Apartments Durham

Here at 52 Old Elvet, we offer some of the most beautiful views of Durham from some of the highest quality apartments, all housed within an incredibly unique, Grade II-listed, Georgian townhouse property. 

We are perfectly situated in the centre of Durham along the banks of the famous River Wear which runs through the city, and each of our apartments comes with all of the contemporary fittings you would expect to come across in a luxury hotel or any high-end accommodation. With beautiful beds, stunning appliances and enormous kitchen and dining areas at the centre of each of our one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, a holiday or visit to Durham with us is a totally unique and memorable experience. 

We have managed to elegantly combine tradition with modernity, thanks to a team of expert designers who have hand-selected modern fittings to complement the Georgian-era feel of the property. This has all been achieved while respecting the tradition and atmosphere encased in one of the most prestigious addresses in Durham – 52 Old Elvet.

But it is not all about the look and feel of a building, the appliances within it or even how well-kept and beautiful it is on the inside and out. In fact, when it comes to buying properties, particularly for residential purposes, little else matters more than the location. It is therefore particularly lucky for potential buyers or renters of an apartment at 52 Old Elvet, that the City of Durham ticks every possible box one could wish for when perusing the property market for a remarkable piece of real estate.

Why Durham?

As you would hope to expect in such a culturally rich, historic UK city, the past greets you at every turn as you walk around the cobbled streets, and the past is a welcomed sight for all of the city’s visitors, of which there are around 20 million each year from every corner of the globe. This vast amount of tourism is not without good reason but is down to the fact that Durham combines quaint, quirky British countryside with modern, state-of-the-art facilities and some of the finest architecture, sights and sounds in the UK. 

All of this contributes to a truly magnificent modern, yet traditional city, and here at 52 Old Elvet, our apartments feature stunning, modern rooms to emulate this mixture of beautiful, classical architecture and atmosphere with contemporary, high-end luxury.

The city itself has beauty in abundance, and if the views from the side of the river aren’t enough, there are few sights more awe-inspiring or magnificent than that of the world-famous Cathedral, which casts a benevolent gaze over the city’s charming cobbled streets and looms magnificently over the apartments of 52 Old Elvet. It is a truly wondrous greeting for you as you wake up in one of Great Britain’s most beautiful cities and properties. 

The Castle is another key landmark in the city centre and is one of the finest castles in the north of England and indeed, the UK. It remains in brilliant condition for tourists to take a guided tour or visit themselves on a lone expedition, with lots to see and do within the church grounds and walls. 

The city’s ancient university is simply exquisite on all fronts, demonstrated by the fact that it consistently ranks among the world’s best further education institutions, and is indeed one of the most prestigious universities in the country and therefore the world. 

With it being one of the most picturesque locations in the United Kingdom, it is not really a surprise that The Independent voted Durham as one of the best places to live on the entire planet in 2020. That’s not difficult to imagine, as not only does the city boast some of the most magnificent British architecture, from the world-famous Cathedral to the winding, cobbled streets and Georgian style properties and buildings that Durham is famous for, but it combines these unique elements with stunning, modern areas and buildings of cultural significance that help set it apart from other areas of the UK and bring the city into the modern day. All of this is achieved whilst still keeping the much-loved, traditional elements with a sense of grace and aplomb.

Therefore, the city’s real charm lies not solely in its past, but in the way in which it blends this past so seamlessly with the present to create something fresh and exciting. For, while its streets are ancient, with some standing for centuries, the shops, bars, properties and restaurants that line them are most certainly modern, and comfortably rival any of the more popular cities within the UK and across Europe.

Shopping, Eating and Entertainment in Durham

If shopping or retail is what you are eager to explore, then in Durham, you will find everything from big-name, high street brands to quirky independent retailers with a delightful array of products. It is also home to a huge number of small, family owned restaurants with great reputations for fine, locally sourced produce and delicious food offerings to satisfy the foodie in all of us.

 The city is also known for its thriving music and arts scene, one-of-a-kind night life and immense art galleries, all of which inhabit the space of the city centre among the glorious rivers and history that envelopes the area. These elements are all beset against incredible, fairy-tale style views and some of the friendliest people in the UK – the residents of Durham.

University

Like many university cities, Durham really comes to life during the academic year, when students from around the globe gather here to obtain a world-class level of further education as well as a culturally rich and vibrant, unique slice of life experience. And while it was one of England’s leading centres of Georgian scholarship, it only became a university in its own right in 1832, we say only, but this actually makes it the third oldest university in England and up there among the most esteemed, having stood the test of time as a top-level establishment of learning for over almost 200 years.

