Alnwick in February

[thebignewtvsbroken]

Hello,

We have just booked accommodation in centre of Alnwick for 3 nights, mid February.

Planning to visit Lindisfarne / Holy Island. Never been before so any tips in this regard would be welcome.

Also, we are staying near Alnwick Castle but have just seen it's closed for the winter until March!

Does anybody have any other recommendations for things to do in and around Alnwick?

We use Serenity boat cruises whenever we're in Seahouses. On a good day you'll see puffins, seals and dolphins. Highly recommend the Black Swan Inn by the harbour for a meal, especially Sunday lunch.

If I had 4 days in Northumberland I'd have a day in Seahouses doing a cruise and have a meal. You could also walk over to Bamburgh and get the bus back. I'd have a day at Cragside, amazing house and stunning grounds. We usually pick up a picnic from Running Fox or stop for afternoon tea after. Both need pre-booking though. Howick Hall and Arboretum is beautiful and you could also incorporate Rumbling Kern, a proper Hidden Gem next to the Bathing House. And finally a day in Alnwick. Hulne Park is lovely but no dogs allowed and Sonnet is a must for food. We really don't rate Dirty Bottles tbh.

I love bamburgh beach and there is a RNLI museum that’s free and focuses on Grace Darling, her grace is in the churchyard opposite.
Love a look round Barter Books and apparently their cafe is nice. Carlos fish and chip shop does amazing ice cream.
Cragside is worth a visit, it’s worth getting NT membership if you don’t have it already.

I think you need to incorporate a Craster kipper in your trip .

Personally I don't think Bamburgh is worth the money to go inside - park at Seahouses get some chips and walk the 2-3 miles along the beach to the castle. Fantastic views

Love dunstunburgh castle

There's a great cafe in Alnwick called strawberry lounge tucked away down an alley - AMAZING cakes!

Alnwick Gardens is nice - again pretty expensive for .....well just a big garden. I'd say it's more worth it if you have kids as they often have school holiday events with trails and free crafts which makes the entry price more reasonable

Barter Books is worth a look around but usually overrun with dogs. In fact most of Alnwick is. Great if you have dogs yourself and taking yours with you but there are honestly more dogs than kids in many places

The market has some nice stalls on it if you are there over market day

Turnbulls butchers good for picking up meals to take back with you

Thank you all, lots of good places to look up.

Forgot to say, we have no dogs, but do have two young kids.

I was disappointed Alnwick castle will be closed but looks like there is plenty other places to keep us occupied.

Cragside 100% worth a visit. It was one of the highlights of our trip after we stumbled across it.

Bamburgh is just breathtaking, we didn't pay to go in as we had dogs with us, but just mooching around is nice!

Agree re Holy Island and tides! It's a beautiful part of the country though!

Earl Grey tea at Howick Hall (snowdrops might be out too)

Cragside

Ford and Etal (do the little train )

@thebignewtvsbroken

Oh if you have kids try Lillidorei at Alnwick castle - my eldest really enjoyed it

Depending on age there is Amble to watch the fishing boats and to go on puffin tours

Alnmouth has a lovely playground overlooking the beach you can walk along the beach round to

Alnwick has an indoor soft play at the leisure centre for £3.50 which mine really love and it's usually pretty quiet but good for wet weather days

There is the steam railway in Alnwick too and you can take a short trip on one - runs several times a day over weekends

Llidorei at Alnwick castle will be open, it's amazing for kids, check out their Instagram.

We did Bamburgh castle with our kids and they had a dinosaur thing on which was cool, I think just look at their instagram see if they have anything on that week
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Bamburgh has a new walled garden with cafe and the kids play area looks great! I think just called Bamburgh walled garden.

Near holy island crossing there is a pottery cafe and kids can paint.

I'm fairly sure Alnwick has a leisure club and pool although you may need to see if you can just turn up.

Boat trips outside seahouses if the sea is calm enough . We saw loads of seals! Farne islands are a bit stinky!

I'd agree with others. Barter books is fab.
Bamburgh castle is great. My kids love it.
Holy island is amazing!
A great place we visited recently for the first time (and I'm fairly local and used to live near Alnwick) Ford and Etal. It's a bit further north but we all loved it. There is a little steam train, a ruined castle, a lovely pub with thatched roof, a lavender tea room where I had the nicest lavender scone! a heavy horse centre where you can meet Clydesdale horses and a corn mill.

Other than that the trips to the farne island are amazing. The beaches are beautiful. Druridge bay is my lovely, Alnmouth is gorgeous for a little trip and walk on the beach.
You will have an amazing trip no matter what you do!

Lilidori and Alnwick garden will be great with the kids.

You might be the right time for the snowdrops at Howick Hall, they’re stunning when they’re out.

Holy Island is beautiful, be very careful with tide times and get off well before the safe crossing time as it can come in earlier than expected.

Bamburgh and Seahouses lovely, lots in Seahouses for kids - soft play (but check it’s open).

Cragside is stunning, if the house is closed the grounds are gorgeous, maze and play parks for the kids.

We're fortunate to live 40 mins from Cragside so go regularly and it never fails to amaze us. Such an incredible place.

Also useless trivia but the wooden ceiling in the King's Hall in Bamburgh Castle was made at Cragside!

Thanks@Newtrix that made me picture the huge trees at Cragside. It is truly a wonderful place. We like Wallington too but February is maybe a bit early to visit there.

I was at Wallington last weekend and had a lovely walk but nothing has bloomed yet. The Walled Garden is barren but we did spot 1 lot of snowdrop so they're on their way!