Durham is old but nowhere near Oxbridge or ancient Scottish universities old. Durham is closer in age to the University of London, 1830s. Durham is like a hybrid of college and campus universities. It is not much like the civic universities (at Durham, there's no Gothic architecture, no redbrick, no big marble buildings). Think Georgian townhouses and 60s campuses mainly. Whilst it has old colleges, they're sometimes not particularly large (St Hild and St Bede and Hatfield stand out) and many of its colleges only date to the 1960s, its union is 1960s. It ranks very well in some subjects, although by no means outstanding in others. Its age in English terms, its old colleges, including the Castle (University College, opposite the cathedral) and its city's perceived beauty have arguably aided its standing as a university. It also has some museums of its own. Newcastle's not far from Durham for a larger place and brighter lights. Still, Durham has got to be livelier on a daily basis than St Andrews - that place feels like a monastery.