Visit
Visit Cosin’s Library
Opening hours and admission
Cosin’s Library is open to the public from 13 April 2022 from Wednesday to Sunday between 11am and 3pm, and on Bank Holidays (except Platinum Jubilee, Christmas and New Year).
It is free to visit, and tickets can be booked via Eventbrite. If you are not able to make an online booking, please contact our reception desk in Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932. Our visitor services team can then complete a booking on your behalf.
Cosin’s Library is part of Palace Green Library, which also houses the Museum of Archaeology and DLI Gallery. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the Palace Green Library website.
If you are a researcher interested in accessing books from Cosin’s Library, please make an appointment to visit the Barker Research Library.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Locations and directions
Cosin’s Library is a five minute walk from Durham Market Place in the city centre, and is located within the wider Palace Green Library complex. From the Market Place, turn on to Saddler Street and follow the road upwards. Turn onto Owengate, which is the first street on your right. Owengate leads onto Palace Green, the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace Green Library is on the far side of Palace Green. Follow the pathway around the green, past the entrance to Durham Castle. Palace Green Library is the building adjacent to Durham Castle on the left. You will find the entrance to Cosin’s Library inside.
Buses to Cosin’s Library from Durham train station
Palace Green is a 10 minute bus journey from Durham train station. From the station bus stop, use the Cathedral bus service to travel to Palace Green, which departs from the train station at 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour from 09:10 – 17:10, Monday to Saturday. The Cathedral bus service drops passengers at the entrance to Palace Green Library, where visitors will find Cosin’s Library. For more information and timetables, visit the Durham Cathedral Bus website.
Travelling to Durham city centre by bus
Durham Bus Station on North Road offers bus services as far afield as Newcastle, South Shields, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Stanhope, Consett and the Gateshead MetroCentre shopping complex. To plan your journey to Durham Bus Station, visit the Traveline Journey Planner.
Walking from Durham Bus Station
Durham Bus Station is a 15 minute walk from Cosin’s Library. Exit the bus station onto North Road. Turn right and follow North Road down, continuing on to Framwellgate Bridge. Cross the bridge and continue onto Silver Street and follow the road upwards to Durham Market Place. Walk right onto Saddler Street and follow the road upwards. Turn onto Owengate, which is the first street on your right. Owengate leads onto Palace Green, the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace Green Library is on the far side of Palace Green. Follow the pathway around the green, past the entrance to Durham Castle. Palace Green Library is the building adjacent to Durham Castle on the left. You will find Cosin’s Library inside.
Information on cycling in County Durham can be found on the Durham County Council website or try the Cycle Planner provided by Transport Direct. Around 20 cycle racks available on Palace Green by the public toilets and behind the Pemberton Building, opposite the Library. Visitors are welcome to use these racks but do so at their own risk.
For more information on cycling in Durham, visit the Durham Bicycle Users Group website and for information on cycle hire please visit the This is Durham website.
The nearest train station to Palace Green Library is Durham, which is well served by trains from most major centres in the country. The National Express high speed service takes under 3 hours from London King’s Cross on the main East Coast line. First Transpennine Express offers frequent links to Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds, while Cross Country links Durham directly with Scotland, the Midlands, and the South West.
Durham is just over 3 hours from Birmingham, 2.5 hours from Manchester, 1.5 hours from Edinburgh and 45 minutes from York.
Walking from Durham train station
Palace Green Library is a 15 – 20 minute walk from Durham train station. From Platform 2, exit the train station through the ticket office. Take the ramp or steps down to Station Approach and turn right. Follow the road around on the left hand side of the pavement, passing the set of steps leading steeply down to your left. About halfway down Station Approach, take the blue pedestrian bridge on the left, leading over the A690.
Exiting the bridge, continue towards the roundabout and turn left onto North Road. Walk down North Road, continuing on to Framwellgate Bridge. Turn left onto Silver Street and follow the road upwards to Durham Market Place. Take Saddler Street and follow the road upwards. Turn onto Owengate, which is the first street on your right. Owengate leads onto Palace Green, the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace Green Library is on the far side of Palace Green. Follow the pathway around the green, past the entrance to Durham Castle. Palace Green Library is the building adjacent to Durham Castle on the left.
Buses from Durham train station
Palace Green Library is a 10 minute bus journey from Durham train station. From the station bus stop, use the Cathedral bus service to travel to Palace Green, which departs from the train station at 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour from 9.10am – 5.10pm, Monday to Saturday. The Cathedral bus service drops passengers at the entrance to Palace Green Library. For more information and timetables, visit the Durham Cathedral Bus website.
Taxis from Durham train station
Durham is a major train station with taxis usually available in a rank.
Durham city centre is only two miles from the A1(M). Leave the motorway at Junction 62 on the A690 Durham to Sunderland road and follow signs to Durham city centre. Parking is not available on the peninsula or Palace Green. If you’re travelling by car, the nearest public car park to Palace Green Library is Prince Bishops Shopping Centre Car Park, postcode DH1 3UJ.
Walking from Prince Bishops Shopping Centre
Palace Green Library is a five minute walk from Prince Bishops Shopping Centre. From the car park, exit via the pedestrian access route to Prince Bishops Shopping Centre. Walk through the Shopping Centre until you reach Saddler Street.
Turn left onto Saddler Street and follow the road upwards. Turn onto Owengate, which is the first street on your right. Owengate leads onto Palace Green, the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace Green Library is on the far side of Palace Green. Follow the pathway around the green, past the entrance to Durham Castle. Palace Green Library is the building adjacent to Durham Castle on the left.
Access
Parking
Visitor parking is not available on Palace Green, but exceptions may be made for disabled customers and those with limited mobility. To enquire about disabled parking, please contact the Palace Green security office by telephone +44 (0)191 334 2222.
Please note that the Durham Road User Charge is in operation on the peninsula from 10am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday. For more information, visit the Durham County Council website.
Accessing Palace Green Library
Palace Green Library has been adapted wherever possible for wheelchair access. A platform lift from our main entrance to reception is available. From the reception area, visitors can access galleries on the ground floor, accessible toilets, the shop and Search Room. A platform lift takes visitors to the DLI Collection Gallery and the Wolfson Gallery on the first floor.
Cosin’s Library is a historic building. From the reception area, there are several short staircases to access Cosin’s Library. Visitors have to descend 11 stairs down, followed by 4 steps up.
A portable hearing loop is available.
Please note: For conservation purposes we ask visitors not to wear high-heeled shoes and not to bring in or consume food and beverages whilst in the library. Thank you for your understanding.