Alnwick

[CharlieandLolaCat]

Hi all, we're heading up to Alnwick in a couple of weeks - I am super excited, we are going on a boat trip round the Farne Islands, go round Alnwick castle (which I think is how you do the HP stuff) and gardens, bamburgh, Hadrian's Wall, holy island, cragside, beamish museum. What am I missing? Anyone know anywhere to eat in Alnwick? Me and a 7 yr old boy who loves pizza!

@CharlieandLolaCat don’t rethink it! It’s excellent! You just need to do it on the way there or back. Or come up again and stay at durham and do it then

I think you've pretty much got it covered,.most of what you mentioned will take a day each to do properly.

There’s a very sweet little cake shop called Origami on one of the main streets - the owner was lovely and the cakes delicious. I also think the book shop is fantastic.

DH is from near Alnwick, and we have spent a lot of time in Northumberland. I have compiled a list of places to visit and things to do. It is by no means exhaustive.

Towns
Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Berwick upon Tweed, Rothbury, Warkworth

Castles
Alnwick Castle and gardens, Aydon Castle, Chillingham, Warkworth, Belsay, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne

Stately homes
Cragside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval

Other Attractions
Holy Island, Hadrian's Wall - Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters, Corbridge Roman Town, Howick gardens, Woodhorn museum, Farne Islands, Grace Darling museum, Brinkburn Priory, Warkworth hermitage, Hauxley nature reserve, Kielder, Ingram Valley, Coquet Island, Coquet Valley, Ford and Etal

Beaches
Druridge bay, Alnmouth, Embleton, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Newbiggin, Cresswell, Holy Island, Cocklawburn, Beadnell, Low Newton, Longhoughton, Boulmer, Warkworth, Seaton Sluice

Children
Whitehouse farm centre, Kirkley hall zoological gardens, Heatherslaw light railway, Eshott Heugh animal park, Northumberlandia

We’ve done a day at Beamish from Alnwick, it’s not too far. It is amazing, so much to see, a very full day, at least. In Alnwick you can’t beat a bacon roll at Barter Books.

Wet weather options - Seven Stories in Newcastle is wonderful depending on the age of children - my kids used to find it magical.

Chillingham Castle is gloriously eccentric and a great day out.

You guys are brilliant! We may have to go back!

@MilduraS

Not exactly Alnwick but if you have time, a trip to the Jolly Fisherman Inn in Craster is well worth it. I used to go there regularly when an ex was working at the RAF base in Boulmer. There was a great coastal walk from the base to the pub.

@MilduraS - I second the Jolly Fisherman. We too used to go there when hubby was posted there with the RAF!

So sadly today is our last day but it has been one of the best holidays in an amazing location with brilliant weather (which helped a lot). We did so much, so many castles: Alnwick, Warkworth, Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh, Chillingham; Hadrian's Wall at Housesteads; Cragside and Wallington Hall; guillemots, cormorants, seals and puffins on a boat trip round the farnes before landing on Inner Farne to see nesting puffins; Beamish Museum; Barter books; Bailiffgate Museum; mini golf; loads of beaches: Embleton, Alnmouth, Bamburgh, Cresswell ... not to mention the food, fish and chips, ice cream and pizzas and of course all the friendly people!

Can't believe it's only been a week!

Thank you for guiding me! Have a (frankly rather crap but you get the idea) puffin pic in gratitude!

Oh, I’m so pleased you had a lovely time! Puffins are the best!
We’re going home next week and I can’t wait. I need to be by the sea again.

We got back from a week in Cresswell yesterday and had such a brilliant time. Wasn't quite as hot as it was further south but honestly the beaches up there are the best I've ever been to in the uk- the photos look like we've been on a tropical island . Bamburgh beach was just magical and it was far quieter than the more obvious beach resorts - parking was really easy etc ... we kept saying that we can't believe people drive seven hours to Cornwall (from where we live) when these beaches are half the journey time with no traffic or congestion
lindisfarne also amazing
We were a bit disappointed with Alnwick gardens tbh but loved barter books
Very jealous of the puffin spot that is my plan for next time we go !

Cragside House is wonderful!

Can I ask if people do Alnwick Castle and the Gardens in one day? With young children? We need to prebook. Thanks!

@Ragdoll27 we did - went in to the castle at 9.30 got a coffee, booked in a broomstick lesson and the dragon quest thing and then went for a wander. Did the film tour after the broomstick lesson and dragon quest and then went to the state rooms (galloped through). And then had lunch and went to the gardens at 1.30. We could have been quicker. And take a change of clothes - my 7 yr old played in the fountains (not the main ones the ones to the side) and then we did mini golf.

Potted lobster is an amazing fish restaurant!

I loved the gardens at Alnwick - take a picnic and you can eat it on the swings in the cherry orchard. And if you go to Holy Island take a picnic too. We got rinsed at the Post Office cafe there - I’m not right but nearly £40 for two toasties, two chips, two soft drinks and a cake made me wince a bit!

The beach at Beadnell is amazing, and there’s a shack in the car park called Bait at Beadnell that does amazing food - look them up on Instagram. Ditto Box Pizza which someone else has mentioned. The chippy in Seahouses does crabby fries which are amazing, and Swallow fish there does incredible massive crab sandwiches.

@CharlieandLolacat great thanks for the tips, will do that!

All really helpful, we are going back to Northumberland in a couple of weeks.

Just to echo what pp said, check and double check the tide times for Holy Island.
We got stuck there for a few hours. This was about 30 years ago and I think it must have been a Sunday as there was nothing open apart from one very basic cafe!