northumberland places to visit

15 top things to do in Northumberland, from beaches to Hadrian's Wall

Feb 11, 2022 • 11 min read

Hadrian's Wall is just one of Northumberland's historic wonders © Duncan Andison / Getty Images

The northernmost county in  England has an off-the-radar feel that’s rare to find on this otherwise bustling island. Much of the pristine coastline of Northumberland is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and its edge-of-the-world light has drawn in travelers for centuries, from early Christian saints to great Romantic painters.

The county’s interior is no less beguiling: a place of vast, untouched landscapes, remote walking paths, and gloriously dark skies. But don’t be fooled by all this tranquility – Northumberland played a pivotal role in English history, and its battle-filled past is borne out by its catalog of ancient ruins and crumbling castles.

These days, invading Romans and Vikings and feuding royal families have been replaced by visiting horticulturists, hungry foodies, hikers and Harry Potter fans, lured by the region’s cameos in the movie franchise.

When planning your trip, be aware that many attractions go into hibernation during the chilly winter months. The arrival of spring is the time to pull on your sturdy walking shoes and get stuck into the best things to do in Northumberland.

Behold Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle ’s ramparts, watchtowers, and storybook keep sprawl over a dolerite bluff overlooking a beautiful sweep of beach. This Norman fortress could have gone the way of the region’s other time-toppled strongholds, but 19th-century industrialist Lord Armstrong snapped it up for a bargain price, then spent a fortune on its restoration. His descendants still live within its hefty stone walls. 

Visitors can enjoy a fascinating glimpse into Northumberland’s battle-sieged past by touring the staterooms, dungeons and grounds. Book the elegant self-catering apartment in the bell tower and you can stay in chambers that once hosted medieval kings and queens. Be sure to clamber over the grassy dunes below the bluff – the view of the castle from the powder-soft sands is one of England’s loveliest vistas. 

Seek seals and puffins on the Farne Islands

Piercing the North Sea a couple of miles off the Northumberland coast, the Farne Islands have provided sanctuary to shipwreck survivors and saints over the centuries. Today, these isolated isles are an important haven for wildlife – inquisitive seals, clown-billed puffins, and some 100,000 other seabirds come to these soot-colored outcrops to breed.

To get close to this photogenic crowd, board a boat in the village of Seahouses. Trips run all year, weather permitting; tours with Billy Sheil and Serenity are popular choices. Although the waters are invariably choppy, and a windproof coat is nearly always needed, you can enjoy a gentler ride from May to August, with almost guaranteed puffin and seal sightings.

From April to September, it’s possible to spend an hour exploring the National Trust-managed island of Inner Farne on foot – just bring a hat as protection from swooping Arctic terns.

Take a pilgrimage to the Holy Island

The tiny tidal island of Lindisfarne, cut off from the mainland twice a day by the rhythms of the sea , became the unlikely center of English Christianity during the Early Middle Ages. Still known as the Holy Island, the isle is dominated by the mottled medieval ruins of Lindisfarne Priory marking the spot where St Aidan founded the island’s original monastery in 635 CE. Reaching Lindisfarne today involves walking or driving along a narrow causeway that is submerged at high tide; check crossing times before traveling. 

On the other side of the harbor, a steady trickle of cagoule-clad daytrippers flows uphill to lovely Lindisfarne Castle . Sure-footed walkers can continue to the secluded northern beaches, but it's just as rewarding to take a gentle stroll around the Gertrude Jekyll Garden , past the sheds fashioned from upturned herring boats near the harbor, and on through the island's single picture-postcard village. Pause for a warming flat white at Pilgrims Coffee and stock up on Lindisfarne Mead at St Aidan’s Winery before the sea sweeps back across the causeway.

Experience the magic of Alnwick Castle

Dating back to 1096, Alnwick Castle (pronounced AN-ik) boasts parklands landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and paintings by several Italian Old Masters. But it’s arguably more famous for its role as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. The imposing fortress has proudly embraced its celebrity status, with castle tours highlighting filming locations; budding wizards can even undergo broomstick training in the same spot where Harry learned to fly.  

Developing the 4.8-hectare plot next door was a labor of love for the current Duchess of Northumberland. Alnwick Garden is now a separate attraction, with an enchanting web of contemporary, bloom-filled enclosures. At its heart is a spectacular 21-tiered water feature, which occasionally drenches admirers with its dancing jets. The garden’s other showstoppers include a sinister poison garden, a bamboo labyrinth, and the inviting Treehouse restaurant .

Feel a warm glow in Alnwick’s town center

While in the area, swing by the handsome cobbled center of Alnwick (or make it your Northumberland base). The people of the North East are known for their warmth and friendliness, and there are few better places to put this to the test than in one of the town’s cheery, hop-scented pubs. Close by, friendly volunteers welcome families to the Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery with kid-friendly trails and hands-on activities. Housed in the old rail station, Barter Books also offers snug shelter from the rain; buy a second-hand novel to read by the store’s open fire as miniature trains rattle over the shelves. 

Stroll the coastal path to Dunstanburgh Castle

The crumbling twin towers of 14th-century Dunstanburgh Castle can only be reached on foot, but it's a lovely walk. Start at the fishing village of Craster, and follow the Northumberland Coast Path north through flat, grassy farmland dotted with cows and sheep. As you spy the romantic ruins brooding in the background, you’ll understand why JMW Turner kept returning to this strip of coast in his atmospheric watercolors. Keep binoculars handy in case seals or dolphins are bobbing about in the sea.

Although the two-mile walk is the main draw, you can buy tickets to enter the English Heritage-managed castle and scurry up one of the castle towers for sweeping views. Carry on across the splendid horseshoe beach of Embleton Bay for a fresh crab sandwich at the Ship Inn , or turn back towards The Jolly Fisherman at Craster. 

Feast on some of England's freshest seafood

The North Sea’s cold, mineral-rich waters produce some of England’s finest seafood. Keep your eyes peeled for menu entries involving Craster crabs and Lindisfarne oysters. A good place to slurp them down is The Potted Lobster in Bamburgh. Over in Craster, you’ll find another regional delicacy: Craster kippers. For over a century, L Robson & Sons has produced these cured fish in traditional smokehouses.

The little food van by the village car park serves them glistening with butter in a soft bread bun. For fresh-off-the-boat seafood, make a beeline for Amble, where The Old Boathouse and its sister restaurant, The Fish Shack, plate up elegant fish and chips and piled-high sharing platters. 

Dilly-dally in Amble

Come to Amble for the delicious seafood, but stay to enjoy the family-friendly sights around the River Coquet estuary. By booking ahead, you can join a puffin cruise around lighthouse-topped Coquet Island. Afterward, take a stroll around the harbor, admiring its pastel-colored beach huts, and browse the wooden retail pods , which sell everything from local crafts to cheese.

A playground hides to the south of the harbor, and kids will also be delighted by the award-winning ice cream at Spurreli . Grown-ups may be equally pleased by the fresh craft ales at Brewis Beer Co . 

Bask (or at least wander) on the North East's epic beaches

Coming to Northumberland without visiting a beach would be like going to Paris and not setting foot in a pavement cafe. Bamburgh and Embleton Bay, with their romantic castle vistas, are two of the most popular choices for sand-seekers, yet you may find them occupied by only a handful of families and the odd dog walker. For variety, test out the soft sands of pretty Alnmouth, head south to pristine Cresswell Beach, or decamp to painter L S Lowry’s favored strands at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Overlooking the golden swoop of Beadnell Bay Beach are three 18th-century lime kilns; once the haunt of smugglers, they’re now where fisherfolk stash their lobster pots. To taste the day’s catch, check in for Lobster Night at the Bait at Beadnell on Thursdays (except over winter). The bay’s sheltered waters are a good spot for sailing and watersports; KA Kitesurfing Adventure Sports offers kitesurfing, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and more, with plenty of activities aimed at kids. 

Hike along Hadrian’s Wall

In 122 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian decided to make clear to the Picts in the north where his authority began. The result was a 73 mile-long stone frontier lunging from coast to coast across northern England (well south of the modern Scottish border). Northumberland is home to the longest surviving stretch, which tilts its way through captivating landscapes, with some fascinating fort and temple ruins en route.

It’s possible to ramble the entire Hadrian’s Wall National Trail . If that sounds a tad ambitious, start out with the dramatic section at Housesteads Roman Fort & Museum within Northumberland National Park. Enthusiasts can continue the deep dive into history by continuing to the nearby live excavation site at Vindolanda Roman Fort & Museum . 

Explore Roman ruins and sup craft beer in Corbridge

A couple of miles south of Hadrian’s Wall are the ruins of Roman Corbridge , once the most northerly town in the Roman Empire. It’s still possible to tramp down its timeworn high street, gaining a sense of how the local craftspeople, traders, and soldiers lived side by side in this cosmopolitan hub two millennia ago. The excellent onsite museum is home to the Corbridge Hoard, a collection of arms and armor that represents one of the most significant Roman finds in England. 

A short stroll along the banks of the River Tyne will bring you to the modern-day town. Snoop around its independent book, antique, and craft stores, then duck into The Pele Tower for a pint of local ale. This three-storied micropub feels a bit like a Game of Thrones prop, and it was once a fortified medieval vicarage.

Marvel at the ingenuity of Cragside

Set atop a rugged hill and framed in June by a kaleidoscope of rhododendrons, Cragside House is impressive enough from the outside, with its magnificent Arts and Craft exterior. Yet, the inside is even more astounding. This was the first house in the world to be powered by electricity, and its pioneering owners stuffed it full of every possible Victorian invention, running off an innovative hydroelectricity system. Keep an eye out for an early dishwasher and a water-powered rotating spit in the kitchen. 

It’s possible to spend an entire day touring the house and its 1000-acre grounds. All the same, try to stop by the nearby town of Rothbury with its lovely high street, crammed with independent stores. Bewicks Kitchen & Coffee House is a great place to recharge. 

Dig down into mining history

A trip to the Woodhorn Museum is a great way to delve into the region’s industrial past. Located on the edge of Queen Elizabeth II County Park , on the site of what was once the largest pit village in the world, the museum's interactive exhibits and immersive mock-ups give a powerful sense of what life would have been like for the 2,000 coal miners who worked below ground here.

Be sure to look out for artworks by the "Pitmen Painters," an amateur art group who created a striking record of life in Northumberland’s mining communities in the mid-20th century. With its mix of indoor galleries and dog-friendly outdoor spaces, Woodhorn is a great choice for a day of changeable weather – something fairly common in this part of the country.

Admire surprising artworks at Kielder Water and Forest Park

Kielder Water and Forest Park is home to the largest man-made lake in northern Europe and it's a scenic summer playground for watersports fans. But culture vultures flock here too, lured by the large-scale art installations that litter the 26-mile shoreline.

Hire a bike if you want to see them all, although manageable walking trails take in some of the highlights. Perhaps the most memorable work is Silvas Capitalis by American art collective, SIMPARCH – this giant wooden head screams out from the forest and you can enter its mouth and peek from its haunted eyes.  

Stargaze at Northumberland International Dark Sky Park

The night skies above Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water and Forest Park have been awarded gold tier status by the International Dark-Sky Association , making this the largest International Dark-Sky Park in the UK. On clear nights in autumn and winter, you have only to gaze upwards after sunset to be wowed by the shimmering show.

Kielder Observatory runs expert-led events if you need some help navigating the galaxies (book well ahead). Alternatively, sign up for a stargazing night at Twice Brewed Inn – you can eat supper, marvel at twinkling constellations at the onsite observatory, then return for a pint in the cozy bar before heading upstairs for bed.

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Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 12 Best Places to Visit in Northumberland

12 Best Places to Visit in Northumberland

If you really want to escape the crowds in England, Northumberland is the place to run to. Fewer people live in Northumberland than in many London Boroughs, and yet it’s the sixth-largest county by area. With no cities, Northumbrians live in fishing ports, distinguished market towns and far-flung hamlets in the deep valleys of the Northumberland National Park.

Castles are almost ten-a-penny here, and a lingering reminder that battles and sieges were a part of life in this region for hundreds of years. Some like Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle are family-friendly days out with quirky re-enactors, while many others are spectral ruins that complement the untamed countryside perfectly.

Lets explore the best places to visit in Northumberland :

A market town full of poise, Alnwick has terraces of limestone flat-fronted townhouses with second-hand bookshops, coffee shops and pubs.

The big sight is the town’s castle, which is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK, after Windsor.

You’re free to poke around in the summer, and there’s extra incentive for Harry Potter fans as the property was Hogwarts in the movies.

You’ll also be spellbound by The Alnwick Garden, landscaped hedges and flowerbeds around a water cascade.

To arouse morbid curiosity there’s a Poison Garden growing hemlock, foxglove and the plants to make ricin and strychnine.

Also, make excursions to the castles at Chillingham, Edlingham and Dunstanburgh and to experience the awesome beachscapes at Low Newton and Embleton Bay.

2. Berwick-upon-Tweed

England’s northernmost town is a couple of miles short of the Scottish border at the mouth of the Tweed.

You’re left in no doubt that this community has been wrested from both English and Scottish grasp down the centuries.

When Richard I captured Berwick from the Scots in the 1300s he built the town walls, which were adapted to withstand artillery in the 1500s during Elizabeth I’s reign.

Most of these defences are still here, which is very rare for English towns.

There’s much more to see, from the three sandy beaches to the Tweed Estuary, crossed by Stevenson’s imposing Royal Border Railway Bridge.

The Berwick Barracks date to the early-1700s, at the time of the Jacobite risings and have enthralling exhibits about the last conflict fought on British soil.

3. Lindisfarne

This beautiful, mysterious and ancient island can be reached on foot via an ancient route known as the Pilgrim’s Way, but obviously you’ll need to keep an eye on the tide times before you set off.

At Lindisfarne you’ll encounter a priory that was first established in the 600s and then resurrected by the Normans a few centuries later.

At this site you’ll be going back to the earliest years of Christianity in Britain, but also the English language, as a biography of the 7th-century St Cuthbert is the oldest surviving English text.

The English Heritage centre has astounding Celtic religious carvings, and recounts the violent Viking raids that wrecked the island in the 800s.

4. Northumberland National Park

The least-inhabited national park in England encompasses 400 square miles of remote uplands littered with abandoned historic sites.

In the north are the Fleck Towers, small fortresses standing as watchtowers and beacons in the Scottish Marches in the middle ages.

And slicing across the south is the bulk of Hadrian’s Wall, with fragments of the forts that were stationed every few miles along the route.

Meanwhile, walkers, horse-riders, mountain bikers and anyone else aching for peaceful open spaces can fill their boots in this far-off land.

At night the skies are darker in the park than anywhere else in the country, another happy consequence of the lack of large settlements and literally heavenly for stargazers and amateur astronomers.

If you want to know more about Northumberland in Roman times, you couldn’t pick a better place than Hexham, which is directly on the wall.

The only trouble will be knowing where to start, as the forts in this part of the county, like Vindolanda, Cilurnum and Housesteads, are in good condition considering their antiquity.

