Discover your experience
- Step into a place where towering medieval battlements meet elegant Italianate State Rooms: Alnwick Castle is one of the UK’s most important heritage sites and among the largest inhabited castles in England, having been the ancestral home of the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, for more than 700 years, an extraordinary living landmark that feels both timeless and wonderfully alive.
- Explore the sumptuous State Rooms, which shelter one of the finest private art collections in Britain, featuring masterpieces by Canaletto, Titian, Van Dyck, Turner and Dobson; linger in the Drawing Room to admire the extraordinary Cucci cabinets, crafted originally for King Louis XIV, and let the art and interiors transport you across centuries of taste and lineage.
- If you grew up imagining broomsticks and enchanted staircases, you’ll recognise Alnwick from the silver screen: the castle doubled as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, with the Outer Bailey immortalised as the place where Harry learned to fly—here you can follow a guided tour of filming locations or try a Broomstick Training lesson led by the castle’s resident wizards and feel a touch of movie magic for yourself.
- The castle’s cinematic résumé goes beyond Hogwarts: you may spot familiar scenes from Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, Transformers: The Last Knight, the Downton Abbey Christmas specials (where Alnwick stands in as Brancaster Castle), Elizabeth, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and numerous other films and TV productions, making the grounds a real draw for film buffs and pop-culture curious travellers.
- Families and playful adults alike can lose themselves in the bustling Artisans Courtyard, a vividly themed medieval quarter where you can don period costume, train in swordplay, try your hand at traditional games, learn craft skills to create a handmade souvenir, and capture memorable photos on the thrones—or, if you’re feeling mischievous, in the stocks.
- For an extra shot of adventure, join Dragon’s Quest to team up with the legendary Harry Hotspur and the Dragon Catcher: together you’ll confront mystical forces, tackle gruelling obstacles and come face to face with a terrifying dragon, blending storytelling, physical challenge and theatrical spectacle into a genuinely immersive experience.
- Throughout the season the castle’s history is brought to life by a lively cast of resident knights, ladies and artisans, alongside visiting performers—expect to encounter wizards, dragons, jesters and falconers as you roam the precincts—so whether you’re drawn by grand architecture, priceless art, movie magic or hands-on family fun, Alnwick offers a richly layered day out that stays with you long after you leave.
