Alnwick Castle blends striking medieval fortifications with grand Italianate State Rooms, making it one of the UK’s most important heritage sites and one of the largest continuously livedin castles in England.
The Percy family, Dukes of Northumberland, have called Alnwick home for more than 700 years, giving the place a deep and personal sense of history.
The State Rooms contain a worldclass private art collection—featuring eight Canaletto paintings alongside works by Titian, Van Dyck, Turner and Dobson.
The China Gallery displays spectacular services from Meissen, Chelsea and Paris, while the Saloon houses priceless cabinets originally made for King Louis XIV’s Versailles.
Film fans will recognize Alnwick as Hogwarts from the first two Harry Potter movies; the Outer Bailey is where Harry first learned to fly and saw Quidditch in action.
You can follow in the footsteps of the cast with guided tours of filming locations or sign up for a Broomstick Training lesson taught by the castle’s resident wizarding professors.
Alnwick has also appeared on screen in Downton Abbey as Brancaster and in adaptations like the BBC’s Hollow Crown, the cult classic Robin of Sherwood, and the first series of Blackadder.
On the big screen the castle has featured in films such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth and Transformers: The Last Knight.
Families can step into the Artisans Courtyard to dress in medieval costume, try swordplay, play period games, craft a handmade souvenir and pose on thrones or even in the stocks.
Dragon’s Quest invites visitors to team up with Harry Hotspur and the Dragon Catcher to overcome challenges, face mystical forces and come eyetoeye with a fearsome dragon.
The castle’s dramatic past is full of intrigue—gunpowder plotters, avid collectors, lavish hosts and the legendary knight Harry Hotspur—brought to life by resident knights, ladies, artisans and seasonal performers.
Expect to encounter wizards, dragons, jesters and falconers around the grounds as part of the castle’s lively storytelling and livinghistory events.
With gift shops, cafes and museums on site, you can easily fill a day of exploration, or simply sit back and soak up 950 years of history amid some of England’s most picturesque countryside.
Whether you’re a history buff, film fan, family traveler or curious explorer, Alnwick Castle offers the chance to walk its grounds, explore the State Rooms and lose yourself in the lively Artisans Courtyard.
