With all the changes in place to keep you and our staff safe, a visit to Alnwick Castle is going to look different this summer. As advice changes, we are constantly reviewing what we can offer during your visit and will update this section regularly to make sure that you know what to expect when you visit us.
What does my Grounds Ticket include?
At this time, The Inner Bailey, Outer Bailey, The Courtyard, The Coach House, the Castle Gift Shop, Artisans Courtyard and the Bowburn Picnic Area outside the Castle walls are open.
The Castle Museum and Constable’s Tower are open, but due to their location within medieval towers, entry will be restricted in order to maintain social distancing and your safety. Stewards will be on hand and we ask that you follow their instructions.
For entry to the Castle Museum - One family group (maximum of 6 people) will be allowed access at a time and face coverings must be worn at all times within the tower.
For entry to the Constable's Tower - One family group (maximum of 6 people) will be permitted on each floor at any time, please exit via the Rampart Wall steps. Face coverings must be worn at all times within the tower.
There may be a wait time in order to gain entry to the museums, please use the appointed queue. Please be patient as we control entry to this part of the Castle.
What is closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
In order to maintain social distancing and for the safety of all on site, the Café, Fryery Chip Shop, the Dungeon, the Ramparts Walk and The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland will remain closed. Additionally, the main toilet facilities located within the Courtyard will also remain closed.
Please note that as a result of the ongoing renovation works, access to the Gun Terrace will be via the Inner Bailey only. Regrettably, due to the social distancing measures in place and nature of the site, disabled access to the Gun Terrace is severely restricted and not suitable for wheelchair access.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, regrettably we are unable to offer wheelchair and electric scooter hire.
What is not included in my Grounds Ticket?
We have been working hard to provide more activities on site while still keeping our visitors and staff safe.
Tickets for
State Rooms Tours, Broomstick Training and
Have-a-go Archery are now available to purchase on site.
These activities are not included within your Grounds admission ticket, which is very much reduced in price this year.
Please note that only contactless payments will be accepted for your safety and that of our staff, and that no cash will be kept on site.
State Rooms Tours
Experience the stunning State Rooms with an exclusive guided tour. Due to the restrictions, there are only a limited number of tickets available each day as each tour is restricted to a maximum of 5 people.
The first tour starts at 10:30am each day and the last at 3:30pm.
Tours cost £12 per person and are open to all visitors. Face coverings must be worn at all times inside the State Rooms.
Please note that due to the ongoing renovation works, we regret that the lift to the upper floor is currently out of use and we ask that all visitors are able to climb stairs unaided to take part in the tours.
Please visit our
State Rooms page here for everything you need to know before taking part. Alnwick Castle reserves the right to alter any part of its programme. Please call in advance to check timings on the day.
Broomstick Training
Our world famous Broomstick Training lessons have returned.
Lessons run on Saturday and Sunday only and will start at 10:30am with the last lesson of the day starting at 4pm. Please note that lessons are weather-dependent and may not run on wet days.
Lessons are £12 per person and open to all visitors aged 6 years and over.
Please visit our Broomstick Training page here for everything you need to know before taking part. Alnwick Castle reserves the right to alter any part of its programme. Please call in advance to check timings on the day.
Have-a-go Archery
Test your arm at one of England's oldest skills with Have-a-go archery.
The activity will be available on Saturday and Sunday only from 10:30am to 3:30pm, weather permitting, and is open to visitors aged 13 years and over. Please visit our Have-a-go Archery page here for everything you need to know before taking part. Alnwick Castle reserves the right to alter any part of its programme. Please call in advance to check timings on the day.
What facilities are available?
Temporary toilet facilities will be available near the entrance to the Castle on the Bowburn picnic area and will be cleaned regularly. These will include limited facilities for disabled visitors, please contact our team for further information. For the safety of you and others, we ask that you follow the 2 metre social distancing guidelines when queuing for the facilities.
What information is available on site?
Along with our friendly on site staff, who will be happy to answer any of your questions, we have also installed a number of information boards around the site which will provide you with information about the Castle; including a look at its history, how it has changed over the centuries and the use of the Castle as a filming location. Scan the QR code on each board for a virtual tour of Alnwick Castle.
Is the gift shop open?
The Castle gift shop is now open from 10am to 4pm daily.
For your safety, and that of our staff, a limited number of visitors will be permitted into the shop at any time, our staff will monitor this throughout the day. Additionally, a one-way system is in operation.
Face coverings must be worn at all times inside the shop and please be aware that we are currently operating as a cash-free site and only able to accept payment via card.
What is the scaffolding on site for?
Whilst the gates have been closed to visitors, our team of specialists have been able to make a start on some major works to the Castle, working on the Abbot’s Tower, Falconer’s Tower and now the Prudhoe Tower. These works are a continuation of a project which began 20 years ago to address a backlog of much needed repairs and to ensure that not only is the Castle secure for future generations, but that it will still be standing in another 900 years! With the information boards on site, you will be able to find out what it takes to keep a 900-year-old medieval castle in such excellent condition.
What are you doing to keep people safe during the pandemic?
Social distancing measures will be in place across the Castle site and we ask that you please keep 2 metres apart from other groups where possible, and where this is not possible 1 metre apart whilst following the measures as directed by our site stewards. New signs and markers situated around the site will provide you with clear information to keep you and others safe, and we ask that you follow the one-way routes were applicable. We also politely remind all adults that it is their responsibility to ensure that children in their care are supervised at all times and that they too follow the social distancing guidelines.
Additionally, you will find hand sanitiser readily available across the site and we politely ask request that all visitors wash their hands and/or make use of the hand sanitiser regularly.
Can I smoke on site?
Please also be aware that Alnwick Castle is now a no smoking zone.