Oriental Museum, Durham (must see)

The Oriental Museum in Durham is a specialist museum entirely dedicated to the art and archaeology of North Africa and Asia. Established in 1960 by the University of Durham's School of Oriental Studies, it was originally known as the Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art and Archaeology. What began as a home for teaching collections has grown into a rich and diverse public institution, now housing over 23,500 artefacts spanning millennia and multiple cultures.

Visitors can explore ancient tomb relics from Egypt, intricate court ceramics from imperial China, and rare woodblock prints from Japan's Edo period. The Chinese collection is the largest, featuring more than 10,000 objects, while the Egyptian holdings number over 6,700 items, including two mummies, a funerary mask from the 18th dynasty, and a figure of Prince Bahmery. Smaller but still notable displays showcase items from Korea, India, and the Islamic world, with artefacts from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties among the Korean highlights.

The museum also includes rotating temporary exhibitions, themed talks, art workshops, and special evening programs designed to bring the collections to life. Interactive elements like audio commentaries and multimedia displays make the exhibits accessible to visitors of all ages and backgrounds. In 2012, it was awarded the Bronze Hear by Right status from the National Youth Agency, recognizing its youth engagement efforts.

Set just outside Durham city centre, the Oriental Museum offers a calm and immersive experience for anyone curious about the histories, beliefs, and aesthetics of global cultures. Its thoughtful displays and diverse programming continue to make it one of the region’s cultural highlights.