Alnwick Castle and Gardens – A Simple Guide
Alnwick Castle and Gardens is one of the Uk’s most visited castles and for good reason. Located in the heart of Northumberland in England, the castle now attracts a large number of visitors each year.
The castle and gardens themselves offer visitors a unique blend of historical grandeur, magical charm, along with a natural beauty of its surroundings.
If you are planning to visit Alnwick Castle and Gardens, you may have several questions. Hopefully, this guide will help answer questions you may have, as well as provide you with useful information and facts to help make your visit easier.
Is Alnwick Castle Worth Visiting:
Yes without any doubt, Alnwick Castle is worth visiting. Whether you are a fan of Medieval history, the Harry Potter films or love to be surrounded by natural beauty and gardens, there is something for everyone. The rich history and stunning architecture will keep you enchanted for the duration of your visit. Not only that but the natural beauty of the amazing and well renowned gardens are something to be seen.
Where Is Alnwick Castle Located:
Alnwick Castle is located in a small market town in Northumberland in England, known as Alnwick. The town of Alnwick is conveniently situated just off the A1 and just 30 miles (48 kilometers) North of Newcastle and approximately 80 miles (129 kilometers South of Edinburgh in Scotland.
What Is The Closest Airport To Alnwick Castle:
The closest airport to Alnwick Castle is Newcastle International Airport (NCL). Newcastle Airport is located approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Alnwick and is around 40-45 minutes drive by car. As a result of the proximity from the airport, it makes getting to and from the castle very easy, if you are arriving by plane. Hiring a car from the airport is a popular choice with many people, as it provides the perfect form of transport for your stay. To find and compare the best prices on car hire, please visit the following page: Car hire from Newcastle Airport
What Is The Closest Train Station To Alnwick Castle:
The closest train station to Alnwick Castle is Alnmouth. Alnmouth railway station is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) East of the castle itself. There are several train services that run from major towns and cities in the UK to Alnmouth, including trains from both Newcastle and Edinburgh. Once again, these regular train services to Alnmouth from Newcastle and Edinburgh, make reaching Alnwick Castle relatively easy by train. From the train station in Alnmouth, you can then either take a taxi or catch the bus to Alnwick Castle. Both the X18 and X20 bus services stop at Alnmouth train station and then go on to Alnwick Castle. Catching the bus is a popular option with many people and is a cost effective for of transport. However, if there are several people travelling in your party, then taking a taxi, maybe be worth considering if the cost can be shared.
How to Get There:
Getting to Alnwick Castle and Gardens is relatively straightforward. Whether you are travelling by car, train, plane or by sea, there are several options in terms of transport.
Car:
As previously mentioned, Alnwick Castle is ideally located just off the A1 motorway. As a result, it makes reaching the castle by road very easy.
Train:
Getting to Alnwick Castle by train is very easy and is a popular choice with many people. As a result of the many train services that stop at Alnmouth station, travelling by rail is well worth considering. The East Coast mainline train service that runs between London and Edinburgh, stops at Alnmouth station. This means that even if you are travelling from London, the train journey is relatively easy. Find the best prices on trains to Alnmouth.
Plane:
If you are flying into Newcastle Airport, Alnwick Castle is just a short drive away. You can either hire a car from the airport or you can use public transport to get to the castle. If you want to get to Alnwick by public transport, you can either use the local bus services from Newcastle or catch the train from Newcastle to Alnmouth.
From Newcastle International Airport or Alnmouth for Alnwick Station, you can take a taxi or hire a car to reach the castle. Alternatively, there are regular bus services from both locations that stop near the castle.
Sea:
If you are arriving into Newcastle by sea, then the Port of Tyne is just 35 miles (56 kilometers) away. Once again, from the city of Newcastle, you can either catch the X15, X18 or X20 bus services to Alnwick Castle or you can catch the train to Alnmouth station. From there you can can one of the local buses or take a taxi.
What Is Alnwick Castle Famous For:
Alnwick Castle is one of the most iconic castles in the whole of the United Kingdom. The castle itself has over 900 years of history, as well as being made even more famous being featured in many different TV dramas and films. The castle certainly gained a lot more worldwide fame after it was featured in the first two Harry Potter films. As a result, the castle is now visited by many fans of the Harry Potter films, who come to visit the film location. Along with its fame and past history, the castle has also been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family for many centuries.
Things To See And Do:
As you can imagine, visiting a landmark and major attraction in the UK with such history, provides plenty to see and do. As a result, you can choose from a wide variety of things to do, including:
Exploring The State Rooms: The castle boasts a large number of State Rooms of which all have impressive collections of art and furniture.
Visit The Gardens:
One of the things that the Castle is famous for is its wonderful gardens. The contemporary gardens are home to an array of beautiful fountains, a poison garden and also a very impressive treehouse, which is actually one of the largest treehouses in the world.
Harry Potter Themed Tour:
As a result of the castle being featured in the Harry Potter films, you can now take the ‘Harry Potter Themed Tour’. The tour tells you all about the filming of the Harry Potter films and is a great way to learn and discover more about how and where the filming took place. Not only that but you can even take part in one of the ‘Broomstick training sessions’ held by trained staff at the castle.
Knight’s Quest:
The Knight’s Quest is an activity that is popular with children. Children can take part in medieval games, while getting dressed up as Knights or Princesses.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Alnwick Castle And Gardens:
No matter when you visit the castle, you will be in admiration of its iconic stature. However, one of the best times to visit Alnwick Castle is between the months of April and October. The reason for this is because this is when the gardens are open to the public. Another good reason for visiting during these months is simply because during this period, the weather is generally quite good. This is a big plus point if you intend to take on any outdoor activities during your visit. However, it is also worth considering that during the Summer months and school holidays, it can become quite busy with visitors.
Mobility and Accessibility:
There is wheelchair access to most areas of the castle. This includes areas such as the State Rooms, museum, shops and the restaurants. As you can appreciate, certain areas of the castle are not fully accessible and this is due to the historic nature of the building.
Accommodation:
If you are planning a visit and would like to stay close to the castle, you have plenty of options. Due to the amount of visitors to the castle, there are now several different types of accommodation available. As a result, you can find hotels, B&B’s, self catering apartments, pubs and camping close to Alnwick Castle.
Summary:
As you can see, a visit to this historic castle provides something for everyone of all ages. The historic charm, stunning architecture and natural beauty are just a few things that make it an unforgettable experience. Getting to the castle by road, train, plane or sea is very easy, with a good choice of public transport to choose from. Visitors have a choice of accommodation to choose from close by including hotels, self catering and camping. Whether you are planning a family day out, a romantic getaway or an educational trip, hopefully this short guide has answered any question you may have had about Alnwick Castle and Gardens.