{"id":9567,"date":"2026-05-28T21:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=9567"},"modified":"2026-05-28T21:31:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:31:22","slug":"review-radisson-blu-durham-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=9567","title":{"rendered":"Review: Radisson Blu Durham, UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Durham is a city of sharp contrasts. You\u2019ve 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\u2019s steep cobblestone streets contrasts with the lazy, winding River Wear below.<\/p>\n

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Finding a hotel that bridges these worlds isn\u2019t 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\u2019s vibrant core and its tranquil waterfront, so let\u2019s take a closer to see if this modern haven is the perfect base for exploring the ancient city.<\/p>\n

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The welcome<\/h2>\n

Having parked up (there\u2019s parking on site), we entered the hotel where we were immediately greeted by J\u00f3zef\u2019s Riverside Bar. Resisting the temptation to have a drink, we continued on to the reception desk just beyond.<\/p>\n

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Our check-in process was more than competently dealt with by Emily, despite wearing a training badge, who single-handedly welcomed us and directed us towards the lifts.<\/p>\n

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The room<\/h2>\n

We stayed in room 408 on the fourth (and uppermost) floor of the building. It is a Premier Room with a river view, which, in the vernacular of premium travel, translates to a private box seat overlooking Durham\u2019s watery highway.<\/p>\n

On entering our room, we are first met by a hallway\/storage area on the left, bathroom on the right, and bedroom beyond. The layout is thoughtfully unfurled. There is a nice big bed, a plush seat at the end, and a large, generous window seat with storage beneath (which looks like it could easily be turned into an extra bed to make a family room). <\/p>\n

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Outside, the view is quite magical , helped no doubt by our visit coinciding with beautiful weather. The meandering River Wear is situated immediately below, in stark contrast to the sharp, modern angles of the Durham University Business School on the opposite bank. Connecting the hotel to the other side is the Penny Ferry footbridge, named after the historic ferry that once crossed this exact spot.<\/p>\n

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The room is highly functional without losing its upscale character. There\u2019s a sleek desk area that\u2019s ideal for business travellers and a large Samsung TV for any periods of relaxing downtime. A fresh copy of Business Traveller could be found on the desk and, whilst it might seem that this is primarily a business hotel, I would imagine it also gets its fair share of leisure visitors.<\/p>\n

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The storage area boasts a full-length mirror, a digital safe, a luggage rack, an iron, and an ironing board. For those in need of a caffeine kick, a Krups coffee machine is available for use, along with a supply of pods from Costa Rica and Guatemala, in addition to decaff options. And for the non-coffee drinkers, there\u2019s tea, Galaxy hot chocolate, a kettle, and an empty mini fridge ready to be stocked with personal favourites.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s as though everything has been thought of because there\u2019s even a shoe horn, sewing kit, shoe shine, laundry\/dry cleaning bags, and a proper hairdryer. In the bedroom itself, there\u2019s a diptych of abstract landscape artwork and the bed is dressed with plenty of pillows and cushions (but not so many that you spend a significant portion of your evening removing them in order to go to bed) and a mottled grey matching throw across the foot of the bed. Contemporary, ball-like lights flank either side, and there\u2019s backglow lighting to the entire headboard. <\/p>\n

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A telephone at the bedside is there in case you require an urgent document printing, a late-night snack, or a restaurant recommendation \u2013 simply dial 0 for reception. Direct dial options are also present for the Pace health club, the business centre, or in the event of an emergency. <\/p>\n

The WiFi is easy to join and worked well throughout our stay.<\/p>\n

The bathroom<\/h2>\n

The minimalist bathroom has beige tones and features a combined shower and bath, alongside a Villeroy and Bosch basin and WC. There\u2019s a dedicated shaving point and an adjustable shaving mirror. <\/p>\n

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The toiletries are Radisson\u2019s own branded collection, which leans heavily into botanical luxury. By the basin, there\u2019s a hand wash featuring goji berry and sea salt extracts, and a hand and body lotion infused with ginkgo biloba and silk extracts .By the shower, shampoo infused with green tea extracts, conditioner with aloe and kelp extracts, and body wash with goji berry and sea salt extracts. There\u2019s also a vanity kit and a neatly packaged shower cap provided.<\/p>\n

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Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The facilities<\/h2>\n

