STAYCATIONS are proving increasingly popular, with millions of Brits shunning overseas travel this year in favour of making the most of what's on their doorstep.

With that in mind, we decided to take a weekend break closer to home than usual, with a trip up the A1 to the city of Durham - a UNESCO world heritage site.

It's been at least 15 years since my first and only visit to this historic city, despite its close proximity and charm, and this time we made the trip with our two children in tow.

We stayed in a spacious family room at the Travelodge Durham on Station lane, Gilesgate, which was easy to reach, offering simple, fresh and affordable accommodation, with free parking.

Booking in was quick and easy, and the receptionists were very friendly and helpful with advice on where to go.

The hotel did not have a bar cafe, but offered decent breakfast boxes with a choice of food including fruit juice, yoghurt, a muffin, cereal bar and cereal, for those in need of sustenance before heading out in the morning.

The Travelodge was just a five-minute walk into the centre of Durham, making it an ideal base for a weekend break, with panoramic views of the city's stunning skyline on the way in.

The city on the River Wear feels very compact, but there is plenty to uncover. We spent a full day exploring the sights, pottering in and out of shops, meandering along the winding, cobbled, historical streets, and generally soaking up the ambience.

To escape the city centre bustle, we escaped for a gentle amble along the leafy river path which encircles Durham and offers, potentially, some of the best, and most photographed views of the cathedral.

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Built in 1093 to house the shrine of St Cuthbert, Durham Cathedral is a must-see destination on anyone's itinerary, whether it's their first or tenth visit. With its stunning Romanesque architecture, 12th century Galilee Chapel, towering sandstone pillars in the Nave, and the Rose Window in the Chapel of the Nine Altars, the cathedral has numerous features to admire.

The cathedral and Durham Castle, which was originally commissioned by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century and now sits at the heart of Durham's World Heritage Site, stand proud above the city below. The castle is now home to students from University College, part of Durham University, but guided tours are available to book.

To round off our day, we dined at a lovely authentic Italian restaurant slightly out of the city centre, on the walk back towards our hotel. We timed our arrival well as by 5pm the restaurant was buzzing with early birds. The menu had a wide selection of pasta, pizzas and specials, and was reasonably priced, making it a pleasant meal before an evening of family games and Saturday night television back at the Travelodge.

The following day, we headed to nearby Beamish Museum, The Living Museum of the North, which tells the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s & 1940s.

While the renowned open-air museum is a well-known haunt for many groups of York school children, Scouts and Brownies, it was my sons' first visit and offered a genuine insight into life in bygone days.

It first opened in 1970 in a bid to preserve the buildings, artefacts and machinery of industrial life in the North in the 1800s and 1900s, and there is so much to see today, making it difficult to do the attraction justice in a single visit.

For little legs, there are the beautifully restored trams to help you get around the circular track through the museum site. Otherwise, to do it on foot, and see all there is on offer, arrive in good time and prepare for a full day out.

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One of the scenes at Beamish Museum  Picture: Nadia Jefferson-Brown

We spent the most time in the town setting, which dated back to the 1900s, showing how families lived and worked in the years pre-ceding the First World War. The Edwardian sweet shop had a long queue but our children showed remarkable patience as they waited their turn for fudge and sherbet dip.

Another highlight was the Pit Village which gave a fascinating insight into life for people a century ago, with women baking in the cottages, children practising their handwriting on chalk boards in the school, and pit ponies in their stables. There are half-hour tours into amine, to give a real taste of the reality of life underground, especially when our guide turned out his light.

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Our guide at the mouth of the mine where you can go on a guided tour Picture: Nadia Jefferson-Brown

It was a grand day out - where else are you able to chat with Land Girls in a 1940s farm cottage, ride on an old tram, and take a trip down a drift mine? - to complete a full staycation break.

For Travelodge Durham accommodation details, visit www.travelodge.co.uk or telephone: 08719 846136.

For information on what to see and do visit www.thisisdurham.com For details on Beamish open airmuseum, visit: www.beamish.org.uk