The Roman Army museum adds another layer of interest and the Temple of Mithras at Carrawburgh is a reminder of just how much activity there was in this land 2,000 years ago.

Newer but no less enthralling is Hexham Abbey, with Early English Gothic architecture from the 12th century.

Go below to investigate the crypt built entirely with Roman stones that still bear their ancient inscriptions.

6. Seahouses

On the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Seahouses is an uncommonly pretty fishing village with a working port.

Many of your activities will be centred on the handsome harbour, where you can climb aboard boats for seal-spotting trips or adventures to the Farne Islands just offshore.

And after all that crisp sea air you can retire to the warmth one of the village’s inns for a pint and meal.

There are sand dunes and enormous sandy beaches both up and down the coast, and if you’ve ever fancied horseback riding you can saddle up for a ride here by the water in the most romantic setting imaginable.

A cultivated town in the south of the county, Morpeth has kept hold of most of its historical buildings.

Among them is the clock tower from the 1600s and Morpeth Chantry, a 13th-centruy chapel that holds the tourist information centre.

Harmonising with the elegant townscape is the Sanderson Arcade, a shopping gallery that looks like it could be 100 years old but was completed just a few years ago.

Young ones can make some animal friends at Eshott Heugh Animal Park and the Whitehouse Farm Centre, while there’s culture too at Belsay Hall and Wallington, two acclaimed country piles minutes outside the town.

8. Bamburgh

Also in the Northumbria AONB, Bamburgh draws holidaymakers for St Aiden Beach, hilly sand dunes and an exceptional castle.

This mighty landmark stands on a volcanic plateau and was the throne of the Norse Kings of Northumbria, boasting medieval Norman architecture, but with a tale that begins as far back as the 400s.

There’s another angle to Bamburgh’s allure: The village has a museum for a Victorian resident, Grace Darling who was the daughter of the Longstone Lighthouse keeper on the rocks off the coast.

In 1838 she helped rescue nine people from the wreck of the Forfarshire paddle steamer, becoming a national folk hero in the process.

In the county’s remotest western fringe, the village of Kielder is about as far as you can be from civilisation in England.

And yet despite (and because of) this remoteness there’s a great deal going on.

Near the crest of Black Fell, Kielder Observatory is an Eldorado for amateur astronomers, and if you’re new to the science there are even volunteers to show you how to use the telescopes.

In the village, Kielder Castle is actually a hunting lodge constructed by the Duke of Northumberland in 1775, but has an informative visitor centre.

And for total seclusion there’s Kielder Forest Park, which was only planted in the 1950s when it became the largest man-made forest in Europe at 250 square miles in size.

On the southern cusp of the Northumberland AONB, Amble is a cute old seaport where the Coquet empties into the North Sea.

Nature-lovers arrive in summer for cruises to Coquet Island, when 35,000 puffins jostle for space to make their nests.

The cute waterside village of Warkworth has a boundless sandy beach, as well as a tremendous landmark in Warkworth Castle.

During the Anglo-Scottish Wars in the 14th century this was a much-coveted stronghold and came under siege twice by the Scots.

And if you’re willing to go the extra mile you can go on a quest to discover Warkworth Hermitage, a medieval chapel that is cut from the cliffs on the Coquet and can only be reached by boat.

11. Corbridge

Right away something that might excite you about Corbridge is that many of the buildings are made from recycled Roman stone from the abandoned town of Corstopitum.

You can go and see what’s left of this garrison, which is still one of the most complete archaeological sites on Hadrian’s wall, and furnished with information boards to bring the foundations to life.

There’s medieval history to uncover at Aydon Castle, a medieval manor house that owes its defensive appearance to centuries of conflict along the Scottish border.

Put the first weekend in June in your diary, for the Corbridge Festival, which has street theatre, market stalls, a real ale talent competition and an excellent lineup of live music.

12. Ashington

Up to the 1840s Ashington was little more than a hamlet, but the area’s coal seams were soon exploited and the town grew to become one of the largest settlements in Northumberland.

This being a working town the blockbuster attraction is the heritage colliery at Woodhorn, moments east of Ashington.

Very little of this turn-of-the-century mine has been altered, and the winding house, towering headframes, engine house and a great ensemble of original outbuildings are as good as new.

For smaller visitors there’s the Woodhorn Railway, that uses two locomotives that had industrial uses, one at the Seaham Colliery and another at the Channel Tunnel.

12 Best Places to Visit in Northumberland:

• Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Lindisfarne
• Northumberland National Park

Places to visit in Northumberland

Historical sites to take you back through time, vast landscapes to explore, and wildlife to make you go ‘aw’. That’s Northumberland. Countless Northumberland castles jostle for attention - ‘proper’ castles with battlements and portcullises, ghostly ruins guarding endless sandy beaches, and ones that echo with ancient footsteps. There is a plethora of things to do in Northumberland for history fans, hikers, mountain bikers and romantics alike, from ambling along the Northumberland coast to glamping and camping in the county’s endless countryside, but one of the best places to visit in Northumberland of all is the Farne Islands, where dozens of puffins await to melt your hearts. At night, turn your gaze upwards to see millions of stars pinpricking the famed dark skies in Northumberland’s National Park.

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Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

Spot puffins and seals on a boat trip around the Farne Islands, winner of our Experience of the Year Gold Award 2024.

Explore captivating Alnwick Castle

Walk through history and admire world-class art at this fascinating castle, then stroll through spectacular floral displays at The Alnwick Garden.

Location: Alnwick, Northumberland

Star gazing like a Roman at Cawfields Roman Wall

Built in AD122, Hadrian’s Wall was once the largest frontier in the Roman Empire and remained that way for 300 years.

Location: Haltwhistle, Northumberland

Lose yourself in the Allen Valleys

Strap on your walking boots and explore a countryside full of contrasts. Prepare to be blown away by this picturesque part of the North Pennines.

Location: Allendale, Northumberland

Enjoy dog friendly days out at Belsay Hall

Explore the magnificent gardens of this dog friendly attraction with your four legged friend.

Location: Belsay, Northumberland

Stay in a cottage built by an amazing Victorian inventor

Experience Cragside in Northumberland as many have never seen it before – by staying in the spectacular and dramatic grounds of the Cragside Estate.

Location: Rothbury, Northumberland

Sip Earl Grey where it was created: Howick Hall

Earl Grey tea is enjoyed – usually at around 4pm – all over the world, but few know it was invented in Northumberland for Charles, 2nd Earl Grey.

Location: Howick, Northumberland

Discover a seaside shopping paradise

Amble is a shopper's paradise, a haven for lovers of local produce, crafts and gifts. Perfect for presents, but don’t forget to treat yourself!

Location: Amble, Northumberland

Get kippered in Craster

Craster is the acclaimed home of the kipper – a breakfast favourite of the Queen. But there’s more to Craster than fishy tales.

Location: Craster, Northumberland

Discover Howick’s heavenly history

With a famous cup of tea, a stunning garden and its very own bathing house, the haven of Howick Hall is one of Northumberland’s true hidden gems.

Birds, boats, batter and beer at Seahouses

Visit the 1843 original Fisherman’s kitchen, sup a pint of Farne Island Ale in a beer garden or indulge in Robson Green’s favourite ice cream.

Location: Seahouses, Northumberland

Build sandcastles at Bamburgh Beach

Do you know your cockles from your winkles? St. Aidan and Grace Darling certainly did. And what better place to learn than on Bamburgh Beach.

Location: Bamburgh, Northumberland

Admire the picturesque views from Housesteads Roman Fort

Housesteads is the most iconic of all the Wall sites and the views and Roman remains are spectacular.

Location: Housesteads, Northumberland

Walk the Wall at Steel Rigg

Take a walk around Steel Rigg and Crag Lough to see how the Romans used the natural landscape to maximise the strength of the Empire's frontier.

Location: Steel Rigg, Northumberland

Dig for buried treasure at Roman Vindolanda

See live archaeological excavations before your eyes at the ancient fort of Vindolanda.

Location: Vindolanda, Northumberland

Discover a secluded fortified manor house at Aydon Castle

Over 900 years old and pretty much unaltered since then, Aydon Castle sits proudly upon its crag; a true survivor of some rough times and visitors.

Location: Corbridge, Northumberland

Dine like Lords and Ladies at Langley Castle

For those with a taste for the finer things in life, Langley Castle Hotel near the historic market town of Hexham is the ideal gastro getaway.

Location: Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland

Enjoy a guilt-free weekend away with serious green credentials

Going green can be romantic... so spoil your other half with a romantic weekend break at Battlesteads, ‘Northumberland’s greenest hotel’.

Location: Wark, Northumberland

Walk through sand dunes to Bamburgh Castle

This seat of the former Kings of Northumbria tells a spellbinding tale from its awe-inspiring position on the edge of Northumberland’s coast.

Camp next to Hadrian's Wall

This isn't just any wall, this is an impressive piece of roman architecture.

Location: Melkridge, Cumbria

Go seal and puffin spotting on the Farne Islands

Visit Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds and a huge Grey seal colony.

Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland

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Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND, A LAND OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Unearth historical myths and local legends as you tour northumberland’s stunning natural landscapes and built heritage..

Known for its rich traditions and the distinctive character of its people, Northumberland is the northernmost county of England and stretches over almost 2,000 square miles of breathtaking countryside, award-winning coastlines, rolling hills and charming market towns.

Where to Stay

Food & drink, landmarks & attractions, things to do.

Follow in Roman footsteps along Emperor Hadrian’s mighty frontier and relive their story as you chart the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site from coast to coast across the county.

Delve into a turbulent past in one of the area’s many enchanted castles, or catch the tides and head over the causeway out to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the cradle of Christianity in England.

For the ultimate get-away-from-it-all experience, discover the dark skies of the Northumberland National Park and stay in the Sky Den, your own personal stargazing lodge in the Kielder Water and Forest Park.

Discover a land rich in magical and mystical tales – visit  Northumberland .

Magical Light Trails in North East England 

7 ways to explore the outdoors in North East England

Alfresco Summer Nights in the North East

Other places to go, south shields, tees valley, tynemouth & whitley bay.

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Best places to visit in Northumberland: top attractions, and places to stay, eat and drink

Here’s our low down of the best places to visit in Northumberland so you can start planning your visit to this historic region in Northern England, known to many as ‘castle country’

The northernmost county in England, Northumberland is a land of big, starry skies, castles, plus plenty of cosy boltholes within whose historic walls you can sit out the changeable weather. Here’s our guide to the very best places to visit in Northumberland.

See the Feb/March 2023 issue of Discover Britain for our 38-page Northumberland travel special or read on for even more ideas for getting the most out of the region.

The best places to visit in Northumberland

A region that bears the marks of its former settlers and inhabitants more than most, in Northumberland you can walk amid Roman ruins, discover Anglo-Saxon strongholds, learn about the trail of destruction left by Viking invaders, and visit the cradle of English Christianity on the ‘Holy Isle’ of Lindisfarne.

Hadrian’s Wall

Top of our list for the best places to visit in Northumberland, and stretching 73 miles from coast to coast, this once formidable barrier was built to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Now looked after by English Heritage, today, though much of it is in ruin, there are still 20 sites along its length where you can learn about what life was once like for the soldiers tasked with guarding it in the dramatic and often unforgiving landscape.

The Elizabethan Walls, Berwick-upon-Tweed 

One of the best examples of a walled town in all of Europe, Berwick’s mile-and-a-quarter of Elizabethan-era walls still stand proud hundreds of years later, despite Berwick-upon-Tweed being the most contested town in Britain, having switched hands between the English and the Scottish no fewer than 14 times.

Vindolanda Roman Fort, Hexham

Vindolanda was the first Roman frontier in the north and it actually pre-dates Hadrian’s Wall, which lies just north of it. Occupied for over 300 years it was both an important fort and village for soldiers and their families. The Vindolanda site today is one of the best places to visit in Northumberland, with a spectacular world-class Roman museum to explore the story of the people who lived there and see the hundreds of artefacts found at the site, as well as a chance to look around the ‘live’ archaeological site itself.

Ad Gefrin, Wooler 

When it opens in spring 2023, this world-class heritage attraction which somehow plans to fuse Anglo-Saxon history with modern-day whisky distilling, will draw visitors back to when this part of Northumberland was once one of the major seats of power for the Anglo-Saxons. This is set to be one of the best places to visit in Northumberland.

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick 

In recent years it may be best known for training wizards how to use their broomsticks, or for starring in Downton Abbey specials, but Alnwick’s esteemed more than 950 years of history, which has been linked to the Percy family for much of it, has many far more interesting stories and artefacts within its resplendent walls.

In our new issue Jeremy Flint went to the castle to interview the Duke of Northumberland and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the castle. Read the interview here.   

The Alnwick Garden

Created as a separate attraction to the castle by the present Duchess of Northumberland, who began the project in 1997 Alnwick Garden is the third most visited public garden in the UK, covering over 26 acres. With over 4,000 varieties of plants to discover, including a few deadly and dangerous ones in the Poison Garden, this is a delight for all the senses.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Standing on a remote headland along the Northumberland coast, this castle, first build in the early 14 th century, would once have been a grand palace, designed to irk King Edward II by one of his openly hostile barons. Today, it stands in romantic ruin after being besieged twice during the War of the Roses and a walk along the craggy coastal path to the village of Craster can be rewarded with some of the famous local kippers.

Lindisfarne Castle & Abbey 

If you’ve made it all the way to this northern region then there’s really no excuse for not taking the causeway over to the ‘Holy Isle’ of Lindisfarne , one of the most beautiful places to visit in Northumberland and where the famous Gospels were first illustrated at the now ruinous abbey. Another highlight of a visit is Lindisfarne Castle – as close as perfect an Edwardian-style home as you could ever hope to find.

Kielder Observatory, Kielder

Located in Europe’s largest gold-tier protected dark sky park, Kielder Observatory is nestled in the Kielder Water and Forest Park and offers some of the world’s most breathtaking star-gazing. Famed for the ‘Kielder Moment’, the moment that visitors look up at the glittering skies and realise that they’re completely connected to this vast cosmos, this is a must-do on our list of places to visit in Northumberland.

Wild Intrigue, sites across Northumberland

Reconnect with nature again with one of Wild Intrigue’s wildlife experiences and events across Northumberland. Whether its a Dawn Chorus Disco in Newcastle, mixing nature’s dawn orchestra with a silent disco tech, a Bats and Beers night searching for some of Northumberland’s nocturnal wildlife, while enjoying some locally brewed beers, or a Moths and Muffins morning enjoying a delicious breakfast whilst meeting some magical moth species, there is really something for everyone.

Best places to stay in Northumberland

The Coach House, Stay on the Hill 

Set amid the beautiful Northumberland Tyne Valley close to Northumberland National Park, this wing of a Victorian house on a family-owned estate, near Hexham, offers four luxury bedrooms each with a super comfy bed fitted with Egyptian cotton sheets and its own bathroom, which can be hired as a holiday home or as individual rooms. As well as original period features, each room comes with a Freeview TV with DVD player and wifi, and there’s a pretty patio for making the most of the tranquil atmosphere of the estate.

