Where is the Durham passport office?

The Durham passport office is at Milburngate House, Durham DH1 5UU. It is about a 5-minute walk from Durham station, sitting on the west bank of the River Wear. The office serves the North East of England including Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and the wider Tyne and Wear region.

How much is fast track at Durham?

Fast track at Durham costs GBP 166.50 for adults and GBP 135.50 for children from 8 April 2026. Premium same-day costs GBP 239.50 (adults only). Same fees as every other UK passport office.

Why is Durham easier to book than London?

Durham is a smaller passport office serving a smaller catchment than Globe House. It typically has the shortest waits in the UK network. Same-week slots are commonly available even in summer. Worth checking first if your travel date allows the train trip from London (3 hours) or Birmingham (4 hours).

Is the Durham passport office near the cathedral?

Yes, sort of. Milburngate House is on the west bank of the River Wear, about 10 minutes walk from Durham Cathedral. The walk back across Framwellgate Bridge after your appointment is one of the more pleasant post-office walks in the UK passport office network.

Can I get a same-day passport at Durham?

Yes. Premium same-day at Durham (GBP 239.50, adults only) works the same as at every other office. Attend the morning appointment, collect within 4 hours. Stay nearby (Durham city centre has multiple hotels within 10 minutes) for the collection window.

Durham Passport Office: Milburngate House

North East England's passport office and historically the shortest-wait HMPO location in the UK. Worth checking first if you have any geographic flexibility.

Fast track

£166.50

Premium same-day

£239.50

Distance from Durham station

5 min walk

In one paragraph

Milburngate House, Durham DH1 5UU. Five minutes from Durham railway station. Fast track GBP 166.50, premium same-day GBP 239.50. Generally the shortest-wait passport office in the UK. Appointment only via gov.uk/book-a-passport-appointment.

Address and Catchment

Address

Milburngate House

Framwellgate Waterside

Durham DH1 5UU

Typical catchment

Durham, Tyne and Wear (Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland)
Northumberland, Tees Valley (Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton, Darlington)
North Yorkshire (when Peterborough is full)
Scottish Borders (when Glasgow is full)

Durham is small for a city, and Milburngate House is unmistakable: a large modern office complex on the west bank of the Wear, opposite the cathedral. The route from the station is downhill and signposted.

Why Durham Often Has the Shortest Waits

Three structural reasons Durham is the easiest UK passport office to book:

Small catchment. The North East has a smaller population than the regions served by Globe House, Liverpool, or Glasgow. Demand is lower.
No major airport hub. Newcastle Airport is regional rather than international. Fewer last-minute travel emergencies trigger same-day premium bookings here.
Less national-press visibility. When tabloid coverage talks about passport queues, it shows London. Durham gets less attention and so less defensive booking from out-of-region applicants.

Same-week fast-track and premium slots are common at Durham even in late June. If your travel allows a 3 to 4 hour train trip, Durham is often the path of least resistance.

Getting There

From	Mode	Approx return	Time
Newcastle	LNER / Northern to Durham	£8 to £15	15 minutes
Middlesbrough	Northern to Durham	£15 to £25	40 minutes
York	LNER to Durham	£25 to £60	50 minutes
Leeds	LNER to Durham	£30 to £60	1 hr 20 min
Edinburgh	LNER to Durham	£40 to £100	1 hr 40 min
London King's Cross	LNER to Durham	£60 to £140	3 hours
Birmingham	CrossCountry to Durham	£60 to £140	3 hr 30 min

From Durham station, exit on the city centre side, walk down the hill past the bus station and across Framwellgate Bridge. Milburngate House is on the right, about 5 minutes total.

Service Tiers and Fees

Fast track

£166.50

Adult fee. Child GBP 135.50. About 1 week to courier delivery.

Premium

£239.50

Adults only. Collect within 4 hours of appointment.

Where to Wait During Premium Same-Day

The 4-hour collection window is short for a long round trip but plenty for a city visit. Durham offers some of the best wait-time options in the UK passport office network:

Durham Cathedral. Free entry, world heritage site, 10 minutes from the office. Easily fills 90 minutes if you actually look at the building.
Riverside walk. The path along the Wear, past the cathedral and back via Prebends Bridge, is about 30 minutes and one of the prettiest urban walks in England.
Cafes and pubs. Durham city centre is small and walkable. Plenty of places to sit, work on a laptop, or have lunch within 5 to 10 minutes of the office.
Hotels for overnight. Premier Inn Durham, Radisson Blu Durham (right next to Milburngate House), and the Marriott Royal County are all walking distance. Useful if you have an early appointment from the south or want flexibility on collection.

What to Bring

PEX reference from your application confirmation email
Current or expired passport
Two signed passport photos meeting GOV.UK standards
Proof of travel for fast track or premium
For child applications: child present, birth certificate, both parents' ID
For name changes: marriage certificate, deed poll, court order

Durham Passport Office FAQ

Is Durham passport office really easier to book than others?

Generally, yes. Durham serves the smallest catchment of the UK passport offices and consistently has the shortest waits in the network. Same-week premium and fast-track slots are commonly available even in mid-summer. Worth checking first if your travel date allows the train trip.

Where can I park near Milburngate House?

Walkergate Plaza car park is the closest paid parking, about 5 minutes walk. Prince Bishops shopping centre car park is 10 minutes. There is no free passport-office parking. Most applicants arrive by train; the station is 5 minutes uphill on the other side of the Wear.

Can children attend Durham for fast track?

Yes. Durham is appointment only and follows the same rules as every other UK passport office. Children must attend in person for child fast track at GBP 135.50. Premium same-day is not available for under-16s.

Is Durham faster to reach than York for North Yorkshire residents?

There is no passport office in York. Durham is the natural North East alternative for North Yorkshire residents (50 min by train from York). Peterborough is the alternative going south (about 2 hours from York), serving the East Midlands and East Anglia.

What time does Durham passport office open?

Durham operates Monday to Saturday with appointment slots through the day. Specific open hours and slot availability are visible only after entering your PEX reference at gov.uk/book-a-passport-appointment. Sunday operations are limited and may be unavailable in some weeks.

Often easier than

London Globe House

3 hours by train from London King's Cross.

Going south?

Peterborough Passport Office

East Midlands and East Anglia office.