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The largest city in Northumberland, Alnwick, is a must on any trip to Border County. If you are planning a visit, let me help you with my guide about the best things to do in Alnwick.
Alnwick, a beautiful cobbled market city, is Northumberland’s heart and is still one of the most popular places to visit in what is quickly becoming my favorite English county. The city itself is only small, with most of the attractions that can be seen in a push within a day, although comfortably in a weekend. You will find medieval castles, Victorian bookstores and poisonous plants, as well as many independent shops, coffees and pubs to keep you busy.
I love to visit Alnwick on trips to Northumberland. Emma and I got married in 2019 less than ten miles away and we always like to stop in this area to bring such lovely memories.
With Alnwick only five miles from the incredible coast of Northumberland, it can and should combine a trip to Alnwick with exploring more of Northumberland’s offers. Someday I will gather my full guide for Northumberland, but, for now, let’s focus on the best things to do in Alnwick.
Things to do in Alnwick
Alnwick Castle
Located in almost perfect green hills, Alnwick Castle is one of the most famous castles in the United Kingdom and dates back to the Normandist period. It is also the second largest inhabited castle in the country with the Percy family that has owned the castle for more than 700 years. The Percy family in the form of the Duke and the Northumberland duchess still lives here today!
The castle is absolutely huge, since a particular point in particular is the incredibly decorated state rooms. Eagle Eyed spectators, among which they can recognize, or probably already know, that Alnwick Castle appeared as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, as well as in Downton Abbey. Alnwick Castle has used his fame as Harry Potter for his advantage and offers broom training in the same reasons where Little Harry had his first flight lesson.
Open every day from March 29 to October 24, 2024.
12 -month tickets bought online cost £ 20.50 for adults, £ 16.55 for concessions and £ 10.80 for children. Minors of 4 are free.
Alnwick Gardens
After Alnwick Castle, one of the following most popular things in Alnwick is to visit the Alnwick gardens; Created by the Duchess of Northumberland in 2001. I have visited several times over the years and I am always impressed by how good these gardens are and, if I am sincere, I am not really a person who visits the garden. There is an impressive staggered fountain (the Grand Cascade) with 120 water jets as soon as you enter before you can give your opinion to explore the poisonous garden (with more than 100 toxic plants, behind the black iron doors), the bamboo labyrinth or the rose garden.
Alnwick Gardens with pride has the largest collection of Taihaku cherry trees out of Japan and, in April/May, for only two weeks you can experience the three hundred of them blooming exactly at the same time! I had planned to visit this year with my camera, but unfortunately an injury has ruled out any distance trip, so this is already in my diary by 2025!
Do not miss a bite to eat at the incredible Treehouse restaurant and, if you are planning a Christmas visit, meeting Papa Noel in Alnwick Gardens is a lovely experience.
Adult – £ 18.50 (with gift help)
Children (0-16) -Gratis
Barter books
I think it is fair to say that Barter Books is undoubtedly one of the best and greatest second -hand libraries in the entire country. Don’t you believe me? Take a look inside this beautiful Victorian train station; With more than 350,000 pre-loved books, open fires in winter, a beautiful miniature railroad buzzing on its head and a small coffee that serves cafes, teas and large pastels. Beatter Books is even friendly for dogs! Every time we go to Alnwick, we make a point of visiting and navigating the many, many, many, even more, now we have Evelyn: we buy their first Christmas book from here.
Game time in Lildorei
A new addition to Alnwick Gardens is Lildorei, which is promoted as the largest game structure in the world that says something, right? This is a town of fantasy elves as nothing you have seen before. There are ten towers, all linked to form a large castle with a huge central tower and extremely long tubes slides. This is a unique and magical place that children will love. We plan to take Evelyn soon now that it is a bit bigger and, hopefully, you can appreciate the experience more.
Open from 10 am to 5:30 pm
Adults £ 16.50 (INC entrance to Alnwick Gardens)
Children £ 16.50 (INC entrance to Alnwick Gardens, although it is usually free anyway)
0-2 years free
The Alnwick Game House
On the outskirts of the walls of the old town is the Alnwick Playhouse, a theater, cinema, place of music, coffee and library dating from 1925. If you are visiting Alnwick for more than a few days, why not see a live presentation? Either for one of the many comedians who adorn the stage or for a tribute band. The cinema offers a diverse program with the main box office successes and the independent films that adorn the screen.
Market Square
Usually, the last Friday of each month, the Alnwick Farmer market takes over the market square, where the premises and visitors jump from a position to a position buying fresh fruits and vegetables and other artisanal products. There are also positions often on weekends, although market quality is not perhaps as large as it was before. Even if you are not here for the market itself, there is a variety of coffee shops and pubs that extend to the place that is worth visiting; Melvyn coffee For buns and PIG IN MUCK For pints/your alcoholic or non -alcoholic beverage of choice!
Eat and drink in dirty bottles
Dirty bottles is my favorite place to eat in Alnwick, which we find thanks to the aroma of low and slow smoked meats that invite us. The smoke house option in the menu is really good for those who want to try some different things; Two meats and two sides for only £ 15. I went for the sliced meat breast and threw pork along with smoked beans and fried sweet potatoes. Honestly, to die, so damn it’s fine.
The legend here is that, more than two hundred years ago, the innkeeper fell dead after messing with the bottles in the window. His widow believed that dirty bottles to be cursed and, therefore, were sealed between two windows that remained intact since then!
Where to stay in Alnwick
Alnwick is very well located for those who plan to stay a little more and explore more from Northumberland. The Northumberland coast is just ten minutes by car in Alnmouth, from where you can start an adequate road trip along this beautiful coastal section (even if you do not miss Amble and Warkworth to the south). The Sacred Island of Lindisfarne is 40 minutes by car for the A1 and, again, it is a place that cannot be lost.
If you are looking for a small -distance boutique hotel, do not look beyond The cookie bottle Located inside the old Covent of Mercy. The Hogshead Inn It is a good option if access to A1 is a priority and has relatively cheap room rates.
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