Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle stands in the town of Alnwick, a short walk from the bus station. It was founded in 1096 and is a Grade I listed building in Grade I listed parkland. One ticket covers the grounds, the State Rooms, the Great Kitchen, the on-site museums, and guided talks and tours through the day.

For children the draw is Broomstick Training. Sessions are free with admission but need a time-slot ticket, handed out first come, first served, and they run weather permitting.

The castle is harder going with a pushchair. Pushchairs are allowed, but access is limited in parts of the castle and grounds, with cobbles, gravel and stairs; prams have to be left in the courtyard before the State Rooms and aren’t allowed in the Great Kitchen, where storage is provided. Wheelchair access is partial as well: the State Rooms are reached by steps to a one-person lift that can’t take a wheelchair, so ask staff on arrival for the most suitable routes. A small number of free mobility scooters can be pre-booked, though they can’t go into the State Rooms.

There is no rainy-day policy, but tickets bought online work as season passes with unlimited re-visits during opening hours (evening events excluded). At peak times the castle recommends booking ahead because daily capacity is limited. Drivers use the paid car park shared with The Alnwick Garden, which takes cards.