If you like walking up hills this is the place for you. Many have described Durham as a bubble, similar in many ways to St Andrews, although this is not necessarily a bad thing. The city is charming (benefiting from both Cathedral and Castle), with university education playing a huge part in it's make up. It may not be big but it certainly caters for the student. Durham University is so entrenched in the city that one of its colleges is housed in the castle (the UKs only castle never to have been breached). The nightlife may not be as wild as other cities, but a 10 minute train journey will take you to Newcastle if you feel the need.