Entire home

Luxury Home Downtown

Holiday home with kitchen, near Duke University

Photo gallery for Luxury Home Downtown

Interior
Dining
Living area
Private kitchen
Private kitchen

Reviews

9.6 out of 10, Loved by Guests
6 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 123800 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View in a map
Durham, NC
  • Place, Durham Convention Center
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Place, Durham Performing Arts Center
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Duke University
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, Raleigh, NC (RDU-Raleigh - Durham Intl.)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed

4 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Balcony
Garden

About this property

Luxury Home Downtown

Summary:

Welcome to our exquisite 1897 Victorian home in Durham, where history meets modern luxury. Take a neighborhood walk for your morning latte, and settle into your porch rocker at sunset with cocktail in hand. Home features a true chef's kitchen, spacious gathering spaces, and spa-like bathrooms, plus a relaxing hot tub. Our home is perfect for friends & family getaways, business trips, or wedding travel. Enjoy free parking and easy access to Duke campus, wedding venues, Durham Bulls Stadium & DPAC events.



The Space:

The 1897 Murray-Whitley blends the timeless craftsmanship of an heirloom home with every modern convenience:



Our exceptional amenities include:

+High speed fiber internet, plus desks perfect for "work from home" & meetings

+Spacious gathering options; wrap-around porch, living with gas fireplace, entertainer's kitchen, turret nook & more

+Kitchen offers Viking gas range / dual dishwashers / wine fridge / double ovens / dual sinks / 6 seater artisanal mahogany island

+Plush beds with high quality, breathable bedding

+Spa-like baths including marbled walk in shower with jets; all baths feature true ceramic and stone tiling & high quality finishes

+Convenient laundry on each floor

+Private back deck with outdoor dining space

+Jacuzzi & gas grill in private backyard

+Unscented detergents & minimally scented cleaning products so those with sensitivities can breathe freely

+Need more rooms? Check out our newly renovated Victorian across the street!



Add our listing to your Wishlist by clicking ♥️ in the top Right!



We stock the basics (and more!):

+Kitchen: high quality coffee grinds with creamer & sugar, drip coffee maker, Keurig machine for those who prefer to bring their own pods, electric kettle, filtered water, EV olive oil, Himalayan Salt & Pepper grinders, cookware & serving ware, Air Fryer / microwave combo, toaster, blender, hand mixer, kitchen towels, Dawn soap, dish sponges & starter amounts of dishwasher pods, toilet paper & paper towels.

+Bath: Quality Moroccan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash, hand soap & hair dryer in all baths

+Linens and Towels

+Starter amount of "free & clear" laundry pods so you can travel light and refresh laundry during your stay

+Iron & ironing board

+Cleaning products for kitchen and baths, vacuum etc



Nearby Local Destinations:

*7/10 mile to Rickhouse, Durham Food Hall & The Durham Exchange

*1.1 miles to DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center), The Cotton Room, The Fruit & The Durham Armory

*1.5 miles to Durham Bulls Athletic Park

*1.8miles to Duke East Campus, Bay 7 & The Cookery

*3.8 miles to Duke Chapel + Cameron Indoor Stadium

*8 miles to RTP (Research Triangle Park)

*Highway: incredibly convenient access to I-85, 15-501, NC-147



We welcome board retreats, family reunions, bachelorette gatherings, business travel, wedding groups, foodie travelers, Duke graduation and reunions, Duke hospital and Duke University visitors!



Guest Access:

Guests will have full use of the entire house, including the private backyard and hot tub. Enjoy easy entry with smart locks on two doors, providing keyless access from both sides.



The Neighborhood:

Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of Durham! Our home is ideally situated, a comfortable 10-minute walk (approximately 0.5 miles) from the heart of downtown. You'll find yourself close to popular spots like LouElla Wine Bar, Cocoa Cinnamon Coffee, and the energetic Motorco music venue and bar. Take leisurely walks along the picturesque, tree-lined streets, admiring the historic architecture of the neighborhood. Enjoy convenient access to the Saturday morning farmers market, Durham Art walks, the Carolina Theatre, and a wide array of outstanding restaurants and unique bars. Upon booking, we'll share our curated list of local favorites, ensuring you experience the best of Durham's culinary scene!



Getting Around:

Getting around from this house is a breeze. You're only a short 3-minute drive from I-85 and NC-147, perfect for car travel. To get to downtown Durham, consider driving, walking, using ride-sharing options such as Lyft and Uber, or even renting a scooter for a fun way to explore.