Beach & Quiet holiday cottages, Craster

A stone’s throw from the pretty fishing village of Craster and the spectacular Dunstanburgh Castle, these self-catering holiday cottages are the perfect base for your Northumberland holiday.  Historic Dunstan House, which sleeps up to 18, is Grade II* listed and is bursting with incredible period features, and newly built elegant Hemmel house, which sleeps 6, perfectly combines modern stylings with traditional features. Sleeping four, cosy Stable Cottage is situated in the grounds of Dunstanburgh Castle and, as the old castle stables, and also Grade II listed, is brimming with historic charm.

The Clock Tower, Bamburgh Estate 

Bamburgh Castle is one of the most recognisable landmarks along the region’s coastline and one of the best places to visit in Northumberland. Now you can book a stay in its medieval bell tower, which offers views of Bamburgh beach and the isle of Lindisfarne. Accommodation within the tower’s 1,400-year-old walls is suitably characterful, with velvet sofas, exposed stone walls and antique furnishings complemented by William Morris & Co fabrics and modern artworks. It’s delightfully eclectic and the three-bed holiday home can be booked through the wonderful Crabtree & Crabtree. Best of all? Guests get free entry to the castle’s state rooms, plus access to the castle grounds.

Twice Brewed Inn, Hexham

A post-walk beer-tasting at the Twice Brewed Brewhouse can be followed by a classic home-cooked meal in the comfortable restaurant and new conservatory of the Twice Brewed Inn . There are also some comfortable rooms for overnight stays, with the stargazing, supper and slumber package offering a two-course meal and a stargazing adventure, where you can learn from the experts in the Northumberland Dark Sky Park and use the latest telescopes to watch the night sky from the observatory (available from October to March).

The Walls, Berwick-upon-Tweed

This B&B is set within a gorgeously restored period townhouse perched don the Edwardian Walls quarter of the town. Ask for the Tweed room with views of the river from its Georgian windows and put your faith in Stephen and Louise Scott, who will make you feel right at home.

The Holly Bush Inn, Greenhaugh, Near Kielder

Located within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, this inn, or ‘proper pub’ offers comfortable en-suite rooms, a roaring fire, good grub, and the chance to catch a glimpse of the Milky War, or perhaps even another galaxy.

Eshott Hall, Morpeth 

For something a little grander, try this country house hotel on the outskirts of a quiet rural village. With rolling lawns and woodland that beckons you in (look out for red squirrels), this 17 th -century home has been painstakingly restored by its current owners, Robert & Gina Parker. There are 11 en-suite rooms, while the Drawing Room and Library are perfect for afternoon tea, or a post-amble tipple and the on-site restaurant serves up superb seasonal produce.

The Cookie Jar, Alnwick 

Very well placed for visitors to Alnwick Castle , this boutique hotel is set within a historic building but comes with decidedly modern amenities – think drench showers in all the rooms, Hypnos beds, and Penhaligon’s toiletries. The Bistro is a great spot for dinner after a day’s exploring, and there’s even a firepit on the outdoor terrace for those who wish to enjoy their surroundings (and the night sky) a little longer.

Barrasford Arms, Hexham

Dating back to the 19th century in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country, this charming pub with rooms overlooks the spectacular Houghton Castle and is perfectly located for exploring the area. With cosy, comfortable rooms and award-winning food made using ingredient’s from the hotel’s own kitchen garden, this is a home away from home for your stay.

Crabtree & Crabtree Holiday Lettings, across Northumberland

The undisputed leader in holiday home rentals in Northumberland, Crabtree and Crabtree boast a portfolio of stunning properties across the county. All stylish, self-catered and in stunning, hand-picked locations, the properties range from grand country houses, to sleek barn conversions and old stone cottages. Many properties are dog-friendly too and some even offer at-home beauty and spa treatments and professional catering.

The best places to eat in Northumberland

Hjem, Hexham

In the village of Wall, close to Hadrian’s Wall, Hjem is probably Northumberland’s finest restaurant – it’s certainly it’s most unexpected. Run by a Swedish-English husband-and-wife team, Hjem has been awarded a Michelin star for its ‘high-quality’ Nordic-English cooking and its placement within a charming English inn (which also has rooms), only adds to the wonderful experience.

The Jolly Fisherman, Craster

If there’s one thing the coastal village of Craster is known for, it’s kippers, so it would be remiss to visit the region and not come and sample them. This stone-walled Victorian inn has been a popular place with fisherman for more than a century and a half, so if you want to try Craster kippers, or indeed any other local seafood delicacies, like Lindisfarne oysters, then you couldn’t be in better company, with it all being freshly hauled in from the North Sea each morning.

The Old Boathouse, Amble

If you’re looking for a place that serves seafood platters that will make your mouth water and have the next table ordering what you’re having, then this is it – their platter includes a whole lobster alongside seabream, oysters, you name it. It’s won awards, lots of them so it pays to book ahead. If you can’t get a table, try the Fish Shack nearby.

The Queen’s Head, Berwick

At this atmospheric pub, you dine beneath exposed timber beams, but it’s about more than the warm setting here – the pub takes its food seriously, with all produce coming from local suppliers, and dishes such as pan-fried salmon or seafood stew are better than the fare you find in most pubs.

The Bosk Restaurant, Alnwick

Stunnning architecture, big cosy chairs, handmade chandeliers and rustic, elegant interiors welcome you into this friendly, stylish restaurant in the Beamish valley. Serving up delicious food, including homebaked pizzas, fresh coffee and an excellent selection of wines and beers is the perfect place to relax after a day exploring the beautiful Northumberland countryside.

The best places to visit in Northumberland: a tour of castle country

New issue: issue 232 of Discover Britain is out now!

Alnwick Castle: an inside tour with the Duke of Northumberland

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Northumberland

Why we love Northumberland

It’s always a great time to visit Northumberland. In spring, thousands of puffins flock to its islands, resulting in one of Britain’s greatest wildlife spectacles. In summer, its beaches are glorious: much of the coast is a nature reserve, with grass-topped dunes and wide golden sands. Autumn brings leaf-crunching walks through Northumberland National Park, plus festivals and fireworks galore. As for winter, simple pleasures abound: long pub lunches, frost-nipped trails and some of the best stargazing on Earth.

Northumberland is England’s northernmost county, and it sits right on the border with Scotland. It’s historical hot property, a land long fought over by kingdoms and invaders – evident in its many castles, citadels and the 2,000-year-old Hadrian’s Wall.

From Roman fortresses to enchanting isles, here’s where to go on your Northumberland holiday.

VisitBritain/Thomas Heaton

Explore an ancient wonder

Built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago, Hadrian’s Wall is one of the world’s greatest feats of ancient engineering – and Northumberland is home to the biggest section. Hop on the AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus to tour its spine-tingling Roman relics, or try a long-distance challenge: the Hadrian’s Cycleway serves up 170 miles (278 km) of glorious countryside and historic gems. Or discover the history of Hadrian’s Wall on a full-day tour with a local guide dressed in authentic costume of the era.

VisitBritain/Yin Sun Photography

Walk the wild coast

While Northumberland is famous for its wide sandy beaches, the shore is also dotted with castles and nature reserves. The 62 mile (100 km) Northumberland Coast Path encompasses pretty seaside towns, wildlife-rich dunes and bracing clifftops alike, with welcoming bed and breakfasts along the way. It takes three to seven days in total, though the shorter sections are rewarding too.

VisitBritain/Georgie Sowman

Find your next adventure

Want to try something new? How about horse riding on the beach, scuba diving with seals, or paddleboarding on the England-Scotland border? Maybe you’ll dive into wild waters on a coasteering trip, explore the North Pennines moors, or try Viking-style axe throwing at an outdoor activity centre? If you live for adventure , you’ve come to the right place.

VisitBritain

Make a feathered friend

Puffins ahoy! The Farne Islands , just off the coast, are famous for their year-round wildlife show: from newborn grey seal pups in October, to the springtime spectacle of 35,000 breeding puffins. Meanwhile Lindisfarne , or ‘Holy Island’, is rich in Christian history – with a 12th-century priory and crumbling Lindisfarne Castle . It’s connected to the mainland at low tide, so you can even walk there.

Travel back in time

Northumberland’s fortresses bring its rich history to life – whether you’re dressing up as a Medieval monarch at Bamburgh Castle, being entertained by jesters at Alnwick Castle, or watching knight battles and falconry at Warkworth Castle. Throughout summer, they host outdoor cinema and theatre shows in their atmospheric grounds too.

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Newcastle, England

Newcastle Half Day Walking Tour

Spend an afternoon on a walking tour of Newcastle , the North East’s biggest city. Take in the city’s most iconic sites and get to know it with the help of a local guide. 

Things to do in Northumberland

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Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland

A haven for hikers, cyclists and art lovers, this wild nature reserve has an outdoor sculpture trail and stargazing observatory.

Lindisfarne, Northumberland

This ‘holy island’ attracts pilgrims from all over the world: it’s a peaceful spot, cut off from the mainland at high tide.

Hadrian’s Wall

Combine tangible history with breathtaking walks, museums and glorious countryside along these ancient Roman ramparts.

Bamburgh Castle

Overlooking the golden sands of Bamburgh beach, this magnificent fortress is one of Britain’s biggest inhabited castles.

North East Guides

This expert-led hiking, climbing and orienteering company will take you to Northumberland’s wildest locations.

Horse riding on the Northumberland coast

Saddle up! Northumberland’s wide sandy beaches and beautiful dunes are ideal for exploring on horseback.

VisitBritain/Hilary Dunn

The Potted Lobster Bamburgh

Take your pick from fresh Lindisfarne oysters, beer-battered haddock, locally caught lobster – and more.

With its golden-sand beach, thriving foodie scene and hilltop castle, this town is a joy to explore.

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park

Thanks to its minimal light pollution and wide open skies, this is one of Britain’s top stargazing spots.

Kielder Observatory

Barter Books

Set in a historic train station, this bookshop features a cafe, ice cream parlour, and log fires in winter.

KA Adventure Sports

Make a splash on Northumberland’s coastline, with a kayaking, coasteering, paddleboarding or surfing trip.

Nortumberland

Allout Adventures

Hit the trail on a quad biking adventure, sharpen your axe-throwing skills and explore on a Segway safari.

Getty Images/Colin James Stebbing

Woodhorn Museum

Discover Northumberland’s rich coal-mining history via these interactive exhibits, craft workshops and nature trails.

Museums of Northumberland

RNLI Grace Darling Museum

A fascinating insight into Victorian Britain, coastal Northumberland, and the life of a legendary local heroine.

Colin Davison

Bailiffgate Museum

Explore 10,000 years of local history: from regal relics and archaeological finds, to fashions, toys and photography.

Pilgrims Coffee House & Roastery

On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, this family-run cafe serves ethically sourced coffees and home-made cakes.

The Treehouse Restaurant

Set in a a charming wood-built treehouse, this restaurant looks like it belongs in a fairytale…

Sean Elliot

Brewis Beer Co

From light hoppy ales to richly dark stout, this friendly brewery has a huge choice of beers on tap.

Brewis Beer

This Warkworth bed and breakfast serves freshly made food in its excellent cafe, and has five boutique bedrooms.

Restaurant Pine (1 Michelin star and 1 Green star)

Just a few steps from Hadrian’s Wall, this award-winning restaurant serves decadent tasting menus and afternoon tea.

Restaurant Pine

Dunstanburgh Castle

On a wild coastal headland, this is an epic spot for photography, long walks and spectacular sea views.

Historic England

Welcome to Britain’s first ‘smart home’! Built by a Victorian inventor, Cragside was amazingly ahead of its time…

National Trust/Paul Harris

Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum

Near Hadrian’s Wall, discover a real Roman fortress – and a museum full of incredible finds.

Corbridge Chamber Music Festival

Enjoy classical music performances and cultural events, in venues throughout the pretty town of Corbridge.

Amble Puffin Festival

See newly hatched chicks on a guided nature walk, and explore the coastline on boat cruises and watersports.

Allendale Tar Bar’l

Hot, hectic and hair-raising, this Northumberland tradition has wowed spectators for over 160 years…

Neil Denham

Farne Islands

This tiny archipelago is big on wildlife – and offers boat cruises, diving trips and kayaking adventures.

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Pilgrim's Way

Welcome to one of Britain’s most famous walks, across the sand to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

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Northumberlandia

Climb to the top for views over the countryside and coast, plus food festivals and live entertainment.

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The Alnwick Garden

Explore this mix of provocative and traditional landscapes in the heart of Northumberland.

Northern Wilds

From berries to mushrooms, feast on Northumberland’s natural bounty on these terrifically tasty foraging trips.

From high street fashions to independent arts, crafts and jewellery boutiques – you’ll find it all here.

Northumberland County Council (

Surrounded by glorious countryside, this stylish and eco-friendly self-catering lodge has won multiple awards.

Laverock Law Cottages

Take your pick from five secluded countryside properties, from a cosy treehouse to traditional cottages.

Part whisky distillery, part heritage museum – Ad Gefrin offers a fascinating taste of Northumberland life.

Featured things to do

Andrew Douglas/Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

Island escape

They look serene from a distance, but the Farne Islands are a colourful cacophony of seals, puffins, eider ducks and razorbills. Spring is a great time for wildlife cruises.

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When the sun is out, hit the beach: Northumberland’s coast is famous for its wide, sugar-soft sands. It’s also a windsurfing hotspot, so why not give it a go?

Blooming marvellous

Nature puts on a show in autumn at The Alnwick Garden, as the leaves change colour and conkers carpet the paths. Young visitors will love the Autumn Scavenger Hunt, joining Reg the Hedge on an exciting mission around the garden.

Winter warmer

Treat yourself to a dram of Northumberland’s first English single malt whisky at Ad Gefrin. Escape the cold with a tour and tasting at the modern distillery – and make time to discover the fascinating Anglo-Saxon Museum, too.

Places to stay in Northumberland

Holiday cottages.

Make yourself at home: you’ll find self-catering cottages throughout the countryside, beside the sea and in Northumberland’s market towns.

Glamping getaways

For the joy of the great outdoors with a few little luxuries, take your pick from woodland cabins, shepherd’s huts, yurt tents – and more.

Pubs with rooms

Pubs aren’t just for drinking and dining: many of them offer accommodation too, with cosy bedrooms, hearty breakfasts and a warm local welcome.

Explore nearby

From palaces to cobbled alleys and even a dormant volcano, this city is a real show-stopper.

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Newcastle upon Tyne

Linked by no fewer than seven bridges, it's one vibrant place to visit.

Rich Kenworthy

Lake District

From the tip of England’s tallest peak to the nation’s deepest lake, this national park is stacked with super-sized scenery.

VisitBritain/Ryan Lomas

Lake District, England

Small and mighty York is the medieval walled city that really packs a punch.

