Durham is a city of sharp contrasts. You’ve got this towering, dramatic Norman architecture that sits alongside a chaotic, bustling student scene. During term time, the population of the city more than doubles. Similarly, the brutal hike up some of the city’s steep cobblestone streets contrasts with the lazy, winding River Wear below.

Finding a hotel that bridges these worlds isn’t easy, but could the Radisson Blu on the gentler, northern banks of the river, somehow pull it off? It does, after all, sit at the intersection of Durham’s vibrant core and its tranquil waterfront, so let’s take a closer to see if this modern haven is the perfect base for exploring the ancient city.

The welcome

Having parked up (there’s parking on site), we entered the hotel where we were immediately greeted by Józef’s Riverside Bar. Resisting the temptation to have a drink, we continued

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