Other Things to Note:

Enjoy streaming your favorite shows and movies on our Smart TV, with access to Netflix, your Amazon or Hulu account, and many other apps. We've opted out of traditional cable, but we provide YouTubeTV, which offers a cable-like experience with numerous live and on-demand options.



Interaction with Guests:

We want you to feel at home during your stay. We'll respect your privacy, but we're readily available via the platform messaging system if you need anything, whether it's recommendations for local restaurants and events, or assistance with any house-related matters; we aim to respond within the hour, if not much sooner.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
• No smoking • No pets • Check-in is anytime after 4:00 PM

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

About the area

Durham

Located in Durham, this holiday home is in the city centre. American Tobacco Campus and Durham Hosiery Mill are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Museum of Life and Science and Wheels Fun Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, or consider a night out at Dean Smith Center.
Map
Durham, NC

What's nearby

  • Durham Convention Center - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Carolina Theatre - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Durham Performing Arts Center - 2 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Durham Bulls Athletic Park - 3 min drive - 2.0 km
  • Duke University - 3 min drive - 2.4 km

Getting around

  • Durham Station - 5 min drive
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Little Bull - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Surf Club - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Durham Beer Garden - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Cocoa Cinnamon - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Boxcar Bar + Arcade - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Luxury Victorian Downtown: Spacious * Hot Tub pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Luxury Victorian Downtown: Spacious * Hot Tub?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Luxury Victorian Downtown: Spacious * Hot Tub?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Luxury Victorian Downtown: Spacious * Hot Tub?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Luxury Victorian Downtown: Spacious * Hot Tub located?

Located in the heart of Durham, this holiday home is 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from Fullsteam Brewery and 1.5 mi (2.5 km) from Duke University. Manbites Dog Theater and Downtown Durham Dog Park are also within 15 minutes. Durham Station is 22 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 44 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bentley G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Welcoming host nice home and good communication
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Donna P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful house. Very spacious and as advertised. The house was perfect for vour family, in town for a wedding. A definite must-do!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Merle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place for a Friends Weekend

Enjoyed the house - perfect for our large group.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Spring S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay

Great location. Loved the house, the responsiveness of the property manager.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Victorian in good location to Duke’s campus

The house was so charming and had plenty of room for our crew.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Golf Trip

House was exactly as described and as shown in photos. Check in could not have been easier and owner(s) were great to work with. Would definitely stay again if in the area
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spacious home for work gathering

This home was perfect for colleagues coming in from many different areas. It was very spacious and the commute to the office was very close. Appreciated the quick responsiveness to questions. Great experience and highly recommend for large families or groups visiting the Durham area.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Terrence T., Cincinnati Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A meaningful get away

The house is awesome. Perfect for a family to enjoy quality time with each other.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, spacious and historic

Our group of six had a fantastic time staying at this house for over a week. The bedrooms and beds were great, and the living areas extremely inviting and comfortable - including the porch chairs as well as the hot tub. Also, our host was incredibly accessible and accommodating. We will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brooke G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Graves Family Getaway

The only word that I can use to describe this home is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Holiday Weekend

We had the best time for our Mother/Daughter Christmas weekend. This house was so perfect, we had a hard time leaving to do activities we planned! The kitchen *swoon* was the perfect size and layout for our group of 8am ultra. We were able to cook and eat all together, making many life long memories The beds and pillows were so comfortable, I would highly recommend this home for any large party!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dana W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New years

Our group had a fabulous time staying in this home
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Greg R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Fun Durham weekend with college friends

Property is in a close-to-downtown location in Durham. Convenient to everything. Although home is older, the kitchen and baths were updated/modern. Very clean and the property mgt was very responsive.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Garland T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

10 out of 10

This property was 10 out of 10.Roomy spacious ,super clean.The small downside was parking/driveway if you have multiple cars was a task but Overall !! We had a great 3 day stay
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Anne P.

Fantastic home!

We had a large gathering over the weekend with several teenagers, a toddler and a handful of adults. This is a great old house with plenty of space for everyone to hang out. Clean, well stocked, the owner was very helpful - what more could you want? The location was convenient and we would love to stay here again!

10/10 Excellent

Jan H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Space for everyone!

