively, you can make your way on foot to the Regatta enclosure from Durham Bus Station

As you exit the bus station, turn right and proceed down North Road and then turn right at the Sainsbury’s Local (continuing on North Road).
Turn left onto Framwellgate Bridge (the pedestrian street). Once across the bridge, follow Silver Street up the hill to the Market Square.
As you enter the Market Square, bear right onto Saddler Street (next to Nationwide Bank).
Take the second left onto Elvet Bridge (by the steps opposite Waterstones).
Turn right at your first opportunity through the arch (follow the signs towards Flat White Coffee Shop). Then follow the lane down the hill under the bridge.
At the riverbank, bear left and continue along the riverside path upstream, past Browns Boathouse.
Turn right and cross the river on the footbridge (Baths Bridge) and, after crossing, turn left to enter the Regatta enclosure.

Airports

The nearest airports are Newcastle International to the north, and Durham Tees Valley to the south.

From Newcastle International, take the Tyne and Wear Metro (light rail service) to Newcastle Central Station and continue by train to Durham Station.

From Durham Tees Valley Airport, a bus service connects the airport to Darlington railway station, where you can catch a train to Durham Station.