VisitBritain/Sam Barker

Getting to Northumberland

Northumberland is located on the boundary between Scotland and England – but you won’t need to show your passport if you’re crossing the border by land. If you’re travelling by public transport , Newcastle provides excellent train links via the East Coast Main Line , with the fastest train from London taking around two hours 40 minutes, and Edinburgh 40 minutes. The closest international airport is in Newcastle .

Getting around

Taking the bus is cheap, easy and convenient – with local services running all over Northumberland, and even to Lindinsfarne (Holy Island) when the tide allows. By train, the Tyne Valley Line connects Newcastle with Carlisle, and runs along the south of Northumberland National Park; check the website for local walks and attractions accessible from its stations.

From short trails to long-distance routes, there are countless cycling trails to explore – and bike hire is available all over the region. Contact Carrylite for luggage transfers.

For the ultimate flexibility, hire a car and follow a scenic road trip like the Northumberland 250 . Local electric charging points are plentiful too.

Northumberland is served by multiple bus operators , such as Go North East , which offers a 25% discount for two people travelling together. Traveline provides real-time bus info.

Want to know more?

Delve deeper into Northumberland’s best things to do and beautiful places to stay, by visiting its official website.

Top 20 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Northumberland

October 4, 2021

I’m originally from Northumberland, and I’ve spent loads of my life in the place.

I was born in the Northumbrian town of Cramlington, which isn’t particularly beautiful (unless you like shops or roundabouts), but it’s an excellent gateway to lots of Northumberland’s more remote, attractive and exciting areas.

Hugely underrated, not enough tourists come to Northumberland, but the place is a playground for anyone who likes hiking, cycling, beaches, castles and remote adventures in rural regions. The most northerly county in England, it borders Scotland, and it’s one of the nation’s least-populated areas (apart from all the sheep).

In this article, I’ve compiled the most beautiful places in Northumberland. I’ve included lots of the obvious places you probably already know about.

But I’ve also added plenty of genuine hidden gems that me, my friends and my family all love exploring.

I’ve included towns, villages, hikes, castles, beaches, coastal towns, weird stuff and loads more.

If you’re looking for stuff you probably won’t find anywhere else on the internet, there’s lots of it in this article, you lucky little boys and girls. Here’s your ultimate guide to the most beautiful places in Northumberland…

Hiking Spots

Beaches and coastal settlements, towns and villages, other adventure areas, get yourself to northumberland.

Hiking is my favorite thing to do in Northumberland (well, it’s my favorite thing to do anywhere). Here are some of the places you can find the the best hikes in Northumberland :

1. Simonside

Simonside is probably the most well-known casual hiking spot among Northumberland locals, because the views here far outweigh the effort required to get them.

The popular walk here is the round-trip hike from Lordenshaws car park up and along the jagged, rocky ridges of the Simonside Hills. Depending on which of the (all very similar) routes you take, the hike measures in at around 5 miles (8km) and only takes 2 or 3 hours. It’s a great hike, but it gets more popular all the time, so don’t expect the famous Northumberland solitude here.

If you prefer hikes with a little more seclusion, there are plenty in and around the area. Try walking from Rothbury to Scots Gap, or from Rothbury up to the Simonside ridge. Both walks are much less popular, but they’re both almost as beautiful. The entire area is brimming with craggy rocks, heathery fields , working farms, far-reaching views and barely-trodden tracks.

While you’re near Scot’s Gap, consider the Wannie Line Walk, an easy but excellent circular route which takes hikers along two now-unused railway lines. It takes you past rivers, farms, lime kilns, big cows, countless sheep and plenty more. It’s a very flat walk, and it measures in at around 6 miles (9.5km).

This entire area is also massively popular with rock climbers, offering lots of accessible but challenging routes.

2. Hadrian’s Wall – And Other Long-Distance Adventures

When most people think about hiking in Northumberland, they think about Hadrian’s Wall.

Hadrian’s Wall Walk is massively popular because it combines lots of excellent perks into one attractive little package – you get great towns and villages, barren stretches of wilderness, walks both long and short, excellent landscapes and some of the most historically-significant sites in the whole of the UK.

A Roman wall built under the guidance of Emperor Hadrian from AD 122 onwards, Hadrian’s Wall was designed for keeping the northern barbarians out of England.

Now, it’s the location of many of Northumberland’s best walks.

Some highlights along the way include the lone tree of Sycamore Gap (probably the most photographed site in Northumberland), the Roman Fort of Housesteads and endless milecastles, wall fragments and historical sites.

If you’re going to walk only one stretch of the wall, go for the sections north of Haltwhistle and Bardon Mill.

For hardcore hikers, you can tackle the entire Hadrian’s Wall route from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, a long-distance epic that measures around 84 miles (135km). Lots of the walk is in Northumberland (and the best bits are), but many parts creeps into other counties too.

Check out my detailed guide to the Hadrian’s Wall Path here.

If you prefer traveling by bike, consider Hadrian’s Cycleway, probably the most easy and accessible coast to coast cycle route in the whole of the UK.

If you’re looking for other famous long-distance hikes and bike rides in or near Northumberland, consider the C2C bike ride , The Reivers Route, The Pennine Way , The Coast and Castles , and The Northumberland Coastal Path (but more on those last two soon).

For lesser-known long-distance trails, consider St. Oswald’s Way and St. Cuthbert’s Way, both of which end on the isolated and unusual island of Lindisfarne. The former is 97 miles (156km) and runs from Heavenfield (along Hadrian’s Wall) while the latter is 62.5 miles (100km) and runs from the Scottish border town of Melrose. They’re both pilgrimage routes, making them sort-of Northumbrian alternatives to the Spanish Camino de Santiago.

While most of St. Cuthbert’s Way is in Northumberland, all of St. Oswald’s Way runs through the county. Both are obscure and remote, perfect if you like walking in proper solitude and serenity.

3. The Cheviots

If you want rugged, go to The Cheviots, home of the highest peak in Northumberland. This highest peak lends the range its name, and clocks in at a lofty altitude of 815 meters.

The entire area is barren, boggy and packed with moors, with lots of excellent trails to explore. The most popular is the walk along Harthope Valley and up to the Cheviot itself. Other options include a loop-shaped traverse of the entire ridge, taking in other small peaks including Hedgehope, and the ascent up to Hedgehope from the pretty and popular waterfall of Linhope Spout.

Behind Harthope Valley, the most popular part of the Cheviots, is College Valley, which I haven’t explored myself, but I’ve heard it’s amazing. If you want the Cheviots experience but with even more remote wilderness, you’ll find it there.

4. Upper Coquetdale

Upper Coquetdale is one of the most remote parts of Northumberland, and it’s absolutely the least explored hiking area on our list. The region is a roughly-defined area close to the England-Scotland border, along the river Coquet, the length of which actually jostles through lots of the towns, villages and areas in this article.

Anyway, if it’s close to Alwinton, Harbottle and Barrowburn, and if it’s east of Kielder and southwest of The Cheviots, it’s probably in Upper Coquetdale. But no matter what you want to call it, the region is outrageously beautiful, brimming with farms, animals, ridges, wildflowers, moorland, meadows, exposed wilderness and strange ancient sites.

There are a huge number of hiking highlights in Upper Coquetdale, including the Drake Stone Walk, The Barrowburn Circuit and some excellent trails right along the silent and serene Scottish border.

5. Other Hikes in Northumberland

Other good hiking spots include Kielder (but much more on that place later), along with Thrunton Woods, Chopwell Woods (which is also great for mountain biking), Holywell Dene, Bolam Lake (perfect for gentler jaunts), the Morpeth to Bothal walk along the River Wansbeck, and the hugely-underrated wander from Edlingham Castle to Lemmington Hall via the old Rothbury to Alnwick railway line.

Northumberland’s beaches are some of the best in England – some of the region is an officially-designated Area of Natural Beauty, and you can’t argue with that. My favorite beaches and coastal settlements in Northumberland include…

1. Druridge Bay

Less remote than most other entries on this list is Druridge Bay, a lengthy stretch measuring in at around 7 miles (12km). One of the longest sandy beaches in the area, its seas and sands are massively popular with hikers, surfers, dog walkers, families, birdwatchers, swimmers and everyone in between.

It’s always quiet here, and even on a busy day, there’s plenty of space to find solitude. The area has sandy dunes, rock pools, excellent wildlife and lots of nearby woods and meadows.

2. Craster and Embleton Bay

Famous for its kippers (bright yellow fillets of smoked herring, if you’re interested), Craster is a tiny little coastal village plonked right in the middle of the Northumberland coast.

It’s ridiculously charming, with its diminutive port, rudimentary fishing boats and close proximity to the towering ruins of hefty Dunstanburgh Castle. If you’re looking for a great mid-distance coastal walk, wander from Craster to Seahouses, a hike that measures in at around 10 miles (16km).

It’s my favorite stretch of the Northumbrian coast.

Part of this stretch includes Embleton Bay, a wide, golden, dune-backed beach that seems to stretch on forever. It’s one of the best beaches in Northumberland.

3. Seahouses

Speaking of Seahouses, it’s lovely, and offers varied attractions including mini golf, fish and chips, boat trips, day trips and nearby nesting puffins on the remote and unpopulated Farne Islands.

And if looking at cute little puffins isn’t appealing, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

For family fun, Seahouses is the best coastal destination in Northumberland, with a great combination of adventurous excitement and handy conveniences. Around 2.5 miles (4 km) south of Seahouses is Beadnell Bay, one of my favorite beaches in Northumberland.

4. Northumberland Coastal Path

The Northumberland Coastal Path is without doubt the best way to see loads of the highlights along the Northumberland Coast. A long-distance walking trail that takes hikers all the way from Cresswell to Berwick, it covers a huge amount of the stuff I’ve already mentioned in this guide.

Measuring in at 100km (62 miles), it takes in Warkworth, Amble, Alnmouth, Craster, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Lindisfarne, Berwick and loads more. If you want to see lots of Northumberland’s most popular coastal highlights in one long stretch, it’s absolutely the best way to do it.

If you’d prefer to see it all by bike, consider the Coast and Castles cycle route , a long-distance cycling trail that measures in at 200 miles (320km) or 170 miles (275km), depending on which route you take. It stretches from Newcastle to Edinburgh, and takes in some of Northumberland’s best spots and scenery (including, unsurprisingly, lots of coasts and castles).

5. Other Coastal Spots in Northumberland

Other good options include Blyth Beach, Seaton Sluice (which has a beautiful little harbour), Bamburgh Beach, Low Newton Beach and the incredible fishing village of Alnmouth (which has some excellent walks).

Northumberland is one of the most castled regions in the world, with more than 70 castles in the county, ranging from crumbling ruins to massive complexes. They’re a great insight into lots of the region’s history and heritage, but loads of them are great just because they’re beautiful buildings in beautiful places. Here are some of the best castles in Northumberland :

1. Bamburgh Castle

This is my favorite castle in Northumberland. I’ve never been in it (I think going in castles is boring), but it’s by far the most scenic and picturesque castle in the county, looming starkly on the brow of a cliffy hill.

The best viewpoint of Bamburgh Castle is from the golden shores of the beach north of the complex. From here, the castle dominates the skyline, making it one of the most popular photography spots in the entire county.

Bamburgh itself is a charming and tiny little town, made up of a smattering of houses and a big green field. If you’re interested in maritime history, check out the town’s Grace Darling Museum.

2. Warkworth Castle

Warkworth Castle imposes itself on the town that surrounds it, rising up on a big lump of a hill that overlooks the area.

There are lots of coastal walks and riverside walks in the area, many of which offer excellent views of the castle’s massive ruins.

The town of Warkworth itself is a nice place to explore, and it’s full of pretty buildings and nearby farms and bays. The beach is great, and there are lots of cute cafes, eateries and architecture. It’s one of the bigger villages in the area.

3. Alnwick Castle

One of the biggest castles in Northumberland (it’s actually the second-biggest inhabited castle in England), Alnwick Castle is now most famous as one of the filming sites of Harry Potter. But if you’re not 5 years old and you don’t care about imaginary wizards, there’s plenty more to explore and enjoy here.

The building is beautiful, the interiors are incredible, the gardens are even better, and the landscape surrounding the entire complex is just as good. If you want to visit a traditional English castle, this is as good as you’ll find anywhere.

When you’re checking out Alnwick Castle, make sure you go to the nearby Barter Books, one of the best second-hand book shops in the UK. The town of Alnwick is also a great place to explore, with its labyrinthine web of narrow lanes and cobbled streets.

4. Other Castles (and Old Buildings) in Northumberland

Another highlight is Chillingham Castle, allegedly one of the most haunted castles in the world (if you believe in all that stuff).

For smaller castles, try Mitford Castle (the walk from here to Morpeth is great), Prudhoe Castle, Etal Castle and Aydon Castle. Again, make sure you check out Dunstanburgh Castle, close to Craster.

Northumberland is also packed with manor houses and other ancient buildings. Some of the best include Wallington Hall, Cragside, Howick Hall, Matfen Hall and Belsay Hall.

Northumberland is brimming with loads of picturesque, diminutive settlements. Here are some of the prettiest towns and villages in Northumberland :

1. Rothbury

With a beautiful riverside location, some great places to eat and drink and lots of nearby hikes, Rothbury is an excellent location for anyone wanting to explore outdoor adventures in Northumberland.

It’s an excellent base for exploring Simonside and other nearby areas, the riverside walk through and beyond the town is excellent, and it has lots of options for accommodation.

If you want a rural but convenient base for exploring the northern parts of Northumberland, Rothbury is an excellent choice. Aside from all the walks, popular trips from Rothbury include Brinkburn Priory, Cragside and Fontburn Reservoir.

2. Otterburn

Otterburn is brilliantly located for exploring the wilder parts of Northumberland, and it’s ridiculously beautiful, with endless farmland, countless sheep, a cute bridge and a handful of charming little houses.

Otterburn is a sort-of rural crossroads for exploring lots of the wider area, with the Cheviots and Upper Coquetdale to its northeast, and Kielder and Hadrian’s Wall to its southwest. And because it’s situated right on a main road, Otterburn is convenient for driving in and around Northumberland.

Otterburn is smaller and less well-equipped than Rothbury, but it’s a perfect place for people who like overnighting in really rural places. There are a very small number of eateries and shops here, but nothing major.

If you want conveniences, don’t stay in Otterburn, but if views and location are your priorities, you won’t find any better.

3. Morpeth (and More)

Morpeth is one of the biggest towns in the northern part of Northumberland, along with Berwick, Alnwick and Hexham.

You should use one of these four as a base if you want somewhere close to rurality but with all the amenities and conveniences you need on a longer trip. If you want good restaurants and bars, or if you’re traveling with kids, these towns give you enough comfort and conveniences to keep everyone happy.

Morpeth is my favorite of them all, as it’s the best compromise between pretty and convenient.

It’s well-located for outdoor adventures, it’s linked to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by train, and it’s relatively attractive. If you’re traveling with kids, check out Carlisle Park, Whitehouse Farm and Northumberland County Zoo, all of which are in and around the town.

1. Hareshaw Linn

The waterfall of Hareshaw Linn isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s a great gentle jaunt for families, couples and people who can’t be bothered with anything intense. The round-trip walk from the village of Bellingham measures in at around 3 miles (5km).

