Free Entry
Open daily 10am-5pm from end of March until October and 10am-4pm in the Winter.
Address:
Finchale Priory, Finchale Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, County Durham, DH1 5SH
On the banks of the River Wear, in a beautiful wooded setting, stand the extensive remains of Finchale Priory. It was founded in 1196 on the site of the hermitage of St Godric, a retired sailor and merchant, who settled here after a life of adventure and travel. The priory was an outpost of Durham Cathedral and functioned as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham until its suppression in 1538.
The story of Finchale can be read in its surviving remains, from St Godric's original church and tomb through the 13th century priory and its later rebuilding.
Read more about the history of Finchale Priory.
Before You Go
Access: Parts of the site are uneven and can become muddy. Please note there is currently some conservation works taking place and you may find that some areas of the site are not accessible for health & safety reasons during your visit.
Opening Times: Open daily, 10am-5pm from April to October and 10am-4pm from October to March.
Parking: There is a car park on site, managed by the neighbouring caravan park. This is not managed by English Heritage. Maximum stay is 2 hours. A charge of £4 applies.
Drone flying: Please see our Drone guidance
Camino Ingles: There is a pilgrimage stamp in the neighbouring tea room for those visiting Finchale Priory as part of the Camino Ingles pilgrimage.
Plan a Great Day Out
St Godric supposedly founded Finchale Priory and devoted himself to Christianity after a visit to Lindisfarne Priory, which is on Holy Island just under a two hour drive away.