Alnwick- Things to do

[Newtrix]

We're stopping at Alnwick for the day on our way to Beadnell and wondered what the best place to go/thing to do is. Option are Alnwick Garden, Alnwick Castle, Howick House and Arboretum.

The following day we're doing the Dunstanburgh Castle walk and going to a Running Fox for afternoon tea.

We love Alnwick Gardens. They are lovely. If you have children then there is an area with lots of water features that they can play in and get drenched. The rose garden is wonderful and the one right at the top of the cascade I could walk around for hours. The poison garden tour is brilliant too

My 16 year old attempted to be a moody teen and not come with us a few weeks ago. When we got there he ran around the gardens for hours with his little brother.

We have been to the Castle once, it was OK but not a patch on the garden.

Don't forget to pop down the road and visit Barter Books!

Know Alnwick well. Gardens are FAB, esp with young kids but even Teens / adults as Poison Garden is great.
Plus Europe's biggest Tree House.
Then to Barter Books for tea & cakes.
Enjoy, you'll have a wonderful time !

The gardens are fab. And the bookshop. The restaurant in the treehouse was great too.

Barter Books, and Barter Books, then get an ice cream, then Barter Books. Also Alnmouth is lovely and just a bit further down the A1 is Northumberland Zoo which is nice.

The Alnwick garden is lovely. If your kids are young, make sure to read reviews on the new Llilidorei play area before committing (which is booked/paid separately to the rest of the place). It sounds fabulous but there are elements of it which I know my just turned 6 year old might not enjoy yet and issues with the play frame being so huge that keeping track of your kids is difficult.

The rest of the Alnwick garden is fabulous with kids anyway. Took DD last summer and we all had a brilliant time.

Definitely Barter books. It's a happy chilled out place and they can come out with an armful of second hand books for very little. The cafe is ok but coffee not brilliant.

I love Warkworth for a wander.

On the way up to Alnwick Woodhorn Museum is fab

Barter books.

Another vote for Alnwick Gardens. They have little diggers for kids to play on; I thought at one point we might never actually get past that point!
I like the Castle too. They often have some Harry Potter based activities going on.
Barter Books has a miniature train that runs along a track above the bookshelves, our 2yo was transfixed.

Love the Jolly Fisherman before/after Dunstanburgh walk... Barter Books... yes ANY Running Fox (Felton's our favourite) & Morpeth town

Sorry, just seen pp mentioning Barter Books

Alnwick gardens is great. Much better than the castle. As already mentioned, barter books is a must!

We went to the gardens in May half term and enjoyed it but hardly any of the flowers were in bloom. By now I would imagine it is looking glorious.

Alnwick Gardens seems pretty unanimous!
@Mother87 The Jolly Fisherman has also been recommended, is it pub grub? Would we need to/be worth booking a table?

We always DO book @ jolly fisherman as it sometimes gets rammed...

Another fave/fab place we go to IF you have time in the area, is Amble.... little arty-craft huts/fab ice cream @ Spurellis & amazing food at Old Boathouse or Fish Shack... and watching the few boats come in/out (5 mins drive from Warkworth - you might already know it)

Barte Books IS fab/atmospheric... Cafés always been a bit meh (well the staff) so we usually try find a running fox or drive further to Alnmouth Beach

Alnwick gardens - playing in the water features was one of the best days out we’ve ever had. There is a new adventure playground called Lilidorei there too we need to go to (booked separately)

I've not seen the new play area yet, but Alnwick Garden is great.
Something to be aware of if you do go to Howick, it's only the grounds that are open to the public, the itself house isn't (apart from the tea room).
Have a great time 🙂