Tell me your must do's for York and Bamburgh!

[LonelyTiredandLow]

Dd (8) and I are off for just under a week with a stop over on the way for an afternoon (2ish) and next morning in York until lunch.

I was planning on doing the open top bus to get our bearings and see what we might like to do. Maybe the boat trip in the afternoon?

We then drive on to Bamburgh and have 5 days to explore. I've read another thread suggesting the castles and Farne Islands (different from Hope Island and Lindesfarne?) but the previous thread was 5yrs old, so I thought I should ask again for any updated things to do/places to eat!

Is there a good bike trail and places to lock up bikes?

I've not arranged a stop off on the way back yet - coming back to Kent - so any suggestions for an overnight stay would be welcome too. I was considering Sherwood Forest but I think they had a festival this weekend so I was worried about cost/parking, etc?

Alnwick Castle is excellent
Definitely eat in The Treehouse in Alnwick garden www.alnwickgarden.com/the-treehouse/welcome-to-the-treehouse/

Thank you Ricekrispie! Dd would love a tree house so I have booked us in for a lunch

Walk the city walls then do a boat trip in York.

Thanks - I hadn't thought of that as a way of seeing the City! Am I right in thinking the boat leaves from the park?

Don't forget barter books while you are in Alnwick. The bailiff gate museum there is good too.

Farne island boat trips leave from Seahouses, not far from Bamburgh.
There are different types and lengths of trips.
Some land on an island to see the birds but your 8 yr old might find the nesting birds a bit scary, but that is usually the Arctic terns and their nesting season may be over now. We went with Billy Shiels and they will advise you. Their booking office is on the roundabout in the middle of the (tiny) town.

National Railway Museum and Dig! In York, bamburgh castle, seahouses, Farne island boat trip (yes from seahouses), bamburgh beach and a trip over the causeway to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) when you get to Northumberland.

RedLips ooh I love the look of Barter Books! That might have to be our first stop if the weather is rubbish on the first day. I wouldn't have known about that, so thank you!

Thanks for explaining Holy Island/Lindisfarne are the same deplorabelle! I kept thinking they were and then reading more and getting confused. And thanks for the heads-up (or down?) re the migrating birds Raera. I saw advice to take an umbrella on another thread!

Chocolate Story tour is amazing with a fondue in the cafe afterwards.

I was just looking at that Groovee - DD would certainly enjoy it. How long does the tour take? have too much to cram in! It looks quite central so we might hop off the bus if we see it.

This is a nice twitter account for the Farne Islands. I think the puffins have more or less left now. mobile.twitter.com/NTFarneIslands

York is lovely and there's loads to do! National Railway Museum is free and inside if it's wet. The Castle Museum is great too. Walking the walls, river cruise, museum gardens and seeing the Minster all good if the weather is nice. The Shambles are definitely worth a visit too, and the Fudge Kitchen on Low Petergate near the Shambles does the most amazing fudge. You can often see it being made and they always have some to try!