Visit Alnwick – Your holiday visitor guide to Alnwick, Northumberland – includes accommodation, attractions, activities, publications and local services for this unspoilt historic region.
Bog Mill Holiday Cottages – Local Information
Alnwick Town Centre
A few minutes drive, turn right at the top of our track, straight over at the first roundabout and then through ‘Bondgate Tower’ into the town centre.
Parking
Parking is free in the town centres of Alnwick, Morpeth and Berwick but do require the use of a parking disc. These are available to purchase in many local shops or machines in car parks £1.
Tourist Information
The Tourist Office is now located within the Alnwick playhouse, part of the new library section.
Useful websites are:
Bike Hire- The Bike Shop Alnwick. For all your bike maintenance and bike hire needs. Highly recommended.
Butchers
Turnbull’s does great meat as well as cold meats, pies, stir fries etc. It also has some fruit and veg. It has two shops, one is on the near side of Market Street next to the arch leading up to St Michael’s Lane. The other is on the out of town shopping park, next door to Marks and Spencers food hall.
In the corner of the market square is Kelvins (formerly Market Place Butchery), just meat but better value.
Supermarkets
Lidl is probably the nearest, on the left just after the Royal Oaks roundabout as you head towards town.
Aldi is on the right after turning left at the Royal Oaks roundabout.
Morrisons is on the right past the bus station.
Marks and Spencers food store. Opposite Sainsburys.
Sainsburys is at the south end of the town near the exit/roundabout for the A1. (Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys deliver in Alnwick now.)
Other Shops
You’ll find a Post Office up Wagonway Road (first left turn after Lidl, keep left at the y junction)
Boots and WH Smith are down Narrowgate.
Cash points & banks are on the far side of Market Street.
Markets
These have recently been subject to change. Check the www.alnwickmarkets.co.uk website for dates.
Places to Go
Alnwick
Barter Books. A huge second hand bookshop in the old train station in Alnwick. It is on the right on the way out of Alnwick towards the A1. The Café does good breakfasts. Also a great Ice Cream bar just new this year.
Alnwick Castle. *** (Seasonal opening applies see website for more details) Medieval Castle, one of the sets for Harry Potter. The best view is gained from the pastures. Go down Narrowgate and past the West Entrance to the Castle, down the hill to the river and walk along the riverbank. You can continue on and make a circular walk. See OS maps. Beware, it is closed over the winter when the family are in residence.
Alnwick Gardens. Impressive fountains, Rose Garden, Ornamental Garden, Maze and Poison Garden. Children will love the mini tractors at the bottom of the fountain as well as the opportunity to get soaked in some of the water features.
Bailiffgate Museum – lots of information about local heritage. Trails set up throughout the museum for children and activities on offer.
A good short guide detailing local walks in the area is available at local shops or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Northumberland-Coast-Country-Pocket-Mountains/dp/1907025316
The Coast
Alnmouth. Lovely seaside village with great beach and links Golf Course. Please note it is NOT safe to swim or paddle anywhere near or around the estuary at Alnmouth beach.
Bamburgh Castle. The Castle overlooks a large sandy beach. Bamburgh also has a couple of good pubs and restaurants. Good Golf Course.
Hauxley Nature Reserve. Bird and squirrel spotting, nice walk and welcoming cafe. Pick up a childrens activity leaflet from reception and find the brass rubbing points as you walk around the lake. Kids natural playarea.
Seahouses. For the busy harbour, trips to The Farne Islands, fish & chips and Swallowfish Ltd (locally caught fish, shellfish and smokehouse).
Lindisfarne. Visit the Castle, Priory and Harbour but check the crossing times before setting off. What is open on Holy Island?
Embleton. Great beach with view of Dunstanburgh Castle, and Golf course.
Craster. L Robson & Son for Craster Kippers and try the Jolly Fisherman for food and drink.
Heatherslaw Mill and Light Steam Railway A great day out with kids, ride on the minature railway, lunch at the café or pub in Etal and then get the train back again through the beautiful countryside. Lady Waterford’s hall and Heatherslaw Mill well worth a visit too.
Chillingham Castle spooky and unusual, fun castle to visit.
Howick Hall. (Seasonal opening applies, see website for more details) Near Craster. The ancestral home of Earl Grey with Gardens, Arboretum and tea house. Earl Grey tea was devised to suit the water here.
Great for kids with sensory garden, and just loads of room to explore and run wild!
Farne Islands. Trips go from Seahouses to spot seals, sea birds and puffins (in season).
Kielder Reservoir great day out with kids. Take bikes for a cycle around the reservoir. Visit the sculptures in the forest. Get lost in the maze at Kielder Castle, stare at the stars from the observatory- advance booking required. Visit https://www.visitkielder.com/visit/kielder-castle-visitor-centre
Warkworth. A village further down the coast from Alnmouth. There is a castle to visit and a fantastic Patisserie/ Chocolaterie called Cabosse.
Coastal Walking:
Craster to Dunstanburgh, Dunstanburgh to Embleton, and Embleton to Newton by the Sea,are all lovely stretches of coastline.
Best Beaches
Alnmouth – drive into village, turn left towards sea and drive carefully over golf course to park. Please note it is NOT safe to swim or paddle anywhere near or in the estuary.
Embleton – park on the road to the golf course and walk over the course to the beach.
