Review: Radisson Blu Durham, UK

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 on to the reception desk just beyond.

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.

The room

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’s watery highway.

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).

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.

The room is highly functional without losing its upscale character. There’s a sleek desk area that’s 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.

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’s tea, Galaxy hot chocolate, a kettle, and an empty mini fridge ready to be stocked with personal favourites.

It’s as though everything has been thought of because there’s even a shoe horn, sewing kit, shoe shine, laundry/dry cleaning bags, and a proper hairdryer. In the bedroom itself, there’s 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’s backglow lighting to the entire headboard.

A telephone at the bedside is there in case you require an urgent document printing, a late-night snack, or a restaurant recommendation – 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.

The WiFi is easy to join and worked well throughout our stay.

The bathroom

The minimalist bathroom has beige tones and features a combined shower and bath, alongside a Villeroy and Bosch basin and WC. There’s a dedicated shaving point and an adjustable shaving mirror.

The toiletries are Radisson’s own branded collection, which leans heavily into botanical luxury. By the basin, there’s 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’s also a vanity kit and a neatly packaged shower cap provided.

The facilities

The hotel has a new look following a £1.5m refurbishment in 2024 with much of the investment going into changes on the hotel’s ground floor. At the heart of the hotel is Józef’s Riverside Bar and Restaurant—named after Józef Boruwłaski, 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.

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.

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.

We only once opted for dessert, but can recommend the chocolate orange torte served with a winter berry compote.

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.

The location

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.

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

The city’s 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’t been in before, you really should – it’s free but donations are strongly encouraged to support the building’s conservation and running costs.

Much closer to the hotel – practically next door, in fact – is the National Trust’s Crook Hall Gardens which we hadn’t previously visited.

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’re into gardening, this will give you plenty of inspiration and is definitely worth a visit.

Other nice touches

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.

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’t know whether that was just that one machine, or what the time period was, but thought it was impressive all the same.

The cost

Standard rooms typically start from around £160 per night, including breakfast.
Premium rooms with a river view typically start from around £200 per night, including breakfast.

The best bit

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.

The final verdict

Whatever your reason for visiting Durham – whether it’s for business or pleasure – the Radisson Blu will more than meet expectations. We were there for leisure purposes – 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 – but business travellers would also find the hotel to be a thoroughly polished and effortlessly comfortable experience.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Radisson Blu Durham.