The walk to the waterfall takes you over bridges, through forests and beyond lots of rare mosses, lichens and birds. Bellingham itself is a pretty little town – it’s small and cosy, and it’s a good place to spend a couple of hours.

If you like waterfalls, also consider Linhope Spout (near The Cheviots), and Crammel Linn.

Kielder is lots of things.

It’s cycling, it’s hiking, it’s beautiful and it’s one of the biggest areas of officially-designated dark sky in Europe. But more than any of that, it’s home to the biggest reservoir (by volume) in England.

For mountain biking, Kielder is one of the best destinations in England, with lots of excellent trails both long and short.

If you prefer slightly gentler rides, Kielder’s Lakeside Way is incredible – it’s a 26-mile (40km) circuit that runs around the entire perimeter of the reservoir, and it’s the best way to get acquainted with the entirety of the region.

For stargazing, Kielder is genuinely one of the best places on the planet. If you come here on a clear night, you’ll see more stars than you’ve probably ever seen .

The observatory here is packed with excellent equipment, and the staff are massively knowledgeable. Want to look through an industry-strength telescope while someone points the planets out to you? At Kielder, you can.

Check out my big list of the best things you can experience in Kielder .

3. Lindisfarne

I know this sounds like a horrendous cliché, but Lindisfarne is like something from a fairy tale. Imagine a remote, rugged, ancient, sacred place that you can only access depending on the flow of the tides, and you’re imagining Lindisfarne.

Linked to the mainland by a sometimes-unusable causeway, Lindisfarne is of huge religious significance, and it’s more commonly known as ‘Holy Island’. St. Aidan came to this tiny, isolated island to build a monastery in AD 635, and it’s probably hardly changed since.

It’s a beautiful place for a stroll, the drive from the mainland is ridiculously unique, and the whole island feels like it’s frozen in time. If you like a combination of beautiful and bizarre, you’ll love Lindisfarne.

On the mainland, close to Lindisfarne, is St. Cuthbert’s Cave, a mysterious, wooded and rocky sandstone cavern that’s supposedly the burial place of St. Cuthbert.

See – I told you Northumberland is packed with lots of ridiculously beautiful places. And that’s only a few of them. I could have written about loads more, but you were probably already wondering when on earth this big long boring article was gonna end.

Instead, you can check out my compilation of all the things that Northumberland is famous for !

Anyway, make sure you go to Northumberland. It’s genuinely one of the most underrated regions in the UK, and it’s full of remote, rural, beautiful places.

Want to know anything else about traveling in England? We have lots of guides on our site, including articles on the C2C bike ride , the Coast to Coast walk , the Pennine Way and the most unique things to do in the north . We also have city guides on Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool.

Whatever you want to know about traveling in the UK or England, we have it right here on our site. Stick with us!

About the author

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Paul is a handsome and hilarious travel writer and travel journalist from the UK. He's hiked, hitchhiked and laughed his way through more than fifty countries, and he's always looking for a new place to call home. Originally from Newcastle, he's lived all over the UK, spent more than three years in Asia, and most recently lived in Vietnam and then in Georgia.

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11 Interesting & Beautiful Places to Visit in Northumberland

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From beachside castles to unspoiled wilderness, those looking for places to visit in Northumberland have a wide range of choices.

Northumberland is most known for its wild scenery and many historic fortifications, but that’s not all there is to discover.

In this post, we’ll be sharing our top picks for places to visit in Northumberland, including the famous Hadrian’s Wall.

We hope you enjoy learning about this strategically important region and be sure to let us know in the comments which Northumberland must-sees we should add to our list!

The town of Alnwick is one of the most popular Northumberland destinations, partly because it’s home to the beautiful Alnwick Castle.

Alnwick Castle is the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland and has been used as a filming location for a number of films and television series.

It famously represented Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films and has also been used for filming Downton Abbey.

There are three main museums within the castle, as well as plenty of activities for Potterheads!

Next door to Alnwick Castle is Alnwick Garden, a stunning complex of formal gardens constructed around a main water cascade. There’s an incredible treehouse just outside the garden, that’s the largest wooden treehouse in the world and hosts weddings or other events. Alnwick Garden is also famous for its rose garden, cherry blossom garden and poison garden.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is another impressive castle in Northumberland and is one of the most-visited Northumberland tourist attractions.

Northumberland was always an important region for defence, both during Roman times and later when England fought wars against Scotland. There are many fortifications and castles remaining to this day, one of which is the impressive Bamburgh Castle.

Built on a dolerite outcrop, there was a fort in the location before a castle, which passed between hands a number of times before being destroyed by the Vikings. It was then rebuilt by the Normans, before being bought by the Victorian-era industrialist Baron William George Armstrong.

Today the castle is open to the public with a number of museums and displays to explore inside, as well as stunning views of the coast from the battlements. You can also just go for a walk on Bamburgh Beach to take photos of the castle for free!

Lindisfarne

Also known as The Holy Island, Lindisfarne is one of the most interesting places to go in Northumberland for a variety of sights and history.

The island has been an important centre of Christianity since at least the 6th-century AD and is strongly associated with four different saints, three of which served as Bishops of Lindisfarne. Many visitors head to Lindisfarne to see the ruins of the priory and castle, or to birdwatch in the reserve surrounding the island.

Lindisfarne is a tidal island, meaning it’s possible to walk across at low tide. There’s a small village where people live on the island, with a number of pubs, cafés and accommodation options to explore. It’s particularly famous for a mead that was originally made by the monks using a secret recipe. You can try the mead at St. Aidan’s Winery.

Seahouses is a charming seaside village and one of the best places to visit in Northumberland for a seaside break.

Located about 20km north of Alnwick, Seahouses is a colourful and historic fishing village with a bustling harbour and plenty of shops to explore. It makes a great base to stay in while exploring nearby attractions like Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne, as well as the nearby Farne Islands.

The Farne Islands are a cluster of islands just off the coast near Seahouses, and the biologist/TV presenter Sir David Attenborough has even declared them his favorite spot to see nature in the UK! A boat trip to the islands makes for a wonderful day trip of spotting seals, dolphins, puffins and more.

Berwick-upon-Tweed

One of the most unusual places to visit in Northumberland is Berwick-upon-Tweed, as it’s the most northerly town in England and sits just below the Scottish border.

Since it’s so close to the border, the town itself has changed hands between English and Scottish rule many times in the past. Nowadays the residents famously can’t agree whether they are truly Scottish or British!

Notable sights include the medieval town walls, a Georgian Town Hall, Elizabethan ramparts, and Britain’s earliest barracks buildings. The Royal Border Bridge (pictured below) is another popular attraction. It’s a Grade 1 Listed viaduct with 28 arches spanning the River Tweed.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall actually makes up a number of exciting Northumberland attractions, as there are different sections to find all along the route where this defensive fortification once stood.

Originally built around AD 122, the wall once ran the entire width of England and assisted with the defence of the Roman Province of Britannia against the unconquered region of Caledonia to the north. Today there are many sections still intact where visitors can explore Roman forts, towns and museums.

The longest stretch of the wall is located in Northumberland, so there are many spots to visit it while you’re in the region. In Corbridge, the remains of a Roman town can be discovered, while there are forts at Housesteads and Birdoswald, along with the remains of a Roman Bathhouse at Chesters.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING:  Many of the sites feature museums, visitor information and fun activities, so it’s just a matter of deciding which one, or ones, you want to visit! Check out this page for more info on Hadrian’s Wall sites in Northumberland.

Northumberland National Park

Northumberland National Park is the northernmost national park in England, as well as being both the least-populated and least-visited of the country’s national parks. But that’s all the more reason to visit!

If you want to truly experience some of the wildest and most untouched landscapes in England, this is the park to do it in. The Northumberland National Park is also interesting in that it covers a number of different areas, including hills, moors and forests. The central section of Hadrian’s Wall is also located in the most southern part of the park.

The famous Pennine Way runs through Northumberland National Park, after starting in Edale in the Peak District. It’s often called the best known and toughest of Britain’s walking trails, eventually finishing up just below the Scottish border.

Located within Northumberland National Park is the Kielder Water and Forest Park, which contains the largest man-made forest in England, as well as the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe!

The forest is made up of different conifer trees and is managed by Forestry England to provide timber for different uses while also protecting native wildlife. Kielder Forest is one of the best places in England to spot red squirrels as around 50% of the population lives there.

Other must-see spots in the area include Kielder Castle; an 18th-century hunting lodge built by the Duke of Northumberland which is now a great base to get information on things to do in the area, and the Kielder Observatory.

Kielder Observatory is an environmentally-friendly observatory powered by solar panels and a wind turbine. It’s also the best place in the UK to view the Milky Way, particularly since it’s located within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park.

Hindhope Linn

The waterfall of Hindhope Linn is definitely one of the most beautiful things to see in Northumberland. It’s located within Kielder Forest and is reached by a lovely round-trip walk.

The Hindhope Linn Walking Route actually stops at two waterfalls, Hindhope Linn and the difficult-to-pronounce Blakehopeburnhaugh Waterfalls. Both feature spectacular falls cascading into lush green dells, and the walk itself is not too taxing.

Along the way, walkers will get to see ancient Scots Pine and larch, while enjoying tranquil bird calls. The walk is often called Kielder Forest’s best-kept secret. There’s a small car park where the walk begins with a public toilet that’s not always open, so don’t rely on it.

Not to be confused with Ambleside in the Lake District, Amble is a sleepy harbour town located on the Northumberland coast at the mouth of the River Coquet.

The town is filled with places to eat yummy seafood, with brightly coloured beach huts and shops inside curved wooden pods. Amble is the perfect spot in Northumberland if you want a coastal holiday, as it’s right on the breathtaking Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that stretches up the coast to Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Amble is all about endless beaches, drifting dunes and quiet bays, plus there are plenty of options for fun activities in the area. Boat trips will take you out to spot puffins, you can cycle along the Northumberland Coast Path or go Stand-Up Paddleboarding past nearby Warkworth Castle!

Amble is also famously called the friendliest port in England after the town’s residents sent a telegram to the RMS Mauretania on her final voyage to the breaker’s yard in the 1930s. The town sent a telegram saying “still the finest ship on the sea” to which the Mauretania replied, “to the last and kindliest port in England, greetings and thanks”.

Morpeth is a historic market town in Northumberland which offers many interesting sights, as well as ample opportunities for shopping, drinking and dining.

Even though there are some very modern and upmarket shopping arcades in Morpeth, they have been built to fit in with the ‘old market’ style of the historic town. While many visitors head to Morpeth for some retail therapy or fine dining, there are also a number of historically significant buildings to explore.

The 13th-century Chantry Chapel houses an interesting bagpipes museum while the Grade 1 Listed Morpeth Castle (pictured below) is now a holiday rental home that you can actually stay in!

Morpeth is also home to numerous stunning estates and gardens, including the must-visit Carlisle Park, which is a Tudor-style garden that’s home to one of only four working floral clocks in the UK.

Have we missed any of your favourite places to visit in Northumberland?

Let us know in the comments!

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Northumberland Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: August 4, 2024

Our Northumberland Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for this beautiful English county. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Northumberland!

Let’s plan your trip to Northumberland

With more castles than any other county in England, a stunning coastline lined with sandy beaches, pretty towns and villages, a tidal island with a rich cultural history and heritage, the remains of a Roman wall which marked the northernmost boundary of the Holy Roman Empire and a national park which boasts of the cleanest air, cleanest rivers and the darkest skies in England Northumberland in the North East really is the county with it all!

What you will find in this complete Northumberland Travel Guide

Northumberland Travel Guide – Map

Attractions and things to do in northumberland, accommodation in northumberland, when is the best time of year to visit northumberland, what do i need to know to plan the best trip to northumberland, how to get to northumberland, best tours to northumberland, uk travel guides.

10 PRETTY TOWNS TO VISIT IN NORTHUMBERLAND

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO & SEE IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND

GUIDE TO DRIVING THE NORTHUMBERLAND COASTAL ROUTE

GUIDE TO VISITING THE HOLY ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE

THINGS TO DO IN ALNWICK

GUIDE TO THE BEST CASTLES IN NORTHUMBERLAND

BEST PLACES TO STAY

IN NORTHUMBERLAND

BEST COASTAL COTTAGES IN NORTHUMBERLAND

You can find more accommodation options in my Accommodation Guide for England.

FAQs – Planning your visit to Northumberland

The weather in Northumberland can be unpredictable in every season. It can be cold and windy all year around so it is essential to pack accordingly.

Whilst the summer months can be hot there is always the possibility of a sea fret (a cool mist that covers the coast) and temperatures will drop considerably.

• Carry change for car parking! Prepare to arrive early in the day to secure parking at popular spots (or you may find you have to park some distance away)
• Check for low tide if you are planning to visit Holy Island.
• If you are visiting in summer prepare to enjoy the longer daylight hours (sunset can be as late as 9:50 in the evening!) Longer days means you can fit more into your itinerary!
• Enjoy some traditional food and drink including Craster kippers, Earl Grey tea, Newcastle Brown Ale, ham and pease pudding stotties and pan haggerty.
• Locals are called Geordie and have a very distinct accent.

Option 1 – By car/train/coach from London

Northumberland is England’s northernmost county. It is approximately 470 kms from London and takes around 5 hours by car (I would recommend stops in a number of other destinations on the way though!)

Tip – If you are planning a road trip around the UK the Northumberland Coastal Route is a beautiful drive and very popular especially during the summer months.

The train journey from London ( King’s Cross ) to Newcastle takes around 3 hours and is a lovely trip (stop off in York on the way)

Click here for timetables and prices of train tickets from London to Newcastle .

National Express Coaches travel regularly every day from Victoria Coach Station to Newcastle. This will be the cheapest but also the slowest option.

Option 2 – By car/train/coach from Edinburgh

Driving from Edinburgh to the Northumberland coast only takes around 2 hours. Alternatively, take the train from Edinburgh to Newcastle (around 2 hours) and pick up a hire car to explore Northumberland.

There are also day tours available from Edinburgh (see below for recommendations) which visit a number of top sights and attractions in Northumberland.

Click here for timetables and prices of train tickets from Edinburgh to Newcastle.

Option 3 – Fly into Newcastle Airport

Newcastle Airport is the nearest international airport for visitors to Northumberland. Pick up a hire car at the airport if you plan to explore Northumberland as it is the best way to get around the county.

Read – How to get around the UK (a complete guide to transportation)

If you prefer to take a day tour to the North East of England there are trips available from Edinburgh

• Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain 1-Day Tour – Discover the highlights of Roman Britain and Hadrian’s Wall on this small group tour from Edinburgh.
• Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria – Take a scenic, coastal route into the Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria. This tour includes a visit to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne which once the most important centre of religious learning in the British Isles and the medieval market town of Alnwick.
• Alnwick Castle & Scottish Borders Day Tour – Cross the Scottish border into England and admire the beautiful scenery of the Borders and explore magnificent Alnwick Castle and its gardens.

