Alnwick

Alnwick is a pretty town in Northumberland, England. It is best known for Alnwick Castle, which gas been used for the filming of many TV shows and movies, including the Harry Potter films. Its name is pronounced 'Annick'.

Get in

By bus

Arriva Bus X15 MAX runs hourly from Newcastle upon Tyne Haymarket, taking 90 min via Gosforth and Morpeth, as of July 2022. Alternate buses continue north up the A1 to Beal (for Lindisfarne), Scremerston and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

By train

The nearest railway station is Alnmouth 3 mi (4.8 km) southwest, with trains on the London King's Cross-Newcastle-Edinburgh route. The Arriva Bus X18 and X20 MAX routes run every half hour from Alnmouth Station to Alnwick (13 min) as of July 2022 or organise a taxi (£12 as of Oct 2022).

Get around

On foot or by taxi.

• The Yellow Taxi (Russell Draper) (☏ +44 1665 541 250) - Up to six passengers can travel in style in a genuine London taxi.

See

• 1 Alnwick Castle. Grounds and towers daily 10AM-4:30PM (last entry 3PM). The "poison garden" tour is entertaining. Seeing the castle might be a thrill for people who are fans of the Harry Potter films, Rowan Atkinson's "Black Adder", Transformer 5, or Downtown Abbey (it was used as "Brancaster Castle" in two Christmas specials. Walking tours are included in the prices (historical or film locations), and there are children's activities, like introductory broom-riding. Adult £19.50, 60+ or full time education £15.75, 5 to 16 years £19.25, under 4 free (2 adults and up to 4 children £53. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Alnwick Gardens. This is a fantastic place to visit with a young family. There are numerous fountains (modern design) that children are allowed to play in. It is a bit pricely to get in but children are free! The cafe provides children's lunch boxes at a reasonable price.  
• 3 Brinkburn Priory, Longframlington, NE65 8AR (14 mi (23 km) south of Alnwick), ☏ +44 1665 570628. adults £3.50, children £2.10, concessions £3.20.  
• 4 Dunstanburgh Castle, Dunstanburgh Road, Craster, NE66 3TT (7 mi (11 km) north east of Alnwick), ☏ +44 1665 576231. adults £4.20, children £2.50, concessions £3.80.  
• 5 Warkworth Castle and Hermitage, Castle Terrace, Warkworth, NE65 0UJ (8 mi (13 km) south east of Alnwick), ☏ +44 1665 711423. adults £5.00, children £3.00, concessions £4.50.  
• 6 Cragside, Rothbury, NE65 7PX (10 mi (16 km) south east of Alnwick), ☏ +44 1669 620333, cragside@nationaltrust.org.uk.  
• 7 Aln Valley Railway, Lionheart Railway Station, Lionheart Enterprise Park. 10:30AM-4:30PM (on advertised operating days - see https://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk/tickets/#/). A short preserved railway. (updated Jun 2020)

Do

• 1 Lilidorei is a theme park within Alnwick Castle grounds.

Buy

• 1 Barter Books, Alnwick Station, NE66 2NP, ☏ +44 1665 604888. Daily 9AM-7PM, closed only on Christmas Day; buffet: 9AM–6:30PM, last orders for hot food 5PM; ice cream parlour 11AM-4PM. The largest second hand bookstore in the UK, housed in the former railway station. It is the loveliest place and its charm is complete with a fireplace, old Victorian sofas, and a miniature train running on top of the bookshelves. It holds some very old and rare books and has its own cafe in the back. (updated Oct 2022)

Eat

• A good cheap pizza place is on the high street.
• Olympic Restaurant. Within the White Swan Hotel (see Sleep) is a recreation of the first class lounge of RMS Olympic, the sister ship of Titanic. The hotel bought the fittings, along with a revolving door and staircase when the ship was scrapped in Jarrow in 1936. Have breakfast, lunch, Sunday afternoon tea or dinner to see what dining on the Titanic might have been like - although the menu is contemporary. (updated Oct 2023)

Drink

• 1 Blackmore's. A friendly new modern bar next to Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without. Much more friendly atmosphere for tourists. 

Sleep

• 1 White Swan Hotel, Bondgate Within, Alnwick NE66 1TD, ☏ +44 1665 602109. Hotel in a 18th century coaching inn (which means no lift to upper floors). Bedrooms are modern and middlebrow, yet you're paying upmarket prices. Its most distinctive feature is the dining room, furnished from RMS Olympic, see Eat . B&B double £170. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Cookie Jar, 12 Baliffgate, Alnwick NE66 1LU, ☏ +44 1665 510465. Smart stylish upscale hotel in former convent with good dining. B&B double £160. (updated Aug 2020)
• Bailiffgate Hotel by the castle opens in Aug 2024.

Connect

As of July 2021, Alnwick has a patchy 4G signal from all UK carriers. 5G has not reached the town.

Go next

Routes through Alnwick

Edinburgh ← Berwick-upon-Tweed ←

N  S

→ Morpeth → Newcastle upon Tyne