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…

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