
Alnwick (pronounced to sound like ‘panic’) is a fairy tale, cobbled market town in the heart of Northumberland.
Home to Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden, Alnwick has to be visited. The castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the country and has a history full of intrigue which includes a gunpowder plotter and medieval Knight. More recently, it is known for its role as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter films and Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey.
The Alnwick Garden is a garden like no other. Will you dare to enter the Poison Garden, home to around 100 toxic, intoxicating and narcotic plants? Perhaps you’d prefer to relax on a swinging bench amongst the largest collection of Japanese Taihaku cherry blossoms in the world which blooms from April to early May. Children and adults alike will love the interactive water features. The treehouse restaurant is spell binding; inside, branches are lit with fairy lights creating a truly magical experience.
Barter Books, one of the largest antiquarian bookshops in the UK, is only a short walk away. Previously a Victorian railway station, this bookshop and cosy café is a must visit. Treat yourself to a coffee, pick a book and settle into one of the armchairs by the open fire.