View All Articles 30 - County Durham Explorer Bus Service

County Durham Explorer Bus Service

8th of June, 2026

Three new bus services are launching across County Durham to help visitors and residents explore its key attractions.

The Durham Explorer services will run on weekends and bank holidays between 23 May and 31 August this year.

Each service will connect Durham City to a range of visitor destinations including Locomotion; Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens; Beamish, The Living Museum of the North; The Auckland Project; Raby Castle, Park and Gardens; The Bowes Museum; and High Force Waterfall; with many venues also offering discounts to those who arrive by bus.

The new Durham Explorer buses, operated by Northstar, are: 

  1. The Durham Dales Explorer (873) which runs from Durham City to The Auckland Project; Raby Castle, Park and Gardens; Barnard Castle; The Bowes Museum and High Force Waterfall. View timetable here.
  1. The Time Traveller line (874) from Durham City to Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens; and Beamish, the Living Museum of the North. View timetable here.
  1. The Tracks Through Time line (875) from Durham City to Shildon and Locomotion. View timetable here.

All buses have accessible access, with dogs also allowed on board. 

An adult day ticket is also available in County Durham for £6, allowing unlimited bus travel, while passengers can also purchase a regionwide adult day ticket for bus and Metro travel for £7.50.  A regionwide day ticket for young people costs £3. Children under 11 can also travel without charge during the school holidays as part of the Kids Go Free initiative, offering travel at no cost for up to three children when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket or a concessionary pass holder. All children will be issued with a ‘goody bag’ and if they wish to complete the A-Z eye spy game they will be entered into a prize draw.

For more information, visit www.durham.gov.uk/CountyDurhamByBus.

For more information on discounts to regional attractions through the North East Combined Authority’s Days Out by Bus scheme, visit www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/daysoutbybus.