Welcome
Your visit to The Auckland Project begins at Auckland Tower, where you can find all the information you need to explore all our venues as well as other local visitor attractions. Here at Auckland Tower you can purchase tickets for our various offers and receive location information. The Auckland Tower boasts is a 29 metre high tower with a viewing platform 15 metres high offering unsurpassed views across the Deer Park, the Market Place, and the rural landscape beyond. You can visit the building free of charge, on the first floor there is an exhibition space showcasing the history of Auckland Castle and The Prince Bishops of Durham.

Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Ground FloorFirst FloorTower Viewing PlatformTicket / Information DeskPublic Toilet - Ground FloorHearing
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
If travelling by bus you should alight at Bishop Auckland Market Place
The following bus services, service both stops:
Arriva route 6 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Arriva route 18 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Arriva route 56/56A runs between Durham and Bishop Auckland, stopping approximately every 30 mins.
Please check bus routes direct with transport providers. There are additional services that service Bishop Auckland bus station which is located near the Newgate Shopping Centre.
Travel by taxi
We have no affiliation with the suggested taxi services and the information provided is based on current available data at the time of writing this guide. Any suggestions for alternative please inform the accessibility point of contact.
Parking
Blue badge parking bays are available in the market place directly opposite Spanish Gallery. This is also the drop off area. Additional parking including blue badge spaces is available on North Bondgate which is approximately 0.3 miles / 483 meters from Auckland Tower
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Getting around inside
Lift to all floors
Ticket/ information desk
Ticket / Information Desk
Things to See and Do
Ground Floor
First Floor
The first floor is a large open plan space containing interpretation panels and display objects. It has a beautiful, highly decorated, vaulted ceiling. There are some seats available on this floor, and two doors from this space, including one which has push button access, leading to the external stair case to the viewing platform and lift entrance.
Tower Viewing Platform
The Viewing Platform is 15 metres high and can be accessed via the lift or via the external stair case. The floor of the platform is constructed of metal grid work. The platform wraps around three sides of the tower with the stair case on the fourth side. The platform is surround by an 1100mm high handrail.
Spectator/ Audience viewing areas
Public toilet
Public Toilet - Ground Floor
Getting around outside
Customer care support
Emergency evacuation procedures
• Our lift must not be used during an emergency evacuation.
• We have two evacuation chairs to assist visitors who are unable to use the stairs during an emergency evacuation. In order to provide assisted evacuation a visitor must consent to staff assisting them to move if required from a wheel chair to the evacuation chair. Please do not be offended if a staff member asks you if you would consent to evacuation by evacuation chair in an emergency.
Customer care support
The written content on the Interpretation panels displayed on the first floor and the information board on the viewing platform use a font no smaller than 18 point. Some of the information is at a low level. Large prints guides are available on request.
• The exterior of the building is decorated with large panels that are inscribed with written information. Although large in size the inscription is the same colour as the panel itself, large print booklets containing this information is also available on request.
• Hand held illuminated magnifiers are available on request at the front desk.