The Bailey is a historic area in the centre of the city of Durham, County Durham, England. It consists of two streets, North Bailey and South Bailey. It is on a peninsula within a sharp meander along the River Wear, formed by an isostatic adjustment of the land. The name "The Bailey" derives from the outer bailey of the Norman motte and bailey-style Durham Castle. Vehicular access to the area is restricted by the Durham City congestion charge, which started in 2002 and is the UK's oldest such scheme.