Read more – Best books about (or set in) Northumberland

Find more practical tips, resources and inspiration for your UK travel adventures in my UK Travel Guides.

• Durham Travel Guide
• Lake District Travel Guide
• York Travel Guide
• Chester Travel Guide
• Cotswolds Travel Guide
• Bath Travel Guide
• Cornwall Travel Guide
• Dorset & the Jurassic Coast Travel Guide
• The 9 Regions of England (An essential guide for itinerary planning)
• Best UK Staycations (Top Destinations for 2021 & beyond)
• 12 Best Day trips from London by train (+logistics, tips & maps)
• 12 pretty towns and villages in England (+ map & travel tips)

Feeling overwhelmed with the planning process? My step-by-step planning guide is the place to start!

Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has loads of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.

A Travel Guide To Northumberland, England

From beautiful places to visit and top things to do, to some cute places to stay, it’s time for my Northumberland travel guide.

One of my fave places for a break is still… England! Even before my time as a Visit England ambassador I absolutely loved exploring places on my doorstep. From Cornwall ’s incredible beaches, to the restaurant scene in the Lake District and Brighton ’s alternative vibe, I could spend all day nattering about places to visit, scenery I loved and more!

So today I’m turning my attention to beautiful Northumberland. With cute market towns, plenty of castles, and stunning but vastly underrated beaches, it’s a great place for an English staycation. So, it’s time to answer a few popular questions, and reveal a few gorgeous spots you just can’t miss!

Where Is Northumberland?

Just north of Newcastle and Durham, Northumberland is England’s northernmost county and borders Cumbria, County Durham and Tyne and Wear along with the border of Scotland. It’s got a beautiful stretch of coastline, and if you’re travelling from London, you can catch a train from Kings Cross and be there in under three hours. Find out more about how to get to Northumberland  or check out the map.

Weather In Northumberland

Another top question – everyone wants to know the weather! Well, summer temperatures can reach around 24 degrees, while winter temperatures drop just below zero. The region received plenty of snowfall over the last year, and it’s pretty special when it snows as it has been known to settle on the beaches!

Top Places To Visit In Northumberland

Northumberland is dotted with cute towns and beautiful scenery. There are no cities, so it’s a great place if you want to slow down the pace and really get away from it all!

Get lost wandering this pretty town’s cobbled streets, stopping off at book stores and having a brew in a cute local café. History buffs will love Alnwick Castle , the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK after Windsor. If it looks familiar, you might recognise it from the Harry Potter films! Yep, hello real life Hogwarts – The Outer Bailey is where Harry and co learned to fly their broomsticks and how to play quidditch!

Part of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty, the beach At Alnmouth is well worth a visit. It’s really wide, with golden sands and is a great place for a walk, or in warmer months a picnic or even some sunbathing! Yep it’s a bleak but beautiful spot in winter months, but in the summer it’s even possible to brave the North Sea waters.

Stargazing In Northumberland National Park

At night the skies in Northumberland Dark Sky Park are darker than anywhere else in the country, making it an incredible place for stargazing. The lack of light pollution means it’s possible to snap photos of galaxies far far away. Slow your shutter speed down and relax while the stars do their thing! The park is home to the Kielder Observatory which has regular stargazing events you can sign up to.

  A post shared by Emma Davies (@emmadaviesphoto) on Jan 16, 2018 at 2:28am PST

Another beautiful beach, another beautiful castle – yep there are plenty of both in Northumberland. Bamburgh Castle is one the finest in England, located on a rocky plateau, it’s got a fascinating history including being the most important place in the country at the time of the Anglo Saxons!

Berwick-upon-Tweed

This historic town is just three miles from the Scottish border. It’s a great area for art lovers, with plenty of galleries in the town. Plus you can’t miss the great Elizabethan walls – built to to stop the Scots from invading! There are plenty of great walks to do, taking in views of the River Tweed estuary.

Linhope Spout

Take a wander through the Breamish Valley, and you’ll be rewarded with impressive views as this 18m high waterfall cascades into a huge plunge pool.

Duddo Stone Circle

Northumberland’s answer to Stone Henge, the Duddo Stone Circle dates back over 4,000 years! The five mysterious upright blocks of stone are quite an eerie sight, so be sure to stop by.

Lindisfarne AKA Holy Island

This island is reachable by a causeway at low tide. It’s called Holy Island as it’s famous for its monastery, which was founded back in 635 AD when Irish monks settled there. You can visit the Priory to learn all about the history, check out Lindisfarne Castle, explore the island and soak up the views… just be sure to check the tide times in advance so you don’t get stranded!

Northumberland Holiday Cottages

Forget looking for hotels in Northumberland, there are plenty of gorgeous holiday cottages that are perfect for a break in the region. Lots are dog friendly, have parking and many have absolutely stunning views. Here are a few of my favourites…

Anchor Cottage, Cresswell – This beautiful stone cottage has panoramic views of the sea towards Druridge Bay and beyond. It’s been fitted out in a chic way too, with exposed beams, a wood burning stove and nautical themed rooms.

Seascape, Seahouses – With coastal views and a smart interior, this holiday cottage is close to the harbour and beach in Seahouses. I love the look of the open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area – great for a family break.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Northumberland?

England is a country obsessed with weather. Don’t know what to say? Comment on the weather! We talk about it a lot, but contrary to what you may have heard, we don’t have awful weather in England. It’s just a little unpredictable and varies from region to region.

You can expect average lows of around 4 °C in Northumberland in January / February, and highs around 19°C in July / August.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Northumberland, I’d suggest planning a trip in May or June. The weather tends to be warm and sunny, rain is at a minimum and it’s out of peak season, so you shouldn’t be battling any big crowds either. The longest day is around 20th June every year, so it’s a time you can enjoy maximum daylight hours exploring!

I’ve never been a fan of November in England – it gets pretty bleak! It’s the wettest month of the year, and while December can be pretty cold, there’s a Christmas magic around the country which always puts a smile on my face!

This post was sponsored by Cottages In Northumberland , but as always, all opinions are my own.

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Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

2 thoughts on “A Travel Guide To Northumberland, England”

Stargazing would be a very nice experience!

Yes!! I’d love to do it there too!

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5 secret, pretty places to visit in Northumberland

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Not content with fighting Thuggee cults and disrupting Egyptian Nazi dig sites in the course of his long career, Dr Indiana Jones will, as of 2023, be captured prowling around the environs of an infinitely less exotic, but notably colder, landscape.

Bamburgh Castle , perched in its exposed and lofty position on the Northumberland coastline, is one of the locations used for filming the fifth in the long-running series of archaeologically-themed rum-do adventures.

So don’t be surprised if a glut of fans in fedora hats, aping the headwear of Harrison’s Ford character, descend upon the far northeast coast of England imminently. In the meanwhile, however, if you head beyond the well-known getaways of Holy Island, Hadrian’s Wall and, of course, Bamburgh itself, you’ll still be able to find a wealth of lesser-known, but equally raw and beautiful spots where knowledge of Hollywood action flicks is entirely unnecessary… at least for now.

Known to locals as ‘the gateway to the Farne Islands’, the bijou coastal town of Seahouses is often skipped by visitors keen to get to the natural wilderness of the uninhabited islands for a day trip sailing tour.

Yet sometimes the island’s animal population come to the town; most notably in the case of Freya, a juvenile female walrus who swam across to sunbathe on the rocky beach last year for a few weeks; it was only the second time a walrus has ever been spotted on a stretch of mainland English coastline.

A rustic slew of stone cottages , ginels (local slang for cobbled alleyways) and creaking, wood beamed pubs make Seahouses a perfect spot for a stroll. Head down the narrow ginel of South Street (follow your nose if you can’t find it on a map) and you’ll find the ancient warehouse that’s home to the Swallow Fish smokehouse . Here lies the very last survivor of what were once numerous smokehouses in the town; curing kippers amid an aroma of wood, sea salt and brine. You can also stock up here on homemade mackerel pates and potted shrimp.

Bed in at the Olde Ship Inn , a wonderfully atmospheric old fishing inn, now spruced up with soothing pale colour schemes and a menu rich in locally sourced seafood such as crab soup and, yes, naturally, smoked kippers.

The little town of Wooler was completely rebuilt in the 1860s after a fire razed it almost in its entirety. The stone terraced streets are given a serious uplift in spirit, however, by the views beyond of the mighty Cheviot – Northumberland’s highest point.

From the centre of Wooler, it’s a four-hour hike up and about three to get back down again so pack your sturdiest boots for a walk high in the wildness of the Anglo-Scottish border where amid paths that sometimes get rather wet and boggy (also beware of low cloud that can smother you on overcast days with little notice) you’ll pass clefts and scatterings of rock with names like Hanging Stone and Bloodybush Edge; all testament to times when this was a battle-scarred frontier.

You’ll usually have these hills almost entirely to yourself so if you need some company back in Wooler then check into the Tankerville Arms , a coaching inn dating back to the 17th century that features an open fire, black pudding bon bons, lamb shank sourced from nearby Glendale on the bar menu and seventeen light, bright and simple rooms. The owners will even dry your walking boots for you overnight.

Fifteen pounds a year plus a barrel of fish delivered each Sunday probably wasn’t such a bad salary in the 15th century, but for George Lancaster, there were drawbacks to his stipend.

Mainly, as the ‘hermit of Warkworth’, he was (seemingly through choice it should be added) confined to a chapel hewn out of the chalk cliffs in Warkworth Hermitage located downstream from the village of the same name on the banks of the River Coquet.

The hermitage was abandoned by the late 1500s, not long before the adjacent Warkworth Castle was badly damaged in the English Civil War. The substantial remains are well worth exploring, however, particularly if you make it to the keep. Here you’ll discover the story of Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland. He had a son named 'Harry Hotspur,' who was mentioned by Shakespeare in Henry IV, Part I and it was young Harry’s rebellion against the King that resulted in the Percy family losing Warkworth Castle, though it was later restored to them and their descendants still own it today.

The Percy family were not to be trifled with in these parts in centuries past. As well as Warkworth, the family also owned Alnwick Castle where today you’ll find Old Master paintings, staterooms and silks inside while the outside will be instantly familiar to any fans of quidditch as the castle doubled up as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films .

There really is a street called Pottergate in the main town of Alnwick itself, a cobbled charmer of a market town with wool shops and tailors like Jobsons who provide the kind of tweedy outdoor wear you last saw on the backs of James Herriot.

In the old railway station, you’ll find Barter Books , one of the biggest second-hand bookshops in the country complete with an immense miniature train set which chugs around the top of the shelves. You can order tea and cake while you read your purchases too.

The Cookie Jar is a discreet sandstone building off the high street that looks minuscule but opens up to reveal a modishly converted boutique hotel with one room converted from what was once a convent chapel, plus funky chandeliers made from birdcages and, the rarest of things, a blue accented, sunny public living room downstairs that you’ll want to sit in whilst nibbling on tea and cake.

Rothbury and Cragside

Rothbury’s zenith as a tourist beacon came in the Victorian era when trippers would converge for walks in the nearby Simonside Hills, rich then, as they are now, with quiet burns, ridges and forests.

But the main reason to head here is to visit Cragside , an astonishingly vast Victorian testament to what you could do with your spare cash if you happened to be a leading potentate in the arena of arms manufacturing and shipbuilding.

That was the case with Sir William (later Lord) Armstrong who built a Tudor-style fantasy home that looks bewilderingly incongruous set against the atavistic Northumberland landscape. The house is so large it even contains a lift- an unheard-of luxury in the 19th-century domestic sphere. There’s a Renaissance-style marble chimneypiece, William Morris stained glass in the library and gardens lined with terraces, lakes, conifers galore and the remnants of the pump room Armstrong had built to make Cragside the first house in Britain that was lit by hydroelectric power.

More simple, but also less overwhelming slumbers can be found at Tosson Tower Farm , ten minutes drive from Cragside and Rothbury. A stylishly converted 18th-century farmhouse and barn conversion, rooms are bedecked with solid wood furniture, sunny and bright colour shades and a sleigh bed in one of the barn rooms. Breakfast (made by owner Ann Foggin) is a belt loosening affair with eggy bread, omelettes and local kippers.

11 Places You HAVE to Visit in Northumberland, England

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Oh wow. Northumberland is AMAZING! I can’t believe it took me so long to visit! There are so many places to visit in Northumberland and it can be pretty overwhelming… don’t worry – I got you!

Northumberland is England’s most northern county (yep, it borders Scotland) and has the lowest population density in England. Its lack of light also makes it a stargazer’s dream – the Dark Sky Park is the largest expanse of protected dark sky in the country.

And in rare occurrences (very rare) you can see the NORTHERN LIGHTS here! WHAT?! Don’t worry, I’m constantly watching the space weather now and when that Kp number goes through the roof, I’ll be taking the 3-hour drive up there! #longhairdontcare

Bamburgh Castle at sunrise

11 Places to Visit in Northumberland

There’s something for everyone – castles, beaches, gardens, countryside, and cute fishing villages.

You can easily everything the best the county has to offer in a long weekend. If you don’t want to rush then opt for a more leisurely week-long getaway.

Most places are kid-friendly and perfect family days out and on the flip side, perfect for a romantic trip for a couple. This is also a great area for a girl’s weekend or for a solo traveler to explore!

1. Angel of the North

I couldn’t not mention this grand sculpture.

Standing tall over the A1, the Angel of the North welcomes you to the north!

The sculpture was completed in 1998 and it’s 66ft tall with wings that measure 177ft across.

There’s a small parking lot (it’s on a one way road, so it’s a little awkward when you are leaving and want to get back on the highway) with some refreshments.

You’re not going to spend all day here! But if you’re driving up from the south it’s a good place to stop and have a coffee or a quick picnic in the shadow of the angel.

2. Alnwick Castle

Did you know Northumberland has the most castles out of any other county in the UK?!

True Story.

So you know I have to include some mega castle envy on here!

Alnwick Castle is one of the most famous castles in England. It’s the second largest inhabited castle in England (second to Windsor Castle) and a major filming location.

Alnwick Castle was built in the 11th century to control and protect the border during Norman times. It is the seat of the Duke of Northumberland and has been since the early 1300s. The Percy family STILL lives in the castle today and still uses most of the staterooms that you get to walk through! (Hence the reason you cannot take photos of the inside).

History aside, I’m sure there’s another big reason you’re visiting Alnwick Castle…because it’s a HARRY POTTER FILMING LOCATION! This is one of my favorite Hogwarts filming locations and is a stop on my popular Harry Potter filming locations road trip !

Alnwick Castle also makes an appearance in Transformers: The Last Knight, Robin Hood, and stars as the role of Brancaster Castle in the Downton Abbey Christmas Special (ALL the staterooms are highlighted here, so you can get a glimpse of what they look like before you visit!!).

When you’re finished with the castle and staterooms, head on over to the perfectly manicured gardens, and don’t forget to take a tour of the infamous poison garden!

