Alnwick Castle and Garden: An Ultimate Guide
Set in the market town of Alnwick, this grand castle and its modern gardens are among the most popular attractions in northern England. The castle is the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country. With over 950 years of history, spectacular grounds, and cinematic fame, it makes for a perfect day out while in the area.
If you’re planning a visit to this wonderful place, I hope this guide can help you! Read on to find out more.
Alnwick Castle
History
The Castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest (11th century) to guard against Scottish invasions. In the 14th century, it was expanded into a formidable fortress. Since 1309, it has been home to the Percy family, powerful nobles who played major roles in English history (especially in the Wars of the Roses). The castle remains the residence of the current Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.
Important information: Entry to the castle is £23.95. I think this is quite expensive, and it’s payable directly to the Percy’s, a family of huge generational wealth.
What to See & Do
In total we spent around 2 hours in the castle and enjoyed the visit. There is a lot to see and do, and the highlight for me was the Northumberland Fusilier Museum telling the story of the regiment. I’ve been doing some family tree research for a close friend whose great grandfather was part of the regiment and died on the battlefield in WW1 so I was interested to learn more. Aside from the war museum, there’s lots more on site:
- State Rooms: Lavishly decorated interiors with Italian Renaissance paintings, period furniture, and fine art collections.
- Medieval Courtyards & Towers: Explore the architecture, with battlements and defensive walls.
- Harry Potter Connections: Alnwick Castle was used as a filming location for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets. Broomstick flying lessons are offered in the grounds!
- Historic Exhibits: Learn about the Percy family, knights, and castle life through interactive displays. I particularly enjoyed the small exhibit of the Percy family’s role in the Wars of the Roses, and the explanation of the Percy tenantry volunteers – a huge volunteer force defending the Percys’ lands.
- Events & Reenactments: Seasonal activities include falconry, medieval combat demonstrations, and costumed guides.
The Alnwick Garden
Created in 2001 by Duchess Jane Percy, The Alnwick Garden is a bold modern design blending beauty, playfulness, and education. It really is gorgeous and very well done, and we spent about 2 hours enjoying the garden.
Important information: Entry to the garden is additional to the Castle. The entrance fee is £20.80, another hefty price tag.
Highlights
- The Grand Cascade: A stunning central waterfall feature with regular displays of tumbling water.
- The Poison Garden: Guided tours reveal plants with deadly, toxic, or medicinal qualities – one of the most unique gardens in Europe.
- The Rose Garden: A romantic space with hundreds of varieties in bloom in summer.
- Cherry Blossom Orchard: The largest in the UK, spectacular in spring but beautiful in any season with its rows of swings.
- Interactive Features: Bamboo labyrinth, water sculptures, and family-friendly play areas.
I have to say that this was one of my favourite things to do on my entire visit to Northumberland. We were lucky with the weather but the garden was just so beautiful, and you know how I love a garden. I need to get myself one of these swings too!
Other Things to Do
Also on site are a number of other attractions, all separately payable of course.
- Forgotten Garden Adventure Golf (£3.50 per person per round)
- Lilidorei children’s play area (entrance £15!)
- The Treehouse for a unique restaurant. We had a meal here and prices were reasonable at £24/person for 2 courses. Be sure to book ahead as it gets busy!
Practical Visitor Information
There is so much to see and do at Alnwick Castle and Garden that it’s worth at least half a day of your time. In total we spent 5.5 hours on site, including lunch in the restaurant.
- Location: Alnwick, Northumberland (just off the A1; about 30 miles from Newcastle, 5 miles from the coast).
- Parking: Car parking is available on site, at £3.50 per car.
- Opening Times: Seasonal (typically March–October for the castle, year-round for parts of the garden). Always check in advance.
- Tickets: Combined tickets are not available. Booking online often saves money.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair access is available in many areas, though some historic sections have limitations.
- Food & Drink: On-site cafés and the unique Treehouse Restaurant. Picnicking areas also available.
- Events: Summer sees outdoor theatre, garden light trails, and special exhibitions.
- Cost: Expect a day here to cost northwards of £50 per person, and northwards of £75 per person if you intend to eat in the restaurant.
So there you have it – an absolutely wonderful day at Alnwick Castle and Garden. I truly loved it, but it left a sour taste in my mouth with the cost. I don’t mind paying entry, but the fact that these prices are higher than is normal and going directly to a wealthy family of Dukes and Duchesses, not a charitable trust or heritage organisation, didn’t quite sit right with me. That said, on balance I’d still highly recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting, as both the castle and garden are stunning.
Stay safe and happy travelling!
