From newcastlecitybreaks.com
To many people, their first sight of this glorious medieval castle can seem foreboding, and certainly its history lacks nothing in drama and intrigue. Some of you may recognise us as a film location, for everything from Harry Potter to Elizabeth to Becket to Blackadder.
Yet I am proud that today Alnwick Castle is very much a living castle, at the heart of thriving estates and businesses; and is still our family home, as it has been for nearly seven hundred years.
There is so much to see and do - history, art, landscape, fun for the children, dining, shopping, exploring - and I hope these pages give you a taste of our 'Windsor of the North'. Do enjoy this virtual visit and we hope you can soon join us in person.
How to get there
Alnwick Castle is on the outskirts of Alnwick town, just over a mile from the A1. It is 35 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne; 30 miles south of Berwick upon Tweed and the Scottish Border; and 80 miles south of Edinburgh.
By Rail A number of rail services from London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Edinburgh stop at Alnmouth, which is 5 miles from Alnwick. Trains are met by the Alnwick Rail Connection, the 519 service from Alnmouth Station. All passengers have to do is get off the train at Alnmouth for Alnwick Railway Station and connect to Alnwick town by boarding the 519 bus - a journey of under 15 minutes. Edinburgh and Darlington are now both less than 90 minutes away from the historic centre of Alnwick thanks to the Alnwick Rail Connection.
Additionally, the 518 bus service leaves Alnmouth Station at 23 minutes past the hour from 09.23 until 22.23. A taxi can also be called from the station.
By Air
Newcastle International Airport is 35 miles from Alnwick. You can fly direct to Newcastle on scheduled domestic flights from Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Isle of Man, Kent/Manston, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted, and Southampton.
Scheduled international routes to Newcastle include Alicante, Amsterdam Schiphol, Barcelona, Berlin Schonefeld, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Hanover, Malaga, Palma, Paris (CDG), Prague, Rome, Stavanger, and Toronto.
By Sea Ferries from Scandinavia, Netherlands and Germany arrive at North Shields, near Newcastle.
DFDS Seaways
By Bus Regular bus services connect Newcastle and Edinburgh with Alnwick. Local Bus services are operated by ARRIVA and they provide frequent bus services within the district connecting many of the towns and villages.
[http:/www.arriva.co.uk Arriva]
Opening Times
Open Daily 23 March to 28 October 2005 11.00 am to 5.00 pm (Last admission 4.15pm) Grounds open 10.00 am Tearoom opens at 10am
Admission Prices: (Castle and Garden joint prices in brackets.)
Adult - £7.95 (£12.00) Concession (e.g. student, pensioner) - £7.50 (£11.50) Child (aged 6 - 15) - £2.95 Child under 5 years and under - free Must be accompanied by a paying adult.
For group rates please telephone 01665 511350
School groups - £1.50 per pupil (£2.70)
