<p>Just got back from staying in the Durham, UK area and took the tour of the Castle next to Durham Cathedral which happens to be a university. If you like cool places to study and love history and Harry Potter, well this is the school. Our guide had just graduated and was sorry to be leaving. The whole place is a world heritage site. Anyway, just a heads up for those looking for something different. [University</a> College - Durham University](<a href=“University College - Durham University”>http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/)</p>
<p>[The</a> Castle in Herstmonceux - Home](<a href=“http://www.queensu.ca/isc/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1]The”>http://www.queensu.ca/isc/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1)</p>
<p>This castle in England was donated by a wonderfully philanthropic couple who have made considerable donations to several Canadian universities. We know many Queens Univ. students who have studied there and have had such a wonderful experience.</p>
<p>I often recommend applying to Durham uni to students who post about applying to Oxbridge. Similar but much easier to get in. Durham is also small, old and made up of residential colleges. The castle is much older than the uni. It has just become part of the uni in its later life (recycling of a building basically). I actually went to (high) school in this town for 2 years, so I know it a little. </p>
<p>I don’t think anyone in the UK would regard Durham as “something different” because it’s very well known here (often as “Oxbridge reject college” but that does mean they have high quality students).</p>
<p>CC, it has a good reputation, doesn’t it.?. I am going to recommend to some students at my school who always end up looking to London…sigh.</p>
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<p>In the UK, yes. Very much. Pretty much all Oxbridge applicants put Durham as their second choice (as I did).</p>
<p>American author Bill Bryson was made the honorary chancellor because he gave Durham a glowing report in his book “Notes from a Small Island” (which I highly recommend to anyone interested in visiting the UK). Apparently he really takes this seriously and attends graduation ceremonies to hand out the certificates (compare this to Prince Philip, who is the chancellor of Cambridge Uni but has never shown up). </p>
<p>Also the graduation ceremonies are held in the cathedral, and you can’t get a much more impressive venue than that. I totally love the way new bits are added to it so that part of the current times are preserved as well as the past. Look for the computer in stained glass (this is the “20th century window”). If you ever get to see them, there is an astronaut on the ceiling in York Minster, and a statue of Martin Luther King above the main door of Westminster Abbey too.</p>
<p>I would hesitate to recommend Durham to someone who is determined to study in London. Population of London is about 7 million. The population of Durham is about 20,000. London is a huge anomaly compared to the rest of the UK. The next largest city (Birmingham, which you have never heard of) only has about 1 million people. London life is really different from anywhere else in the UK (I don’t even live in London, but I do work there. I just use it as my location because no-one has heard of my home, Winchester). Noisier, more crowded, more diverse, more expensive, open all hours (definitely NOT the UK norm LOL!) and less friendly.</p>
<p>Thanks for the follow-up. The graduation in Durham cathedral must be amazing. I was blown away by the cathedral itself. I can appreciate what you are saying about comparing London to the rest of the UK…kind of like NYC for the rest of the states…well, kind of. Didn’t see the computer window but wasn’t looking for it though saw the Millennium window. Maybe that was the one? </p>
<p>I don’t think our kids are ever really determined to be in London; it is more that they just don’t know about anything else. We do have some now going to Scotland primarily for cost.</p>
<p>I saw Bryson books in the local stores. I’ll have to get one for my library. Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>Cupcake that’s quite a sweeping statement, in fact Durham is not nearly as well know as you suggest. It is well regarded by those who know of it, but it simply doesn’t compare to London, Oxbridge, and most red bricks in my humble opinion.</p>
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<p>And you simply post to disagree with every word I say, every time. Aren’t you bored of this yet?</p>
<p>/sigh</p>
<p>cupcake - Winchester is a lovely city too! It’s a shame more people don’t visit.</p>