This is an amazing home with lots of space for everyone! We spent a lot of time in the comfortable, well-equipped kitchen. We parked our cars for the weekend and walked everywhere - home is close to wonderful restaurants, wine bar and food market.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Victorian Mansion gem

The photos of this property don’t do it proper justice. The restoration work is exquisite. Host Dylan was top-notch, going above and beyond to help me sort out payment issues on my end. My family could not have been more happy. Highly recommended!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

As wonderful as the pictures

The house compared to the pictures did not disappoint. We enjoyed the gathering space in the kitchen and outside on the patio the most. There were a couple of communication glitches (some delays in pre-check in communication and we never got check out instructions) but nothing that takes away from the overall charm, location and thoughtfulness of supplies that existed in the home.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea K., Cumberland, RI

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very Nice House

11 people & a baby. Very clean. Lots of space. We had everything we needed and were very comfortable. Master w/bath on first floor & Master w/bath on the 2nd floor were very helpful. Two additional general full baths were great. Two sets of washer & dryer were put to use. Definitely would stay again if in the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

James S., Leverett, MA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

NC Wedding Weekend

We had a long extended family weekend in Durham which we were visiting for a family wedding in nearby Cary, NC. My wife and I, our three grown children and their spouses and one grandchild took advantage of the opportunity for a family reunion. The house is a beautifully renovated historic house in old Durham accurately described in the VRBO listing. It suited our needs perfectly. The host or his designee were easy to communicate with and responsive.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Juanita M.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Trip to NC for our Family reunion @ Kerr Lake

The house huge & nicely decorated. Fully stocked kitchen functional kitchen. Parking was great! Needs a little tender love & care regarding doorknobs etc( but again it’s an older home) needs severe pest control (spiders, webs, ants) and dusting. Unbeknownst to the owners. They promised to address with the cleaners asap. I also advised the cleaning person when we’re outside leaving. The hosts were very gracious. They even allowed us to enter the home 2 hours early because it was raining and we traveled so far. Overall, it fit our family of 12 just fine. And I would recommend it to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Wedding Weekend in Durham

Our 4 night stay at this lovely restored Victorian home went extremely well. The property is accurately described and is unique not only in it's appearance, but also in that there are not a lot of properties that can comfortably accommodate a large group. For ourselves, we had decided that having our immediate family together for our youngest daughter's wedding (she lives in Durham, but we were all traveling from outside the area) would be preferred. The home presents lots of space to move around in addition to the good size 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. We also took advantage of the large kitchen island to prep some large amounts of food for her "Welcome to Durham Party" at a local brewery for the out of town guests the night before the wedding. The hot tub was also in good shape and used on several nights during our stay. We also took advantage of the massive wraparound porch on several occasions during the weekend, and it was great! The check-in and check-out procedures and codes were easy to use and follow. One slight criticism would be that there were only 2 towels per bedroom (and 6 hot tub/pool towels in the laundry room), so being we were staying for 4 nights, plan on doing laundry if you're their more than 1-2 nights. Overall, it is close to a solid 5!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Reunion Weekend

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this charming home, it had lovely gathering spaces with plenty of bedrooms, bathrooms and parking for our group that came from all directions. The location was a new area of Durham for us, but very easy to get downtown and to both of Duke's campuses. Ended up being the perfect place for us to reconnect, highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Renee P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

This was a very quaint yet vast home. So it has character but lost of room.

We enjoyed the property and even host a nice family event. The updated portion of the home:kitchen was a hit. The home had everything I could image, so it work very well to have a nice happy hour cocktail party for 12. Patios are very nice. My only suggestions are that they air out the homes before usage, get an exterminator and they keep the coffee maker we left there. Also renters should know that this is an older home and floors are uneven.
Stayed 9 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Charles E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Honesty

The reason I gave this a 5 star I was impressed with the management. I was super happy with how well tans quickly they responded to the issues we had. Here I’ll tell the story and my honest opinion. 1. The house was not cleaned properly when arriving - there were cleaning products around the house. The owner expressed that they cleaning crew did not know and did not show. I believe they did but did not do a stand up job. The reason I believe this, when the company showed up to clean the house. I removed the majority of stuff out of the fridge. Opened half eaten food. There was a lime that I wanted to keep. When they came back after I expressed my concerns they threw the lime away however kept all the other food. Lol. 2. The hot tub was nasty - luckily they leave cleaning products by the tub - we cleaned the tub however, it never got hot :( 3. The listing had 7 rooms and even a break down of where room. However when I asked them about this, they said it could have been the air mattress. Either way - was not what we expected. 4. I brought this up to management with a few other things. They immediately responded, worked with us and fixed all the issues. So at the end of the day, I’m happy with the stay and how management took care of the concerns. The rest is small stuff at the end of the day. The location is great super close to downtown. Cool bars and the house is accommodating. They did a great job with the remodel and the beds and pillows are fantastic. Overalll happy with the stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Dylan Ellerbee

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Languages:

English, French, German, Hungarian

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