Last summer, I had the adventure of a lifetime hiking Hadrian’s Wall, an 84-mile, long-distance trail through Northumberland and across England. Having visited Northumberland pre-rona in 2020 (roadtripping along the coast), I fell totally in love with this underrated part of the north of England. After hiking Hadrian’s Wall, I set off to visit Alnwick for the day, and had simply the best time. Wondering what there is to do in this pretty Northumberland town? Here’s why you need to visit Alnwick!

Explore Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is one of the best in the country – and there are a lot of amazing castles in England, so I don’t say that lightly. Building began nearly 1000 years ago, and parts of the castle date from the Norman period. The Percy family has called Alnwick Castle home since the 1300s, and it remains a family home for the 12^th Duke of Northumberland today.

For me, one of the main draws of the castle (besides its history) was because it was used in filming Harry Potter! The castle was used as a stand-in for Hogwarts during the flying lesson in the first movie, where Harry catches Neville’s Remembrall. The courtyard was used for several scenes of Hogwarts student’s walking around the school. It was so cool to see this place in real life!

There is simply so much going on at Alnwick Castle, that it’s easy to spend most of a day here. Besides the State Rooms and Outer Bailey, there is also several cafes and gift shops on site, as well as a medieval market and a few small exhibitions. There are also several options for guided tours of the castle – most with a specific focus such as the castle’s history or film locations around the castle.

One of my favorite parts of visiting Alnwick Castle was taking part in a Flying Lesson! It takes place in the Outer Bailey and yes, I was the oldest person there who didn’t have a kid haha!

Visit the Alnwick Garden

The other main attraction in Alnwick is Alnwick Gardens. There is loads here, including a few shops and cafes, a massive green space looking towards the fountain that is great for picnics, and so many bits to explore.

The Poison Garden was probably the coolest place here. There are all sorts of poisonous plants, and you can scan a QR code on your phone to hear all about them. This regularly makes list of quirky or unique attractions in the UK, so don’t miss it! I also loved visiting the rose gardens and just exploring all the different places here. If you want a unique experience, book a table at the tree house.

See the rest of pretty Alnwick

Alnwick has a pretty city center, with lots of charming stone building and the city gates at the entrance to town. Make sure to stop by Barter Books, which is one of the best second-hand bookshops in England (and trust me, I’ve been to a lot!). It’s set in the old train station, complete with a model railway that runs on an elevated track above the bookshelves. There are so many different sections of the bookstore, so if you like browsing you need to give yourself some time here. There’s lots of other shops and some great-looking pubs in town as well!

Also make sure you stop by Lion Bridge, for a great photo op of Alnwick Castle across the River Aln. It’s named for the Percy Lion statue – there is space for a few cars at a layby just pass the bridge on the B6341.

Explore the Northeast Coast in Alnmouth

After visiting Alnwick, I drove just a few minutes away to Alnmouth – a beautiful little village on the coast. There’s plenty of charming buildings in town, which make for a great stroll. But the real reason to visit is for Alnmouth Beach, which has to be one of the best beaches in the Northeast of England. Parking is at the beach carpark and costs £3 for the day.

If you have time, head out to Church Hill. There is a cross on the mound, and gives phenomenal views of both the town and Alnmouth Beach. When I visited, I was able to walk in shin-deep water across the sand to the hill, but it’s not always accessible depending on the tide (unless you’re wanting to swim, of course).

There are so many other fantastic places to visit around Alnwick and this part of Northumberland. Why not roadtrip up the coast to see some of the other top castles in the country, like Dunstanburgh or Bamburgh? You should also visit Lindisfarne (the Holy Island), which is only accessible by a tidal causeway road. There’s of course loads to explore around Northumberland National Park (even if you don’t want to hike all 84 miles of Hadrian’s Wall!), and cute towns like Hexham and Corbridge to visit too.

Planning Your Trip

The main car park in Alnwick is a joint one for both Alnwick Castle and the Alnwick Garden – it costs £3 per day. I’d recommend coming by car, as public transportation options are a bit limited. There is no train station in Alnwick – the nearest is Alnmouth station, which is about 4 miles away. If you are planning on traveling by train, I always book my ticket in advance on Trainline. I visited Alnwick after the end of Hadrian’s Wall so I didn’t stay overnight, but there are plenty of accommodation options in Alnwick. I love the look of the Dirty Bottles or the Cookie Jar! If you’re flying, Newcastle Airport will be closest – I book flights on Skyscanner. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Booking.com

Looking for a tour to Alnwick? Check out these tours that visit!

I loved visiting Alnwick, and it is definitely one place you can’t miss in the Northeast. If you haven’t been yet, I hope this post has convinced you why you need to go!

Have you been to Alnwick before? What were your impressions after visiting?

You might like my other posts:

Exploring Northumberland: A Coastal Road Trip Itinerary

A 6-Day Itinerary for Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

What You Need to Know About Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

Visiting the Scottish Border Abbeys in One Day: Jedburgh, Kelso, Dryburgh, and Melrose

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