---
title: "The City vs The Shoes: which hotel is better?"
description: "Pick The City. It leads in 2 of 4 categories. The City or The Shoes in Durham? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-city-durham-vs-the-shoes-durham/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-14
---

# The City vs The Shoes

Both are in Durham, 1.2 km apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Inn · ★★★ · City of Durham
## [The City](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-city-durham/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 7.0

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2193448/agoda/?lang=en)

Apartment · ★★★ · Old Durham
## [The Shoes](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-shoes-durham/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.1 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 3.6

- **Score by category:** 0 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2217110/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick The City

It leads in 2 of 4 categories. 1.2 km apart.

### Choose The City if you want

-   to walk to the sights
-   more restaurants on the doorstep
-   a big hotel with more facilities

### Choose The Shoes if you want

-   a smaller, quieter hotel

### Why is The City better than The Shoes?

1.  540 m closer to the beach (3.7 km vs 4.2 km) (−540 m)
2.  840 m closer to the city centre (−840 m)
3.  1.0 km closer to public transport (−1.0 km)
4.  141 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+141)
5.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 79 vs 32) (+47)

### Why is The Shoes better than The City?

1.  Earlier check-in (12:00 vs 14:00) (−2h)

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | The City | The Shoes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Location | 7.0  (+3.4) | 3.6 |
| Beach access | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Public transport | 6.8  (+5.6) | 1.2 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.9 | 9.0  (+0.1) |
| Guest rating | 9.0 | 9.1  (+0.1) |
| Number of reviews | 37 | 56  (+19) |
| Google rating | 4.2/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 211 | – |
| Rank in Durham | top 30% | top 12%  (+18%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 7.0  (+3.4) | 3.6 |
| Distance to the centre | 220 m  (−840 m) | 1.1 km |
| To public transport | 750 m  (−1.0 km) | 1.8 km |
| To the airport | 30 km | 30 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 150  (+141) | 9 |
| Sights within 1 km | 2  (+2) | 0 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Rooms | 9 | 3 |
| Listed amenities | 9  (+6) | 3 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 12:00  (−2h) |
| Check-out until | 11:00  (+1h) | 10:30 |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | – |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | – |
| Free breakfast | ✓ | – |
| Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | – |
| Car hire | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Families with children | ✓ | ✓ |
| Couples | ✓ | – |
| Beach holidays | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Business trips | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | ✓ | ✓ |

[Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-shoes-durham-vs-the-city-durham/)

## Location

1.2 km apart

## The City or The Shoes: common questions

### Which is better, The City or The Shoes?

The City leads in 2 of 4 categories, including location, public transport.

### Which is cheaper, The City or The Shoes?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

The City is closer: 220 m from the centre, against 1.1 km for The Shoes.

### How far apart are The City and The Shoes?

The two hotels are 1.2 km apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [The City vs Delta Hotels Durham Royal County](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delta-hotels-durham-royal-county-durham-vs-the-city-durham/)
-   [The City vs Hotel Indigo Durham By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-indigo-durham-by-ihg-durham-vs-the-city-durham/)
-   [The City vs Premier Inn Durham City Centre - Walkergate](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/premier-inn-durham-city-centre-walkergate-durham-vs-the-city-durham/)
-   [The City vs Castle View Guest House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/castle-view-guest-house-durham-vs-the-city-durham/)
-   [The Shoes vs Travelodge Durham](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-shoes-durham-vs-travelodge-durham-durham/)
-   [The Shoes vs Gilesgatemoor Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/gilesgatemoor-hotel-durham-vs-the-shoes-durham/)
-   [The Shoes vs Hotel Indigo Durham By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-indigo-durham-by-ihg-durham-vs-the-shoes-durham/)
-   [The Shoes vs Delta Hotels Durham Royal County](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/delta-hotels-durham-royal-county-durham-vs-the-shoes-durham/)

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-city-durham-vs-the-shoes-durham/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/