The hotel has a new look following a \u00a31.5m\u00a0refurbishment in 2024 with much of the investment going into changes on the hotel\u2019s ground floor. At the heart of the hotel is J\u00f3zef\u2019s Riverside Bar and Restaurant\u2014named after J\u00f3zef Boruw\u0142aski, a Polish-born dwarf and entertainer who famously retired to Durham in the 18th century. He lived the last 40 years of his life in the city before passing away at the grand old age of 97, and is buried inside the cathedral. His name lives on with this restaurant which is akin to a British brasserie, combining traditional northern flavours with modern techniques. The adjacent bar and outdoor terrace are perfect for enjoying a pre- or post-meal drink.<\/p>\n

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We dined there on two occasions, enjoying starters ranging from black pudding and crispy pork belly served with a peppercorn sauce, to roasted beetroot salad with roasted squash, beetroot, pumpkin seeds, feta, watercress and balsamic dressing.<\/p>\n

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The menu had some classic northern mains such as beer-battered fish and chips, and the pictured hearty slow-braised rolled feather blade of beef with roasted root vegetables, creamy mash and red wine jus.<\/p>\n

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We only once opted for dessert, but can recommend the chocolate orange torte served with a winter berry compote.<\/p>\n

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The other notable feature on the ground floor is the remodelled Pace Health Club and Spa, home to an extensive fitness suite, heated indoor swimming pool, spa bath, sauna, steam room and five Nu Spa treatment rooms where guests can book treatments and massages for a full-scale pamper.<\/p>\n

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The location<\/h2>\n

The hotel is ideally situated on the banks of the River Wear, a little out from the city centre and opposite Durham University Business School.<\/p>\n

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Its position means that there are superb, unobstructed views both upstream \u2014 where Durham Cathedral rises majestically above the tree line\u2014and downstream, towards the rolling countryside on the north-eastern outskirts of the city, for all river-facing rooms within the hotel.<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s most famous landmark is of course the cathedral, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe, and latterly famous for its appearances in various Harry Potter films. If you haven\u2019t been in before, you really should \u2013 it\u2019s free but donations are strongly encouraged to support the building\u2019s conservation and running costs.<\/p>\n

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Much closer to the hotel \u2013 practically next door, in fact \u2013 is the National Trust\u2019s Crook Hall Gardens which we hadn\u2019t previously visited. <\/p>\n

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This beautiful site features a 13th-century medieval manor house surrounded by an idyllic series of themed gardens, including a maze, a vibrant orchard, and much more. If you\u2019re into gardening, this will give you plenty of inspiration and is definitely worth a visit.<\/p>\n

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Other nice touches<\/h2>\n

On arrival, we were presented with vouchers for welcome drinks to be redeemed at the bar, a benefit that I think usually comes with Radisson Rewards VIP status.<\/p>\n

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The hotel is also clearly making an effort when it comes to sustainability initiatives. A glass water jug in the room, which can be replenished at filtered water stations located near the lift and lobby areas on every floor, is a commendable effort to eliminating single-use plastics. The station I visited displayed a digital counter showing that 16,303 plastic bottles had been saved by guests. I don\u2019t know whether that was just that one machine, or what the time period was, but thought it was impressive all the same.<\/p>\n

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The cost<\/h2>\n

Standard rooms typically start from around \u00a3160 per night, including breakfast.
Premium rooms with a river view typically start from around \u00a3200 per night, including breakfast.<\/p>\n

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The best bit<\/h2>\n

Location, location, location. Not only does the Radisson Blu Durham offer great views of the river and Durham Cathedral beyond, but its riverside location also means effortless proximity to the city centre which can be reached on foot in less than 15 minutes. <\/p>\n

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The final verdict<\/h2>\n

Whatever your reason for visiting Durham \u2013 whether it\u2019s for business or pleasure \u2013 the Radisson Blu will more than meet expectations. We were there for leisure purposes \u2013 an opportunity to explore the city a little, but also to combine the trip with a visit to our son during his final year at the University \u2013 but business travellers would also find the hotel to be a thoroughly polished and effortlessly comfortable experience.<\/p>\n

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Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Radisson Blu Durham.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul Johnson<\/h3>\n

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel \u2018Best Travel Influencer\u2019 Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted \u201cone of the world\u2019s best travel blogs\u201d and \u201cbest for luxury\u201d by The Telegraph.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.aluxurytravelblog.com\/2026\/05\/28\/review-radisson-blu-durham-uk\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Durham is a city of sharp contrasts. You\u2019ve 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\u2019s steep cobblestone streets contrasts with the lazy, winding River Wear below. Finding a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9567","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9567\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}