Durham Miners' Gala: Everything you need to know

The 131st Durham Miners' Gala will parade through the centre of the city today, July 11.

Traditionally, the colliery bands would march though their villages starting early in the morning and the make their way to Durham from all directions and, in the main, that tradition remains today.

The main assembly point is the city centre Market Place and bands and banners start to march from there to the Racecourse from about 8.30 am.

Other assembly points are the Miners’ HQ at Red Hill near the railway station and the New Inn on the west of the city.

The focal point of the Gala is the County Hotel at Old Elvet where the two legs of the procession converge.

Here, the union leaders, invited guests and local dignitaries greet the march from the hotel balcony and the bands pause to play their “party piece” before marching the short distance to the Racecourse where there is a platform for the speakers.

The procession can take three to four hours to pass the County Hotel owing to the huge numbers attending and the frequent pauses at the hotel.

However, an atmosphere of street theatre makes the occasion more a fiesta than a march.

On the Racecourse, the banners are strapped to the surrounding fences creating a colourful tapestry of working class history.

On the riverside, there are rides for the children and stalls selling everything from books to fast food.

In the marquees, there are many exhibitions and a place where tea and sandwiches can be bought run by the Durham Labour Party.

And, on a field overlooking the racecourse, there is a fun fair with some scary rides for the more adventurous.

At 1pm, the platform party arrives and the Chairman opens the meeting.

After the speeches, four or five selected bands and banners march to the Cathedral for the Miners’ Service.

Back on the Racecourse, the banners are lifted when the various miners’ lodges decide it is time to go and march back to the County Hotel where they play another tune exuberantly but, sometimes, a little less professionally due to the intoxicating effects of the day’s celebratory atmosphere.

The centre of Durham is closed to traffic from 7.00 am but access is possible, for those who arrive early, to the multi-storey car park close to the Market Square. There are three large park-and-ride car parks.

Parties travelling by bus can alight on the main road, directly below the Market Square and their drivers will be directed, by the police, to a large coach park at The Sands on the riverside.

For more information on road closures affected by the event, click here