Entrance to the staterooms (left), Flying lesson (right)

Tips for Visiting Alnwick Castle

• You should purchase tickets in advance. The castle ticket and garden ticket are SEPARATE and need to be purchased separately with two different entry times.
• If you want to visit the state rooms, you must purchase tickets the day of for timed entry.
• If you want to take the broomstick training, then you need to purchase tickets the day of and reserve your time slot.
• You can take the famous “broomstick flying” photo without taking the lesson. Just get there at opening, turn right and walk around the corner as soon as the castle opens, and have a nice chit-chat with the wizards setting up for the day. They might be nice and let you borrow for 15 minutes while you take your photos!!
• You can also borrow a broom between lessons, but you’ll only get about 5 minutes to take your photo.

3. Bamburgh Castle

It’s VERY HARD to try to pick my favorite castle in the UK… so I’ll just stick with a top five list.

Bamburgh Castle is definitely on my top five list.

This being a hot spot for places to visit in Northumberland, you’ll need to plan ahead.

GET THERE EARLY!

You don’t have to pre-book your ticket, but I HIGHLY recommend it. The line for pre-purchased tickets was longer, but it went by a hundred times quicker than waiting to purchase your ticket.

As soon as you enter the castle you’ll come to the main crossroads. Do not follow the crowd and go to the viewpoint on the right, turn left (almost make a U-turn) and go towards the staterooms in the inner bailey. You don’t need an extra ticket and there’s no timed entry, but if you leave it too late then there will be a long wait because there is only a limited amount of people allowed in the rooms.

Once you exit the staterooms, walk back around to the entrance and go past it. You’ll get a beautiful viewpoint of the ocean and the dunes. In fact, anywhere in the castle will give you amazing panoramic beach views!

You can explore the rest of the grounds, visit the Armstrong and Aviation Museum, and check out the view of Bamburgh Beach from the windmill!

4. Bamburgh Beach

This beautiful beach is in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle.

There are several places to park around here. The closest parking lot to the castle will give you a prime location for sunrise shots and the next car park down will give you a head start to Stag Rock and the rock pools.

Oh yes, I mentioned sunrise.

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING SUNRISE LOCATION IN NORTHUMBERLAND.

I can say that with confidence.

The tall grass and dunes mixed with the crashing waves and rock pools followed by Bamburgh Castle and the Farne Islands in the background make for the perfect sunrise combination.

Yes, you have to get up early… BUT WHO CARES?! Suck it up and go see sunrise and then come back and comment here, because I want to know what you thought of it!

That’s how confident I am.

You will be sharing the beach with other keen photographers, but it’s not overcrowded and then you can explore the beach during golden hour… also magical.

If you walk away from the castle and past the “rock pool” area you will run into Stag Rock. No idea who has painted the stag on the rock, but it looks pretty cool, especially if you get the reflection!

The hidden tidal pool behind the lighthouse (left), Stag Rock (right)

If you climb up and walk around the lighthouse then you’ll find a hidden tidal pool during low tide. Only swim in it during the summer, because it’s VERY cold!

5. Seahouses

This is the PERFECT base for exploring Northumberland.

The village is small and super easy to walk around.

In the distance, you can see the Farne Islands, easily accessible from Seahouses. You can take a day trip there or a boat ride around the islands.

The harbor is filled with other day excursions for diving, wildlife trips, and sunset cruises.

If you want some great food, visit the Bamburgh Castle Inn and then enjoy some evening cocktails in their beer garden overlooking Bamburgh Castle. It’s the perfect sunset viewpoint!

Oh hey, another perfect fishing village!

The parking lot is at the start of the village and it’s about a 6-minute walk to the harbor.

Craster is famous for its smokehouse and smoked kippers ( L Robson & Sons specifically). If you’re not a kipper fan then they have haddock, salmon, and cod too! The kipper pate is DELICIOUS!

If you’re looking for the best crab sandwich you’ll ever have – go to the Jolly Fisherman Inn! The kipper scotch egg is amazing too! My mouth is watering just thinking about this place!

If you walk down the side of the Jolly Fisherman, it leads right to the quay. If you walk to the end, Dunstanburgh Castle is perfectly framed.

And if you’re a big Vera fan – season 7, episode 1 (titled Natural Selection ) was filmed here!

7. Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was built in 122 to separate the Roman Empire from the wild north. It stretches 73 miles across the country from coast to coast.

The wall drapes over the north’s dramatic landscape, weaving up and down the hills with Roman forts dotted throughout the length.

The most complete Roman fort in the UK is located on the Northumberland section of Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads. It’s FREE for English Heritage AND National Trust members!

One of the most well-known stretches of Hadrian’s Wall is Sycamore Gap. You might recognize it from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves? Park at the Steel Rigg car park and take a short, easy walk to the tree!

8. Dunstan Steads – Embleton Bay

This beautiful stretch of soft, white sand is surrounded by sand dunes and Dunstanburgh Castle.

Northumberland beaches seem to have the softest sand in the UK… and this bay had my favorite sand! Seriously, my toesies couldn’t get enough!

There’s no car park here and parking spaces are limited! So make sure you get there early or later on in the day. (Parking is free).

The road dead ends at the beach and parking is on the right side only. It looks residential and you won’t be able to see the beach so you might think you have taken a wrong turn – don’t worry, just keep going!

Once parked, you’ll walk through a golf course (be careful!), in between the tall sand dunes, and then the bay opens up.

FYI – I prefer this view of Dunstanburgh Castle over the view from Craster.

9. Rumbling Kern

This is a beach that shouldn’t need an introduction… but since it’s a super secret hidden beach it’s gonna need one! This is one of the most underrated places to visit in Northumberland.

Rumbling Kern is a cove near Howick and south of Craster. There’s no “official” parking lot, so you have to find the gravel patch in front of a farm to park!

Once you park, it’s a short walk to this majestic beauty.

I cannot rave enough about this place.

I would’ve spent HOURS here if I had the spare time… in fact, I’m going back there as soon as I can!

The golden sands are perfect for lounging during high tide with the faint rumbling of the ocean in the background, but the cove comes to life during low tide.

My ultimate guide to Rumbling Kern has everything you need to know about getting there and exploring the cove!

Climb over the rocks that shade the sand area and explore the rocky landscape on the back side of the cove. You’ll see the rumbling kern that gives this beach its name and TONS of rock pools for the kids to explore – or a nice tidal pool for you to lounge in.

That same episode of Vera was filmed here! This is where the dead body is found at the beginning of the episode.

10. Cragside

This National Trust property deserves an entire day to visit!

Spending some time here definitely needs a plan. There are several parking lots to choose from with tons of trails to explore. Each car park has an information board with your location and at least two trails that you can walk.

Skip the visitor center parking lot and head towards the house (turn right and go over the stone bridge). You’ll come to a steep incline with parking spaces. Park on the top tier as close to the house as you can. There are toilets in the courtyard of the house.

*The house is currently closed due to the pandemic

The house looks like it should be part of a fairy tale, peeking through the lush trees on top of a steep hill, surrounded by creeks and bridges, but it’s the mastermind of William Armstrong – scientist, inventor, and philanthropist.

In fact, this house was stuffed to the brim with his inventions and ideas. This was the first house in the world to be powered by hydroelectricity!

FUN FACT: All the lights are STILL powered by hydroelectricity!

But why does this house look sooooo familiar?

Jurassic Park fans will recognize this house as the Lockwood Mansion in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom!!!

Make sure you bring your walking shoes, camera, and a picnic!

11. Holy Island

I really wanted to see Lindisfarne Castle! It looked like one of those magical movie fairy tale castles… an elegant structure built into a small hill on the edge of the beach. I HAD to see it!

It wasn’t what I expected. I thought it was going to be more like St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall where you walk across a causeway onto an island, I was WRONG.

Lindisfarne Castle is on Holy Island, which is a MASSIVE island. Ok, not massive, but you’re definitely not going to walk around the whole thing!

The fastest way to get to Holy Island is driving across the Holy Island causeway. It’s cut off twice a day by high tide and you need to research crossing times and give yourself plenty of time to leave. Once you’re on the island you can lose track of time and you can’t see the causeway or the incoming tide.

Just google “stuck on Holy Island causeway” and you’ll find TONS of images of submerged cars and rescue stories. It was enough to scare the crap out of me.

There’s only one parking lot and prepare to do some walking. It’s one mile from the parking lot to the base of the castle.

Highlights on Holy Island are the castle (of course), Lindisfarne Mead, Lindisfarne Priory, and the Holy Island Beach and harbor. The harbor has some very unique and quirky upturned boats converted into sheds.

Since this is one of the more well-known places to visit in Northumberland, it gets VERY busy!

The parking lot is full ALL THE TIME, and most places on the island are fully booked. I went during the off-season and it was still super busy! So plan ahead, get there as soon as the causeway opens and try to go on a weekday.

Planning your own trip to Northumberland? What are your favorite places to visit in Northumberland? LET ME KNOW in the comments below!

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Tags : Beaches , Castles , England , Northumberland , Seafood

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Thank you for this wonderful guide! The information on how you get in, how you park etc, when it’s busy, is so vital for a disabled person like me, and surprisingly rare.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! 🙂

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The Best 13 Things to Do in Alnwick Northumberland [ 6 Nearby! ]

A visit to England’s most northerly county wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Alnwick.  This small, but lovely town is the traditional market town of Northumberland, dating back to around 600 AD.   The town is most famous for Alnwick Castle, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Northumberland and the town was a staging post on the Great North Road from London to Edinburgh.   The main route north, the A1 has bypassed the town for decades, which brings an element of peace to a lovely, mainly stone-built central area.   Alnwick is a fabulous place to base yourself for a visit to Northumberland – and whatever your interest you’ll find plenty of things to do in Alnwick.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN  OUR DISCLAIMER

The town of Alnwick is named for the river Aln and the old English word “wic”, which means dairy farm or settlement.   The River ALN rises at Alnham (14 miles by road from Alnwick) and ends when it empties into the North Sea at the small village of Alnmouth on Northumberland’s east coast.    The town of Alnwick is dominated by Alnwick Castle, the second-largest inhabited castle in England (after Windsor Castle) – and is famous for having starred in many films including Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Harry Potter.  And while visiting Alnwick’s Castle will definitely take time there are some excellent places to visit in Alnwick and some fabulous things to do in and near the town.

The 13 Best Things to Do in Alnwick, Northumberland

Alnwick has some excellent hotel and holiday cottages to rent.  There are cafes and restaurants here if you don’t want to self-cater and several cosy pubs too.  Be sure to start with a visit to Alnwick Castle and then plan the rest of your visit to Alnwick with our guide here to the best things to do in Alnwick.

1. Take a Walking Tour of Alnwick

Exploring the town of Alnwick with a guide in your ear is a perfect way to understand the history and layout of Alnwick. And it’s super easy with this – self-guided audio tour! It’s easy to download, and lets you explore Alnwick at your own pace. You’ll visit the marketplace, explore the old Alnwick Garden and learn about the history of the town. The guide will steer you to Barter books, the castle and all the other places of interest that you’ll read about below! Plus it comes with a map too! Download your audio-guided tour of Alnwick here!

2. Visit Alnwick Castle

Alnwick is Northumberland’s most famous and well-known castle.  And in a county that has 70, that’s no mean feat!  Alnwick is the most famous because of its starring role in the Harry Potter movies, Downton Abbey and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.  Today Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England (after Windsor Castle) and remains the family home of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland.    There’s a huge amount to see and do at Alnwick Castle.  You’ll definitely need a full day to visit.  And you’ll also want to pre-book any tours if you have a specific interest in the film location tours, here are our top tips of what to see and do at Alnwick Castle.  We wrote more about Alnwick Castle in our guide to the castles of Northumberland here .

• Visit the double-level library of 14,000 books at Alnwick Castle.
• Take a stateroom tour of Alnwick Castle and see the Italian Renaissance style staterooms with elaborately carved ceilings, silk walls and a stunning private art collection.
• Take a film location tour of Alnwick Castle and visit where the flying car belonging to the Weasley Family of Harry Potter fame crashed.
• Take a broomstick training class while in Alnwick
• Visit the exhibitions of the history of Alnwick Castle’s previous residents and plotters.

Alnwick Castle is located right in the middle of the town of Alnwick and you cannot miss it.  If you’re staying in Alnwick, then we’d recommend leaving your car at your accommodation and walking.   There is a charge of £3 to park at the castle.

It’s best to prebook your visit and any tours that you might want to take and you do that directly with Alnwick Castle .

Alnwick Castle is open only during the summer months – and closes from 1 st November until the Spring – although the gardens are open year-round. 

3. Visit Alnwick Garden

The Alnwick Garden is the brainchild of the current Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy.   The idea of the garden was conceived in 1996 and the first part of the new garden opened in 2001.  The Rose Garden, Grand Cascade, Ornamental Garden and the Woodland Walk formed this first part of the project.   Additional projects followed and the garden now also includes the world’s largest Taihaku cherry orchard.  The gardens cover 42 acres and include more than 4,000 plant varieties and seasonal blooms. Alnwick Garden is one of the best gardens in Northumberland – we wrote about them all h ere.

You can always find out what’s in bloom here – and it’s worth taking the time to visit

• The Taihaku Cherry Orchard – comprising 392 cherry trees which bloom for around two weeks from the end of April to the beginning of May.
• Alnwick Garden’s Rose Garden:  June and July are the best times to visit to see the more than 300 highly scented roses.
• The Treehouse – the largest wooden treehouse in the world – the structure is built around 16 mature lime trees, which grow through and into the building.  It’s a special place for a glorious meal, a wedding or a special event.

Prebook tickets – or even become a friend of the Alnwick Garden and visit more regularly.  Special event tickets are required for events like Halloween at Alnwick Garden or Christmas at Alnwick Garden.

4. Visit the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle

Along with your entry to Alnwick Garden is access to the specially gated area of the Alnwick Poison Garden.    Here you’ll find 100 toxic, intoxicating, and narcotic plants.   You can only visit the Poison Garden on a guided tour.  There’s no smelling, touching or tasting and of the plants – although some visitors do occasionally faint from inhaling some of the fumes from the plants in the Poison Garden!

5. Explore Barter Books in Alnwick

Located in Alnwick’s old Victorian railway station, this bookstore was opened in 1991 and receives more than 350,000 visitors a year.  It’s often described as the British Library of second-hand bookshops.   The building was built in 1887 and was the main railway station in Alnwick until the Alnwick branch line closed in 1968.   The name of the shop comes from its use of a barter system – customers can exchange their books for credit against future purchases.  You can also buy books traditionally.  For cash. 

Barter Books is also famous for being the re-birthplace of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” trend of posters, books, mugs and so on that has swept the world.  The owners, Stuart and Mary Manely bought a box of old books at auction and discovered an original World War II poster – an original Keep Calm and Carry On – and an entire worldwide merchandising theme was born.

There is also a famous writers’ mural by local artist, Peter Dodd, which consists of 33 life-sized figures of famous writers.   The figures in the mural were selected by Mary Manley and it took two years to complete the 40 feet x 17 feet piece of artwork.  Adding to the murals in Barter Books is also a children mural and the characters from world literature mural.   

