FROM riverside walks and a fairy tale castle to ghost walks and award-winning beers, Durham is the perfect destination dupe for Oxford. Travel guide creator Peter Naldrett - who has visited all the UK's 76 cities - has dubbed the small city the "Oxbridge of the North." The Sheffield-based travel writer, whose latest book is called Bright Lights, Big Cities, told Sun Online Travel that fans of the famous university town should add the northeastern counterpart to their list.
He said: "Both Oxford and Durham doubled as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films thanks to similar architectural styles in the two cities." Durham largely escapes the hordes of holidaymakers, making weekend breaks less hectic. Located just south of Newcastle, Durham's collection of historic buildings gives it "more than a little Hogwarts-style charm".
Peter said: "The cobblestone streets and lush greens in front of the centuries-old buildings make Durham one of the prettiest cities in the north of England. "And while Oxford is on the foreign tourist loop, Durham escapes the large sightseeing tours relatively unscathed. "But it has similar-looking buildings to the famous university town, with both the cathedral and the castle reminiscent of Hogwarts.
" Durham Cathedral was used as a filming location for blockbusters like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Avengers: Endgame (doubling as Thor's home planet of Asgard). Film fans who want to step into their favouri.