The Best Northumberland Attractions & Activities

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is a grand medieval fortress, home to the Percy family for over 700 years. Known as a filming site for "Harry Potter", it features opulent staterooms, gardens, and history blending Norman origins with modern heritage.

The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland is a striking contemporary garden featuring a grand cascading fountain, enchanting rose and ornamental gardens, a bamboo labyrinth, and the famous Poison Garden. It also hosts the world’s largest treehouse restaurant.

the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working and with one of the largest rock gardens in Europe

offering unrivalled close ups of thousands of puffins, Arctic terns and guillemots (May to July) and seal pups in the autumn. Charges apply including members

the most remarkable Roman remains in the country, a real insight into Roman military life and discover the past behind the archaeological remains

Kielder Castle is the visitor centre for Britain's biggest forest with over 250 square miles to explore with exhibitions about forestry and conservation

the house, home of the quirky Museum of Curiosities, is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland

Bamburgh Castle towers over the Northumberland coast, dramatically set on a volcanic outcrop above sandy beaches. With royal history, striking architecture, and sweeping sea views, it’s one of England’s most iconic coastal fortresses.

Berwick-upon-Tweed Barracks & Main Guard showcase the town’s military past through engaging museum displays. These 18th-century buildings reveal stories of soldiers, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and Berwick’s border defences.

Paxton House & Country Park near Berwick-upon-Tweed is a grand Georgian mansion set in landscaped grounds. It features fine art, elegant interiors and riverside walks, offering a blend of culture, history and scenic beauty.

Whitehouse Farm is a 40 acre farm centre that has been entertaining and educating people of all ages since 1997

built out of a former quarry over the last 25 years, visited by thousands of visitors a year. From ferns, shrubs, perennials and grasses to The National Collection of Centaurea. There is plenty to inspire gardeners and visitors alike

preserving and displaying the heritage of the North Tyne and Redewater area of Northumberland with relics and photographs covering all aspects of local history and traditions in the area

take a trip to the Farne Islands & observe the grey seal colonies. All-day bird watching is available during the breeding season

introducing the birdlife of Northumberland and the North East. Tours with friendly guides who share their knowledge of local birds with infectious enthusiasm

this fortified farmhouse with thick stone walls, of a type distinctive to the troubled 16th-century Anglo-Scottish borders with the living quarters only accessible at first-floor level

Bailiffgate Museum, set in a former church, shares the area’s heritage through interactive exhibits, local artefacts and changing displays. Covering everything from coal mining to castles, it offers an engaging insight into Northumberland’s past.

Bedlington Country Park in Northumberland offers riverside walks, wooded valleys and rich wildlife along the River Blyth. With peaceful trails and picnic spots, it’s a relaxing escape for walkers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts.

Berwick Castle & Ramparts offer striking reminders of the town’s turbulent past. The castle ruins and Elizabethan walls provide scenic walks and panoramic views, tracing centuries of conflict along the Anglo-Scottish border.

Howick Hall Gardens, once home to Earl Grey, blends formal borders with wild woodland walks. Famous for its seasonal blooms and arboretum, it offers tranquil trails, rich plant collections and the charming tea house celebrating its namesake blend.