Rent traditional hand-built wooden rowing boats to explore Durham's River Wear and medieval skyline since 1900.

Brown's Rowing Boats offers a quintessentially English experience on the River Wear in Durham city center. Operating since 1900, this beloved institution provides visitors with the unique opportunity to explore Durham's historic landscape from the water by steering their own traditional, hand-built wooden rowing boats. Visitors glide along the serene River Wear to enjoy postcard-perfect views of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Durham Cathedral and Castle. The experience combines heritage craftsmanship with outdoor adventure, allowing families and couples to travel at their own pace and soak in the medieval atmosphere of the city. Safety is prioritized with adult and children's life jackets available, and adult supervision is required for under-16s. The venue welcomes dogs aboard and operates seasonally from March to late September on weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays. Pricing is accessible with adult tickets at £11, children at £6 (under-5s free), and family saver tickets available. The Prince Bishop River Cruiser also offers guided cruises with spectacular views throughout the year, providing an alternative for those preferring a more leisurely experience.

Venue Details

What this place offers

Toilets

Public transport nearby

Accessible toilets

Free WiFi

Baby changing facilities

Food available

On-site parking

🐕Dog-friendly

Parking nearby

Pushchair friendly

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Brian Morrison

3 months ago

My 9 year old granddaughter and I went rowing today and it was great fun. On a warm sunny day it would be best to go early, although there are plenty of boats.

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Mohammed Adil

12 months ago

Amazing experience rowing in Durham for just £10! 🚣‍♂️ Even with zero experience, it was easy to pick up and such a fun way to see the city from the river. Passing under the bridges and sailing alongside other boats made it even more special. Kids absolutely loved it. Definitely worth trying.

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Mike89 - Manoj Michael -

2 years ago

The experience at Brown Rowing was amazing, with easy payments and excellent customer service, making it a great value for money, especially with the added bonus of a free ticket for my pet dog; I would highly recommend parking at the Prince Bishop shopping center to easily access Brown Rowing.

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Adele

3 years ago

Nice outdoor place. You can spend romantic day (1 hour) on a boat. When is nice hot day, just go there. Lots of restaurants, pubs, shops around as well. Only one bad thing is 10£ per person is little bit much for one hour.

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Felicity Reviews

4 years ago

10/10 service! They take card but require a £10 deposit in cash to make sure you don’t steal their stuff! Really quickly got us on board and showed us what to do. You can go three bridges down either way of the dock. We went three bridges to the right and back in an hour. Range of boat sizes. Such a fun experience and really friendly people running the place and on the river!

Reviews last updated: 29 September 2026