How to get to Durham Lumiere and where to park

Durham Lumiere is set to feature more than 30 installations in Durham and Shildon

It is nearly time to say goodbye to Durham Lumiere as the festival lights up the city for the last time next week.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the final edition of the biennial between 13 and 15 November, from 17:00 to 22:00 GMT.

The festival is set to feature more than 30 dazzling installations across Durham city and Shildon.

Here is how you can make your way there if you are planning to go.

Do I need tickets?

You would need to book tickets to access the controlled zone in Durham city centre during the festival.

These are free, but a £1.50 booking fee applies.

However, Durham County Council has advised more than half of the installations are outside of the zone and can be visited at any time without a ticket.

No tickets are required to visit installations in Shildon either.

What is on show?

There will be installations from around the UK, as well as the works of international artists.

Palace Green outside Durham Cathedral will be turned into a huge forest of illuminated flowers standing two metres (6.5ft) tall.

Elsewhere in the city, visitors will be able to go through an immersive 300-metre (984ft) woodland walk containing mirror balls, while Crook Hall will be covered in an illuminated swarm of butterflies.

Illuminated flowers will transform Palace Green

Shildon's Locomotion Museum will welcome the lights with a trio of artworks, including a community-created lantern installation called Glimmer and a projection on the building.

Parking in Durham

Much of the on street parking is suspended in the city centre, with Park and Ride recommended by the council instead.

However, there are also a number of privately operated car parks in the area:

• The Prince Bishops Place car park will be open as usual during the event, with tariffs starting from £2.40 for up to two hours.

• Walkergate car park will also be available, with tarriffs starting from £2 for up to two hours.

• Another option is the Riverwalk car park.

Park and Ride

The last Park and Ride buses will leave the city centre at 23:30 GMT each night.

The car parks will be open all night for people who want to stay in town later and get a taxi back.

A return ticket costs £2.20 per person, but concessionary pass holders and children under 16 who are accompanied by an adult over 21 can travel for free.

An enhanced park and ride service is running for the festival

Locations are:

• Belmont (PR1), off the A1(M) junction 62 at Carrville - recommended for anyone travelling from the north, south or east. However, the council warns this car park is likely to fill up first. The bus stop in Durham is at Claypath underpass, Stand B (Leazes Bowl roundabout).

• Howlands (PR2), on A177 into Durham (south side) - recommended for anyone travelling from the south and leaving the A1(M) at junctions 59, 60 and 61. The bus stop in Durham is at A690 Milburngate Bridge West Bound adjacent to Walkergate.

• Sniperley (PR3), junction of the A691 (coming from Lanchester) and A167 (coming from Chester-le-Street / A1(M) junction 63) - recommended for anyone travelling from the north, leaving the A1(M) at junction 63. The bus stop in Durham is North Road, northbound, next to Wharton Park.

All buses have accessible facilities and disabled bus pass holders can travel for free.

Buses, trains and taxis

All Arriva bus services will operate as normal other than those from Claypath after 14:00 GMT.

There will be extra journeys on Arriva service 7 between Durham and Newton Aycliffe.

All Go North East services from Claypath will operate to/from Durham via Leazes Road after 14:00 GMT.

The following routes will be affected:

Claypath - no vehicle access (between Providence Row and Millennium Square) from 14:00 GMT each day. Bus services will not serve Clayport - Millennium Place stops.

Clayport - Millennium Place (Outbound) will be closed from 14:00 GMT:

• The 40A service will not run after 13:00 GMT

• 65, 204, 204A, X62, 64 will operate via Leazes Road serving Leazes Road Underpass

Clayport - Millennium Place (Inbound) closed from 14:00 GMT:

• 64, 65, 204, 204A, X62 will operate via Leazes Road serving stops at Milburngate Bridge

Trains to and from Durham will be running and taxis will be available from North Road and Old Elvet.

What about disabled travellers?

Durham County Council has said all bus services have low floor, step-free entry and can carry one wheelchair user. Concessionary passes can be used on all services.

On-street parking is limited, but Blue Badge holders can still use any available on street pay and display bays for free and without time limit when displaying their Blue Badge.

Disabled bays on Old Elvet, Green Lane, North Road, Claypath and Bailey streets are suspended during the festival.

Getting to Shildon

Free parking will be available on site at Locomotion museum in Shildon, although people are encouraged to travel by bus.

A free shuttle bus will be provided between Shildon town centre and Locomotion each night.

The stops will be at King William bus stop, on the corner of Albert Street and Wesley Crescent, and at Locomotion Museum.

Services will run every 15 minutes from 17:00 GMT. The last pick up from Locomotion will be at 21:45 GMT.

The shuttle service has wheelchair access.

Road and parking closures

Elvet Bridge, Saddler Street, Market Place, Silver Street, Framwellgate Bridge, Owengate, North & South Bailey, Bow Lane, Dun Cow Lane, Prebends Bridge and Saddler Lane will be closed 13:00 GMT until 02:00 GMT.

Pedestrian access will be restricted between 16:00 GMT and 22:00 GMT unless ticketed.

Millburngate (southbound), North Road, Framwellgate Waterside, Claypath, Walkergate, Freemans Place and South Street will be closed from 14:00 GMT until 02:00 GMT.

Other closures include Sidegate Car Park and parking bays in the Frankland Lane, Framwellgate Waterside and Sidegate areas.

There will also be no vehicle access between Market Place and Palace Green from 13:00 GMT each day.