And as if you wanted more there’s a café, a roaring fireplace, a running model train and comfy armchairs in which to sit and get engrossed in your literary finds.  If you like books, you’ll LOVE Barter Books – and you’ll also love our selection of Northumberland’s best books .

Finally, Barter Books now has its own ice-cream parlour.   The Manley’s redesigned the former Stationmasters office and the former Lamp Room so there’s a display room for the ice cream and cakes and also a seating area too.  The ice cream comes from local Wheelbirks Farm’s Jersey cows.

6. Visit the Baliffgate Museum in Alnwick

The Baliffgate Museum is a volunteer-run museum in the heart of old town Alnwick – close to the Baliffgate entrance to Alnwick Castle.         The museum is housed in the old St Mary’s Church and since 2002 has provided an area to put the heritage of Alnwick and her surroundings on display.  The museum has always been volunteer-run and includes educational displays that showcase the heritage and art and crafts of the area.    You can easily while away several hours here and it’s great as a rainy day activity.  The Baliffgate Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and tickets cost £4 for adults and £1 for children aged 5-16.  Under 5’s are free.  There’s more about the Baliffgate Museum here – including details of temporary exhibitions.

7. Visit and Eat at The White Swan Hotel

The White Swan in Alnwick on Bondgate Within is a Grade II listed, 300-year-old coaching inn with a glorious arcade and decorated windows.   The most distinctive feature, however, of the inn is the Olympic Suite.   This room is furnished with the interior decorations from the RMS Olympic – and are virtually identical to those that were on the RMS Olympic’s sister ship, the RMS Titanic.  In 1822 the White Swan was the principal inn at which all coaches stopped on the Great North Road.

The Olympic Suite – an almost 4-metre high room measuring 18 metres by 19 metres – has panelled walls and decorated ceilings.  The room incorporates panelling, mirrors, a ceiling and stained-glass windows which were removed from the RMS  Olympic  when she was being dismantled in Jarrow in 1936.    Algernon Smart, the hotel’s owner had been a frequent traveller on the RMS Olympic and took part in the ship’s auction of the fixtures and fittings in 1935.    He had the winning bids for areas of the First Class Lounge, the D deck bannister from the Grand Staircase, the Aft First Class Staircase, and the revolving door from the liner’s restaurant.

So, if you’d like to dine in what is essentially a period replica of the Titanic First Class lounge, then Alnwick is where you need to come.  You’ll need to book, but it’s a unique dining experience here at the White Swan Olympic Restaurant.  (here’s a sample menu ) – you can also take afternoon tea here or a sumptuous breakfast.   Chefs at the White Swan use seasonally available produce and showcase the best of Northumberland’s food.   

8. Play Golf at Alnwick Castle Golf Club

Alnwick Castle Golf Club is one of 33 golf courses in Northumberland and is located less than a mile from the centre of Alnwick.  This is a stunning 18 hole parkland golf course and they welcome visitors.  Tee times can be booked in advance and buggy and trolley hire is available.  More information on golfing in Alnwick is here.

9. Visit the Fusiliers Museum of Alnwick

The Northumberland Fusiliers Regiment was raised in 1674 and provided services until 1968 when the regiment was amalgamated with Fusilier regiments from London, Warwickshire and Lancashire to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.  The museum is located within a tower of Alnwick Castle and is open from 1100 until 1700 during the Alnwick castle opening seasons.   Your ticket to Alnwick Castle includes your access to the Fusiliers Museum.   The Museums displays the history from the origins of the regiment in 1674 to the present day and is presented through the stories and voice of a soldier from recruit to veteran.  More information about the Alnwick Fusiliers Museum is here .

10. Visit Hulne Park, Northumberland

Hulne Park is the last remaining of three huge parks on the Alnwick Castle estate.  It’s still privately owned by the Earls of Northumberland, but is open to the public and includes a network of circular walking trails through the park.  Hulne Park covers thousands of acres and was one of the family hunting grounds.  It was in the 18 th century that landscape architect Capability Brown was hired to remodel the parkland.

There are walking trails here for all fitness levels, but the land is still used as a grazing area for cattle and sheep so no dogs are allowed here.  Cycling is also not permitted. Hulne Park is open from 1100 to sunset each day and both entry and parking are free.

Plan your route using the Ordnance Survey OS Maps app – easy to use and you can download the map data to your phone. Try a free trial for a week or buy monthly.

As it is privately owned, Hulne Park may be closed for special events – always check before visiting – and you can see details of openings as well as Hulne Park trail maps here.

One of the trails goes to the Brizlee Tower – it’s a 26 metre high Gothic  Revival tower. The tower is generally only open for special occasions, but views from the top are incredible.  Brizlee Tower was built in 1781 by Hugh Percy, the 1 st Duke of Northumberland, in memory of his wife, Lady Elizabeth Seymour.

11. See the Lion Bridge, Alnwick, Northumberland

The Lion Bridge, Alnwick is the most famous bridge over the River Aln.   Alnwick’s Lion Bridge was built by John Adam for Hugh Percy, the first Duke of Northumberland.  It’s in the Gothic Revival style.  The Lion in question is the Percy Lion, sculpted by John Knowles.   The Lion was restored in 1944 after a fairground wagon knocked it into the river.  

12. See the Hotspur Statue in Alnwick, Northumberland

You’ll find the Hotspur statue in Pottergate, Alnwick. This bronze statue is of the legendary knight Harry ‘Hotspur’ Percy.   It was unveiled in 2010 to commemorate 700 years of occupation of Alnwick Castle by the Percy family.  Hotspur was the name given to Sir Henry Percy, born in 1364 (or 1366, records as a little vague).   Hotspur was the eldest son of the 1 st Earl of Northumberland.  His nickname indicates he was somewhat impulsive and he acquired a reputation for being a great warrior.  After fighting the French and the Scottish he led a rebellion against the English King, Henry IV in 1403.  Hotspur was defeated and killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury when he was hit in the mouth by an arrow.  He was buried in Shropshire but later exhumed to quash rumours that he was still alive.  His body was then displayed in Shrewsbury impaled on a spear (he was after a traitor to the Crown), the body was later cut into four quarters and sent around England.  His head was stuck on a pole at the gates of York.  Hotspur is mentioned in some of our favourite books about Northumberland .

13. Visit Alnwick Market

You’ll find fresh produce, local crafts and a whole lot more at the weekly Alnwick Markets.  There’s also a local produce and makers market on the last Friday of the month.  Located in Alnwick Market place in the centre of town, the markets in Alnwick are open

• Thursday 0900 – 1700
• Friday 0900 – 1600
• Saturday 0900 – 1600

6 Top Things to do near Alnwick Northumberland

Alnwick is a great place to base yourself – try a holiday cottage for the ultimate flexibility and then explore the area around Alnwick, this part of the country really is glorious.  Here are some of the best options on what to do near Alnwick.

1. Visit Alnmouth from Alnwick

This small seaside town is just 4 miles, or 10 minutes drive from Alnwick – you can also get the bus here ( details here ).  Alnmouth is where the River Aln empties into the North Sea – and there’s a lovely sandy beach here along from the river mouth.  You’ll also find the smallest museum in Northumberland – the Ferryman’s Hut.  It was originally used as shelter by the ferrymen who use to row visitors across the river mouth but hasn’t been used for that since the 1960s.  The museum has photos and memorabilia of the last ferryman and his predecessors.  There are great views of the coastline from the St Cuthberts Cross on Church Hill and the Alnmouth Golf Club is the 4 th oldest in England. Mainly though, come to Alnmouth to spend a day on the gorgeous sandy beach!

2. Visit Holy Island from Alnwick

Linked to the mainland by a tidal causeway you’ll want to seriously check the tide tables before heading to Holy Island or Lindisfarne.  It’s a fabulous place to spend a day, or longer with Lindisfarne Castle to explore as well as some great walks and some super local mead to stock up on. > Read more about the best things to do on Holy Island here

3. Visit Bamburgh and Bamburgh Castle from Alnwick

It takes around 30 minutes to drive from Alnwick to Bamburgh and you’ll want to visit this gorgeous village.  There’s a stunning castle, fabulous village cricket in the centre and a superb museum about the heroine of the area, Grace Darling.  A visit to Bamburgh Castle can take most of the day, so pack a picnic, or head to the tea room there for lunch –  check out what else to do in Bamburgh here. Bamburgh also has one of the best beaches on the north east coast.

4. See the Chillingham Wild Cattle from Alnwick

There’s a castle at Chillingham, home of the Wakefield Family, but for us, the star of the show here are the Chillingham Wild Cattle.  These cattle are rarer than Giant Pandas and they’re descended from the herds that once roamed the ancient forests of Britain.  You can see them at  Chillingham Castle .  Alnwick to Chillingham Castle takes about 25 minutes in a car.

5. Visit Holy Island on a Day Trip from Alnwick

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is just 40 minutes drive from Alnwick – tides depending of course.  This glorious island of sanctuary just off the coast of Northumberland is connected by a tidal causeway – so you’ll want to be very clear when the causeway is clear as the tides are dangerous here.  Holy Island makes for a fabulous day trip from Alnwick (longer stays are even more special!) with a ruined priory in the location where Christianity came to the North East, a glorious Castle and walled garden and some stunning walks around the island –  read more about what to to do on Holy Island here. 

6. Visit Dunstanburgh Castle from Alnwick

Dunstanburgh Castle is located on a headland on the Northumberland Coast between the villages of Embleton and Craster.   There is only pedestrian access to the castle and it’s easiest to park in the village of Craster and walk the 1.3 miles from there.  It’s an easy, but uneven walk.  The castle is ruined, but the views of it from the shoreline are stunning.  It’s a great opportunity to walk part of the Northumberland Coastal Walk. We use the Ordnance Survey app – it makes finding your way around seriously easy!

Where to Stay in Alnwick Northumberland

The town of Alnwick is a great place to stay and base yourself on a visit to Northumberland.   Hunker down in a cosy hotel, pub, or B&B or pick out a stunning apartment or holiday cottage.  Here are our recommendations for the best Alnwick accommodations. If you need more recommendations, then our guide to the best places to stay in Alnwick is here.

Self-Catering Holiday Cottages in Alnwick

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding houses, apartments, and cottages in Alnwick. Whether you’re interested in a cosy central cottage or even a historic TOWER in the centre of Alnwick here are our favourites.

Stay in Pottergate Tower, Alnwick

Imagine saying I went to Alnwick and stayed in a Gothic Tower! Pottergate Tower is a glorious Grade II listed tower in the centre of Alnwick with stunning views over the town and castle. The tower sleeps 2, and is the perfect place for a romantic weekend away. It is stunningly decorated and furnished! Check prices and book your stay in a TOWER now!

Fox Cottage, Alnwick

Sleeping 6 people in 3 bedrooms, Fox Cottage, close to the centre of Alnwick is a lovely place to stay for your visit. The lounge is comfy, the kitchen is seriously well-equipped and the property also welcomes dogs. There’s a washing machine, dishwasher, and offroad parking for two cars! Check prices for Fox Cottage Alnwick and book now!

Hotels in Alnwick Northumberland

These hotels in and around Alnwick are fabulous places to stay for the night or longer.

• The Hogs Head Inn Alnwick – A great option on the outskirts of Alnwick. This full accessible Inn welcomes walkers, cyclists, people, and dogs! With comfortable rooms and an onsite restaurant this is a great option for staying near Alnwick > check availability and book now
• The Cookie Jar – Alnwick. The Cookie Jar was formerly the Convent of Mercy and is right in the centre of Alnwick. There’s a fully licensed residents lounge, super fast WiFi and 24 hour front desk. Each room has a private en-suite with a rainfall shower. Hypnos beds and flat screen TVs and you also get tea and coffee facilities and a jar of cookies! – reserve a room at the Cookie Jar now!

Where is Alnwick Northumberland

Alnwick is in the county of Northumberland – 60 minutes north of Newcastle Upon Tyne and 30 minutes south of Berwick upon Tweed.  The town of Alnwick is 10 minutes from the North East Coast at Alnmouth and is 35 miles (56 kilometres) from the closest airport, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

How to get to Alnwick Northumberland

Alnwick is bypassed and therefore easily accessible from the main route north through Northumberland, the A1.    Alnwick is around 60 minutes drive north of Newcastle Upon Tyne.  Alnwick is accessible by local bus services, by train to nearby Alnmouth and it is also easy to drive to Alnwick.

How to get to Alnwick Northumberland by Car

Getting to Alnwick by car is easy.  The town is just off the main A1 road.  You’ll find it about an hour north of Newcastle Upon Tyne and 30 minutes south of Berwick.  You’re just 10 minutes from the coast at Alnmouth.

If you need to rent a car in Northumberland , we recommend Discover Cars for car hire.  You can search, compare and save up to 70%, with no hidden fees and free cancellation, what have you got to lose? Get a price for a rental car in Northumberland here.

How to get to Alnwick Northumberland by Bus

Buses from London are run by National Express and take about 7.5 hours – check availability and detail here . Buses in Northumberland are run by Arriva Coast and Castle Connections.    The Arriva Coast Connection runs from Newcastle Upon Tyne to Alnwick (and beyond to Berwick Upon Tweed).  Traveline North East has all the details of bus services, times, and fare prices here.

How to get to Alnwick Northumberland by Train

The closest train station to Alnwick is Alnmouth, which is 10 minutes, or 4 miles away.   Fast trains stop at Alnmouth from London, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.  Alnmouth is on the East Coast Mainline route.   Check train options to Alnwick here. There’s a local bus stop a short walk from Alnmouth train station where you can then take the X18 or X20 bus run by Arriva from Alnmouth to Alnwick.  It runs every 30 minutes, or every 60 minutes on Sundays, with the journey taking 10 minutes.  The bus station in Alnwick is on Lagny Street, near Morrisons.

TRAVEL NORTHUMBERLAND ESSENTIALS These are the resources and booking sites that we use when we’re exploring Northumberland. BOOKS ABOUT NORTHUMBERLAND – Read about Northumberland in these incredible books BOOK BUSES & TRAINS to and from Northumberland with Omio RENT A CAR in Northumberland with Discover Cars ACCOMMODATION IN NORTHUMBERLAND : Book holiday cottages with Sykes Cottages & Holiday Cottages Find a glorious Northumberland Hotel or B&B with Booking.com Explore Northumberland’s Hostels with the YHA JOIN ENGLISH HERITAGE and explore Northumberland’s Castles & More WALK NORTHUMBERLAND with the Ordnance Survey App and maps BOOK ATTRACTIONS & NORTHUMBERLAND TOURS Use GetYourGuide for great Northumberland Attractions

Final Words on the Best Things to do in Alnwick Northumberland

The gorgeous Northumberland market town of Alnwick might be most famous for its castle, but there’s much more to explore here.  Find delights in one of the biggest secondhand bookstores in the world, a heritage museum, stunning gardens and fabulous places to eat, drink and stay. 

Northumberland’s Best is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates .

Sarah Carter

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