If you're heading to Durham Lumiere, chances are you won't want to drive in. Here's the information for the Lumiere park and ride including locations, ticket price and opening times.
Durham Lumiere 2019 is the 10th anniversary edition of the light festival, taking place across the city from November 14-17, and organisers have put on three extra Durham Lumiere park and ride locations.
Want more Lumiere information? Check out our ticket guide, parking and bus information, read about road closures, and see all 37 installations in our guide to Durham Lumiere. Plus, one venue still has tickets available.
With tens of thousands of visitors expected at the event, there are a variety of transport options available. Here's the park and ride information. You can also get a flavour of what to see in our Durham Lumiere 2019 picture gallery.
Where are the Durham Lumiere 2019 park and ride locations?
The Durham Lumiere park and ride car parks are at Belmont, Sniperley, Howlands, New College, Merryoakes, and Meadowfield at Annand House on the main routes into Durham. The best to use depends on the direction from which you're approaching Durham.
Read next: What's the forecast for Lumiere 2019?
Approaching Durham from the north
The Sniperley park and ride, to the north west of Durham, is at the junction of the A691 (coming from Lanchester) and the A167 (coming from Chester-le-Street or the A1 junction 63). There are 300 spaces and the postcode is DH1 5RA.
For New College, it's on the B6532 road between Framwellgate Moor and Sacriston. There are 933 spaces and the postcode is DH1 5ES.
The bus stop for these two is North Road.
Read next: Six tips for making the most of Durham Lumiere
Approaching Durham from the south
The Howlands park and ride, to the south of Durham, is on the A177 into Durham (south side) approximately one mile from the A167 Cock o the North roundabout. There are 488 spaces and the postcode is DH1 3TQ.
Merryoakes is on the A167 on the south side of Durham coming from Bishop Auckland or Newton Aycliffe (A1 south). It's got 2,000 spaces depending on the weather and the postcode is DH1 3QD.
The bus stop for these two is opposite the Three Tuns, New Elvet.
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Approaching Durham from the west
Meadowfield - Annand House is on the A690, next to Meadowfield Leisure Centre. It's got 2,000 spaces depending on the weather and the postcode is DH7 8RP. The bus stop is Sutton Street.
Approaching Durham from the north, south or east
The Belmont park and ride is off the A1 junction 62 at Carrville. There are 600 spaces and the postcode is DH1 1SR. However, the Belmont car park is likely to fill up first. The bus stop is Claypath underpass (Leases Bowl roundabout).
When are the Durham Lumiere park and ride locations open?
The gates will remain open at all sites overnight during the festival.
Howlands, Sniperley and Belmont park and ride is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7am to 11.30pm and Sunday 3pm to 11.30pm.
New College, Meadowfield and Merryoakes park and ride are open Thursday and Friday 4.30pm to 11.30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 3.30pm to 11.30pm.
Watch next: See highlights from 2019 in our Durham Lumiere video
When does the normal Durham park and ride change?
The Durham park and ride service operates normally until 2pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The link between Belmont and Sniperley will then end, the Lumiere services will start and, as a result of road closures, some of the bus stops and routes will change during the afternoon.
How much do Durham Lumiere park and ride tickets cost?
Tickets cost £2 per person return. Concessionary pass holders and children under 16 travel free.
When is the last bus?
The last Lumiere park and ride buses will leave the city centre at 11.30pm each night.
How about disabled access?
All buses have accessible facilities and the Belmont, Sniperley and Howlands park and ride sites have accessible toilet facilities. Disabled bus pass holders can travel for free.
Are there any alternatives?
Another option is to park at County Hall car park and walk down to Lumiere, which will take about 10 to 15 minutes. The County Hall car park will have limited space on the Thursday and Friday night until staff start to leave at 5pm.
Read next: More family events around County Durham