As a Harry Potter fan who has lived in the North East of England for over a decade, it might surprise you to know I’d never been to Alnwick Castle!
But earlier this month I finally ticked this wonderful place off of my bucket list. I promised myself to travel more now that my life has settled back down after a turbulent time in 2023 and one of the first places I thought of was Alnwick Castle because it’s so near. Anything with a link to Harry Potter, I want to visit it!
I ordered my ticket online (£20.80) and if you are going I recommend doing the same as the ticket is a year-long pass. Pay once, come back as many times as you like. (Please note I went on my own on this trip so the pricing for everything is singular.) Unfortunately neither Alnwick Castle or Alnwick Gardens are dog-friendly attractions except for medical assistance dogs. (but I can understand why, the grounds are pristine!)
At present, Go North East run decent offers on buses and the buses I took only cost me £8 in total. I then got the train from Newcastle Central Station to Alnmouth Station, which only took 25 minutes. (I however, do have a dependent train pass but when I checked Trainline it should be less than £20p.p.) Then I got the X20MAX bus up to Alnwick which took maybe fifteen minutes to get me right to the centre of Alnwick. A short walk of less than five minutes and I arrived at the gates to Alnwick Castle and Gardens.
I arrived not long after opening but there was already tours of people arriving ahead of me. I headed straight inside to tour the State Rooms of Alnwick Castle. Photography and videography is strictly prohibited within the building as it is still a private home. I found this to be such a shame as there are so many beautiful items in their collection that I wish i could have photographed! There is also a dining room which gave me so much inspiration for writing.
If you are a history lover then I fully recommend you go not just to walk around a castle that is nearly a thousand years old but to revel in the history of the Percy family who have lived there for 700 years and to see the Northumberland Collection and Archive. Find out more about the history of Alnwick Castle here.
Your ticket price these things are included:
- ‘Alnwick on location’ tours, showing you all of the filming locations for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and more.
- Historical Grounds Tour, where you can learn all about the grand history of this nearly 1000 year old castle!
- The State Room tours will take you around the home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland’s home, where you will hear about the incredible art collection and beautiful interiors. (Not available during July & August.)
- Give flying a go with the Broomstick Training!
- Visit the Artisans Courtyard where you can watch demonstrations about medieval life, try on costumes and listen to the Talk of the Day to learn more about medieval life.
- If you and your family are brave enough, venture on the Dragons Quest!
There are also paid activities such as Have-a-go Archery but I chose not to do that as I was on my own and carrying a bag of camera equipment! Next time!
Obviously I am a huge Harry Potter fan and my whole reason for visiting was to live out my dream of seeing the location where some of the Harry Potter movies was filmed. I can’t even fully explain how wonderful it was to see the location with my own eyes and stand there. It was a perfect day for it too, but I had hoped for a little rain so I could get some moody, autumnal shots of ‘Hogwarts’ (Next time!)
Just like any good tourist attraction, you can’t leave without visiting the gift shop. I was very keen to visit it to have a look at all of the Harry Potter merchandise. There is a whole section dedicated to just Harry Potter merchandise (where I spent most of my time!) as well as a huge selection of sweets, toys and activities for kids, local artists work and books and Alnwick Castle themed gifts. A perfect place to pick up souvenirs and gifts of your visit!
Overall, I had a really lovely day in Alnwick but especially visiting the castle and exploring its walls, rooms and courtyards. It made me feel very nostalgic and happy and I will definitely be going back again. If you fancy visiting Alnwick Castle, I recommend booking your tickets online here before you go as it will save you money.
Once I finished up at the castle, I headed next door to Alnwick Gardens.