Bamburgh – beautiful beach dominated by Bamburgh Castle on the headland.
http://www.bamburghcastle.com/
Sugar Sands -follow the sign to Low Steads Farm in Longhoughton and keep on through it until you reach parking on the land above the beach.
Football hole -a walk North from Low Newton but a lovely little cove.
Ross Sands near Belford – it’s a biggish walk from where you park your car at the roadside near the farm, but worth it.
Inland
Cheviot Hills. Great Walking. Some OS maps and walking books available in the cottage. Other information in the tourist office. Good walks include Windy Gyle from the valley beyond Alwinton, and Hedgehope from Ingram passing Linhope Spout.
Cheviot Hills
The Simonsides– Lovely walks from just beyond Rothbury
Chillingham Cattle. A wild herd of Cattle. The tour around them has to be done with the warden. Telephone 01668 215250 to arrange a visit.
Cragside. National Trust property which was the first in the world to be lit by electricity. House is full of gadgets and there are gardens and a large estate to explore. Perfect day out with children, be sure to explore the Labyrinth, and large play area.
Wallington. Another National Trust property worth a visit.
Paxton House– lovely gardens and impressive house, often events.
Belsay Hall– English Heritage property with beautiful quarry garden.
Hadrian’s Wall. Impressive forts at Chesters, Vindolanda and Housesteads, as well as the opportunity to walk along the wall. I am told west of Vindolanda is the “best bit” (an hour away).
Further Afield
Newcastle
The quayside, the Baltic art gallery and the Sage Concert Hall definitely worth a visit. There is a market on the quayside every Sunday 9.30 to 2.30pm.
The Hancock Museum
The Discovery Museum
Northumberlandia is a human landform sculpture, just off the A1 on the way to Newcastle from Alnwick.
Northumberland Zoo – look for the Beef Jerky van at side of A1 half way between Alnwick and Morpeth.
Edinburgh– A regular train service from our local train station at Alnmouth is probably the easiest way to visit Scotland’s capital city.
Morpeth
Another Northumbrian market town which is bigger than Alnwick but still has a good feel to it. It has a very large Morrisons and a large Marks & Spencer if you need more choice for your food shopping!
Cinemas
Alnwick Playhouse 01665 510 785 http://www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Just reopened after extensive refurbishment. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Vue, Cramlington 08712 240240 Vue, Cramlington
Odeon, Silverlink 08712244007 www.odeon.co.uk/silverlink
Taken from a friend’s website , thank you Helen Burn! but I quite agree her week sounds lovely– My Ideal Week In Northumberland
Day 1
Walk from Craster to Newton by the Sea passing Dunstanburgh Castle. Lunch at The Ship or The Joiners in Newton and return to Craster to buy Kippers.
Day 2
Trip to the Farne Islands, followed by Fish and Chips in Seahouses.
Day 3
A day in Alnwick visiting the Castle, Gardens and finishing off with tea and a browse in Barter Books.
Day 4
A walk along Bamburgh beach. Continue to Holy Island (by car) depending on crossing times. A stop at The Barn at Beal for refreshments.
Day 5
A walk in the Cheviots. Rothbury makes a good stopping point for provisions. Alternatively walk up the Simonsides.
Day 6
A morning in Alnmouth, walking along the beach and up the Estuary. A browse in the village and something to eat in one of the cafes or pubs. The afternoon could be spent at Howick Hall finished off with tea in the Earl Grey Tea room.
With Children
Alnwick Castle
Especially good for all the Harry Potter fans.
Alnwick Gardens
They will love the maze, fountains and mini tractors
Cragside
Great playpark, labyrinth, walks and picnic area.
Seahouses
Crazy golf, the Ocean Club swimming pool, The Bunker soft play and fish & chips!
Barter Books
Has a great children’s section, a model train running around the tops of the shelves and a good café.
Willowburn Leisure Centre
Children’s pool as well as a regular 25m pool and a climbing/bouldering wall (there are no ropes only low level climbing).
http://www.activenorthumberland.org.uk/Centres/Willowburn-Sports-and-Leisure-Centre.aspx
Pick your own fruit
Raspberries and Strawberries available for picking from mid June to late July, 15 minutes away just off the A1 near Felton.
Morwick Ice Cream Parlour
A good spot for after a trip to the beach. On a dairy farm just south of Warkworth- signposted from there.
Spurrelli – Amble
Ice-cream parlour and great for grown-ups too, offering good coffee.
http://www.spurreli.com/
Castle Mania
Soft play at the southern end of Amble. Great for all the rainy days…
http://www.castlemania-uk.com/
Alnmouth Play Park
Follow the main street in Alnwick until you get to the end and continue around to the right. The play park is when you cannot go further. Has the bonus of a permanent barbeque and you can hop over the wall to the boats and beach.
Hauxley Nature Reserve
https://www.nwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/hauxley
Ford-Etal Steam Train
This mini steam train has a 25 minute each way trip from Ford to Etal, a picturesque village where refreshments can be found at the pub or tea room.
http://heatherslawlightrailway.co.uk/
Northumberland Zoo
Small but large selection of animals to see and playpark.
https://www.northumberlandzoo.co.uk/
Whitehouse Farm
More mini tractors, trampolines, play area as well as lots of animals. Pricey but you could spend a whole day there. Near Morpeth.
http://www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk/
Warkworth Castle
Ask for the bag of stuff and there is a great children’s guide which comes with a little bag to open in each room of the main castle.