Durham

Durham takes 1 day to see: the Norman cathedral, considered one of the finest in Europe and the resting place of the Venerable Bede and St. Cuthbert, alongside Durham Castle on the same promontory, is the main reason to visit. April-October is best. It's mid-priced by British standards. Its cathedral and castle, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, occupy an almost complete peninsula ringed by the River Wear, and its corridors served as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies.