Discover Durham's Gems on Our Exam Centre's Doorstep.
Private candidates and their families can leave the overcrowded shopping malls and traffic queues behind and enjoy your time visiting our centre with Durham’s breathtaking landscapes, unspoilt history, and experience its UNESCO World Heritage site and Global Geopark.
Wherever you're coming from, you're always closer to home.
Explore The Enter Centre's Doorstep Wonders
See, do, experience and enjoy
The Heart of Our Region's Charm
Our headquarters and main exam centre is located only 10 minutes from Durham City centre with some of our exam spaces being in Durham city.
The city of Durham is renowned for its beauty and vast array of cultural and historic venues and places to eat and drink. Home to the internationally renowned UNESCo world heritage venue Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, housing Durham University at its heart, there really is something for everyone. So whether you are a parent/carer waiting for someone to finish an exam, or staying a few days in our area whilst you sit a number of your exams there is always something to do within easy reach of our homely exam centre.
Things to do and places to stay during your exam period.
Durham is quite simply a haven for those with a curious mind. Take a look below at some of the beautiful venues in our city and surrounding areas for you to explore during exam season.
Attractions
Whether waiting around for your child’s exam to finish, or looking for a way to make the most of family time together, these attractions are a wonderful addition to any exam experience.
Norman Cornish Trail (7 minutes away)
Follow in the footsteps of a great and celebrated artist as you walk among the real-world places painted by Norman.
The Story (10 minutes away)
Walks, workshops and a wonderful world of stories for children of all ages.
Locomotion (12 minutes away)
One of the birthplaces of the railways, the industrial revolution and the modern world as we know it!
Bishop Auckland Retail Park (12 minutes away)
If retail therapy is your attraction, then you’ll have everything here in one place to satisfy your needs.
Durham Cathedral and Castle (16 minutes away)
This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Within waking distance of a wide range of eateries, attractions and entertainment…and even more local and world history and culture.
Bowes Museum (30 minutes away)
A haven for history buffs who can’t resist royal links and heritage.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
You can take your pick of AONB, as Durham has a wealth of open, green spaces and breathtaking landscapes.
Accommodation
Comfort, great prices and convenience are only minutes away. Previous candidates have told us that these are not only great places to stay, they’re a handy place for family parking and a base from which to explore beautiful County Durham.
The Honest Lawyer (6 minutes away)
An award-winning hotel with traditional features and a homely environment. Travel time according to Google. Please always set off in good time to attend your exam.
Park Head Hotel (10 minutes away)
Travel time according to Google. Please always set off in good time to attend your exam.
Bowburn Hall Hotel (12 Minutes away)
Travel time according to Google. Please always set off in good time to attend your exam.
Whitworth Estate & Deer Park (12 minutes away)
Travel time according to Google. Please always set off in good time to attend your exam.
Brandspeth Castle (13 minutes away)
Hallgarth Manor House (15 minutes away)
Radisson Blu, Durham (17 minutes away)
Ramside Hall Hotel (20 minutes away)
Travel time according to Google. Please always set off in good time to attend your exam.
Everything for Everyone Is Right Here
Durham has something for everyone, whether you’re coming to us from Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Tyneside, Gateshead, Weardale, North Yorkshire, Teesside, East Riding of Yorkshire, or even Abu Dhabi, we have everything you could wish for – including probably the best exam centre in the UK.