Alnwick town
Alnwick originally prospered as a medieval market town, and it still retains many of its cobbled streets, narrow alleys and fine stone buildings which now house a range of specialist shops, family businesses, accommodation and some of the original coaching inns.
As well as being home to Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden, the town also boasts one of the largest second hand bookshops in the UK: Barter Books, which is housed in the town's old railway station, and the Alnwick Castle Golf Club.
The town also has a lively night life with the Alnwick Playhouse theatre and cinema, as well a number of pubs which often host live music. During your stay in Alnwick be sure to take a walk to the Bailiffgate Museum, where the people and places of north Northumberland are brought to life by exciting interactive exhibits.
The regular market days are Thursday and Saturday.The regular farmers market day is on the last Friday of every month, 9.00am-2.00pm. Click here for the full list of market days in Northumberland.
Surrounding area
The Northumbrian landscape is truly spectacular, with golden beaches, two Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and the Northumberland National Park. Our local food and drink is fantastic, as are the local people.
The towns and villages dotted around Alnwick vary from cosy coastal hamlets to remote hillside communities - head eastwards to the sea and you'll feel like you've travelled back in time to traditional fishing villages where a warm welcome always awaits.
There's Embleton and Newton-by-the-Sea - two geographically close but distinct communities. Embleton's beach still sports old-fashioned wooden beach huts, while Newton boasts a lively and popular pub The Ship Inn, which has its own micro-brewery with real ales brewed on the premises.
Then there is picturesque Craster, home of the famous kipper and also renowned for herring fishing. You can also walk or cycle a mile north to ancient Dunstanburgh Castle, which was last occupied during the War of the Roses.
The Alnwick coastline also takes in Warkworth Castle, noted for its arts and crafts, while nearby Alnmouth boasts superb sandy beaches and a golf course nestling just next to the dunes. Further south there is Amble - a traditional fishing port with a modern marina and a busy seafront.
Remember, this stretch of the Northumberland coast is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and you can see grey seals, dune flowers, over-wintering birds and summer seabird colonies.
Inland, you'll find the Alnwick countryside is a great area for walking, short and long hikes, cycling, fishing, and in fact every kind of country pursuit. There are untouched hamlets and villages like Ingram and Glanton nestling on the edge of the picturesque Northumberland National Park,while to the south of Alnwick you can experience the quiet hamlet of Guyzance which boasts one of the finest 18th century dams in England.
Tourist information
Call in to a local Tourist Information Centre or visit Northumberland's official tourism website, www.visitnorthumberland.com, or www.visitalnwick.org.uk for more information and to find places to stay.
Accommodation
Alnwick B&Bs
There are a number of beautiful B&Bs in Alnwick, please click here for more information.
Hog's Head Inn, Alnwick
Named after the inn of Harry Potter fame, this 53-bedroom inn offers excellent value accommodation and great home-cooked food.Visit www.hogsheadinnalnwick.co.uk for more details.
Alnwick Castle Cottages
Alnwick Castle Cottages are delightful examples of
traditional Northumbrian design, perfectly located
near Alnwick to allow you to take advantage of
the magnificent coastline and countryside.
Visit www.alnwickcastlecottages.co.uk for more details.