A member of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, it is the joint 78th best university in the world according to the QS World University Rankings® 2018 and is often ranked as 3rd in the UK behind Cambridge and Oxford, with a reputation for excellence across the board. Famous alumni of this world class university include Mr Bond himself - Roger Moore, journalist and news reporter George Alagiah and Olympic Gold medal winning triple jumper Jonathon Edwards.

Old Elvet’s History

Built around 310 years ago in the mid-1700s, 52 Old Elvet is, quite simply, a Georgian gem, unique to the area and one of the most prestigious residential properties in the country. Originally built as a family home, this three-storey, Grade II-listed luxury townhouse rose to prominence in 1890 when it was bought by the Durham County Club from an Anthony Wilkinson Esq. for the sum of £4000, a vast figure for properties of any kind by the standards of the time. 

This exclusive gentlemen’s club was formed by 18 leading businessmen, MPs and aristocrats, including the Earl of Durham and the Marquis of Londonderry and was of high cultural importance throughout the early 20th century. In fact, over the following 130 years, 52 Old Elvet has welcomed many more illustrious visitors, including High Sheriffs, Knights of The Realm, and even royal family members as legend goes, with none other than HM the Queen herself attending a dinner event at the property as a guest of the prestigious club.

Now, it provides beds to the finest of travellers visiting Durham, so it’s afternoon tea with the Queen replaced by beautiful beds, large kitchen and dining areas, incredible high-ceilings and magnificent views of Durham, all culminating together to create high-end, bespoke, luxury apartments to hire, buy and rent in the centre of the city.

Location Location Location

52 Old Elvet, which can trace its origins to Georgian times, is undoubtedly one of the finest addresses in Durham and home to some of the most sought-after apartment properties in the UK. Situated on a broad, peaceful and idyllic street on the bank of the river, it is just a five-minute walk across Elvet bridge to the historic city centre, and not far at all from any of the major attractions this splendid city has to offer.

Within the city, shops and cafés line cobbled lanes in the shadow of the famous cathedral, allowing you to truly soak up the atmosphere of this incredible city and support local and national businesses in the process. 

Close, too, is the Prince Bishops shopping centre, home to high-street shopping brands such as Fat Face, H&M, JD Sports and Clarks. Meanwhile, across the river and just a stones-throw away from our property sits Walkergate, a purpose built complex of restaurants which is also home to the famous Gala Theatre and cinema, ideal for the perfect evening or trip out with family or friends. 

There are also a fantastic mix of bars and pubs close by to our apartments, great for nights out for those looking to let off a little steam after a day taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

For a more peaceful affair, look no further than the picture-perfect riverbanks on which the apartments of 52 Old Elvet are situated beside which is ideal for a stroll alone or with a loved one on a sunny afternoon. You can even hire boats to take to the waters, or simply take a load off and watch the world go by on a bench, absorbing some of the most delightful pieces of architecture and scenery in the country in a place that is the epitome of beauty.

All of the attractions you’d hope to find in Durham are within walking distance of one another and indeed our property, and with various clubs and classic pubs in abundance within the city, the night life is among the best there is and rivals any of the largest cities in Britain and across Europe.

We also boast excellent transport links in close proximity to the property, and we are ideally situated awfully close to Durham Railway Station and bus station should you require the use of public transport to travel to surrounding areas. The A19 and A1 are also in the nearby vicinity, so if you’re done exploring the city centre, you are able to hit the road and travel to the other local areas of significance such as Newcastle or Gateshead which are both very close-by, or the marvellous countryside of North Yorkshire which is set to the south of the County.As you can see, we really are in the heart of the city. We pride ourselves on our location, and for good reason, with access to all of the major places of interests being comfortably within walking distance of 52 Old Elvet. Walking is the best way to travel around Durham, not only because of how easily accessible all of the major landmarks are, but because of how pretty the views are from wherever you are located within the city centre. The city provides a lovely mix of modern and traditional, with trees and natural scenes punctuated with cobbled streets and exciting, modern architecture and attractions.

So, what are you waiting for?

Your perfect hotel alternative, apartment, home, holiday getaway or weekend trip accommodation is waiting for you at 52 Old Elvet. The rooms within this stunning property each come with high ceilings, a mixture of traditional and modern fittings and stylings, beautiful beds and are all based around large dining and kitchen areas. We have dwellings with one bedroom and two bedrooms available, each with their own special something, and en-suite bathrooms available and included with the majority of our apartment’s bedrooms. 

Come for a visit or enquire on our apartments in Durham City Centre, our dwellings are in a prime setting with excellent access to transport and travel links and beauty spots, and with something for everyone, Durham is the absolute top place to visit in the North East of England and there is no better place to stay than 52 Old Elvet.

Get in touch for more information on anything you need to know about 52 Old Elvet, or to enquire about holidaying in or purchasing one of our Durham City Centre residential apartments as your forever home.