Visit

We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors back within our walls with the opening of the
Alnwick Castle grounds.

-----
**Please note** Due to the current restricted opening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, only the Greenwell Gate entrance adjacent to The Alnwick Garden is open.  On your arrival at the gate, Alnwick Castle stewards will be waiting to greet you and direct you around the Castle site.

Please follow the postcode NE66 1HB for The Alnwick Garden which will bring you to the correct entrance. 
----- 


The information provided below contains everything you need to know before you pay the Castle a visit, including how to book tickets, what areas are open to visitors and most importantly what measures are in place to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. 
 
We are proud to be a part of the Visit England ‘We’re Good to Go’ scheme, meaning that you can visit Alnwick Castle in the knowledge that your safety is our priority.

We understand that we are living in confusing times, the world around us is changing daily,  and that you may have questions that we haven’t answered in the below information, or you may just wish to speak to someone.  To make it even easier for you to get in contact with one of our team, we have introduced a new live chat feature to our website. 
 
Whether you have a question about your ticket, what to expect when you visit or need a little reassurance before you book, our team is here to help. 
 
Live chat with us from 9:30am to 4:30pm daily
Call us on 01665 511 100 from 9:30am to 4:30pm daily
Email us at info@alnwickcastle.com

 

PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL VISITORS

ALL VISITORS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, REQUIRE A VALID TIMESLOT TICKET PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT THE ENTRANCE

TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE AND CANNOT BE PURCHASED AT THE CASTLE GATE


To help ensure your safety and that of our staff, our tickets are only available for purchase online and cannot be purchased at the Castle gate.  We feel it is important that we manage the flow of visitors into the Castle so that we can better maintain social distancing, and it is for this reason we have taken these steps.  We are offering a limited number of tickets each day with staggered entry timeslots. 
 
You can make a booking up until each timeslot begins depending on availability. The Castle will be open from 10.30am to 4.30pm daily with timeslots available every 10 minutes. The last entry slot of the day is 2:30pm.  Timeslots have limited capacity for your safety, and it is vital that all members of your group, including children, have a valid ticket to ensure that they are included within that capacity.      

We ask that you do not arrive in advance of your timeslot so that we can maintain social distancing and avoid queuing.  It is also important that you bring your booking confirmation with you, as we will not be able to allow entry without it.
 
It is important that you do not visit if you are showing symptoms of Covid-19 (high temperature, new continuous cough or loss of taste or smell). If you need to alter your visit due to COVID 19 restrictions, this can be done up until 10:30am on the day of your visit.  We will refund your ticket in full and ask that you follow the guidance set out by the government
(this can be found on their website - www.gov.uk/coronavirus) prior to re-booking. 
Please use live chat or call 01665 511100 and we would be happy to arrange this for you.  

 
Tickets prices:
Adults - £6
16 and under - free

Admission tickets are not transferable and are non-refundable, except for the reason outlined above.  

Please note that, due to the new ticketing system, we are no longer able to offer combined tickets for the Castle and The Alnwick Garden.  Should you wish to visit The Alnwick Garden on the same day as visiting the Castle, separate tickets from the two attractions would need to be purchased independently.  For tickets for The Alnwick Garden, please visit www.alnwickgarden.com
 
To book a timeslot please read the information before making your selection of a date and time for your visit. You can then select the number of tickets that you require and then pay for your purchase. A confirmation email with a link to view your tickets will be emailed to you.
 
We offer a free carer place for visitors accompanying a guest with disabilities.  Please add the carer ticket to your timeslot booking and bring proof entitlement with you on the day of your visit.
 
If you have an unlocked Castle pass that has an expiry date of 27th March 2020 or after, we have extended the date on your ticket by 130 days to cover the period the Castle has been closed.  You will still need to book a timeslot ahead of your visit, you can do this by using our live chat service or by calling us on 01665 511 100.  Please have your unlocked pass to hand when you contact us.
 
If you are an HHA member or hold a complimentary ticket to the Castle, you will still need to book a timeslot ahead of your visit.  Please use our live chat service or give us a call on 01665 511 100 and we would be happy to arrange this for you.  Please have your HHA membership card or complimentary ticket to hand when you contact us. 

---------------
Test and trace

In accordance with Government COVID 19 guidance, we will be taking contact details from all visitors to the Castle at the time of booking. We will need to keep this information for 21 days and, if asked, we will provide them to NHS Test and Trace.
Please be assured that your information will be stored securely, in line with data protection laws, and will not be shared with anyone else. Additionally, your information will not be used by us in any way other than that stated above. 

By doing this we can help to reduce the risk of any local outbreak. By sharing your information, NHS Test and Trace can quickly identify people who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and ask them to take the necessary precautions.

--------------
A proportion of the price of each ticket sold will be shared between the following local charities:  HospiceCare North Northumberland (Northumberland Estate’ Charity of the Year), the Alnwick Playhouse, the Fusiliers’ Museum and the Bailiffgate Museum, in recognition that all have been adversely affected by the impact of Covid-19.
 
Due to the changes we have put in place for the remainder of the 2020 season, the Alnwick Castle ticket unlocking scheme will unfortunately not be available for new members this season

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.
 
At this time, The Inner Bailey, Outer Bailey, The Courtyard, The Coach House and the Bowburn Picnic Area outside the Castle walls are open. 
 
The Castle Museum will be open, but due to its location within a medieval tower, 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.  One family group will be allowed access at a time and, following government guidance from 8th August 2020, face masks must be worn at all times within the tower. 

In order to maintain social distancing and for the safety of all on site, the State Rooms, Constable's Tower, Café, Fryery Chip Shop, Castle Shop, Artisans Courtyard, the Dungeon, the Ramparts Walk and The Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland will remain closed.  Unfortunately, at this time we are unable to offer guided tours, Broomstick Training, or other activities within the Castle grounds. Additionally, the main toilet facilities located within the Courtyard will also remain closed.
 
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. 
 
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.   
 
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. 
 
Please note that as a result of the ongoing works outlined above, 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.

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.
 
Due to the additional measures in place, regrettably we are unable to offer wheelchair and electric scooter hire. 

Please also be aware that Alnwick Castle is now a no smoking zone. 

To help you find your way around the Castle, and to see clearly where facilities are located and what is and isn’t open, we have put together a map of the site that will be updated with the latest information. 
 
Please click the image below to download a copy to your device.


 
Please be aware that paper copies of the map will unfortunately not be available on site. 

At this time, only the Greenwell Gate entrance adjacent to The Alnwick Garden is open.  On your arrival at the gate, Alnwick Castle stewards will be waiting to greet you and direct you around the Castle site.  
 
If you are driving to the Castle and plan to use our car park located on Denwick Lane, please be considerate of those around you whilst parking or returning to your vehicle. There is a charge for using this car park and payment will be via contactless card payment only, additionally please be aware that the first tier of the car park is reserved for Blue Badge holders only. Please follow the directions of the Alnwick Garden stewards who will direct you to the Castle entrance.
 
Additional car parking is available within the town centre, though please be aware that many car parks will require the use of a parking disc.  

We ask that you please bring face masks with you, as you will need them should you wish to visit the museum towers.  Additionally, due to the nature of the site the social distance in areas of the Castle is only 1 metre. 
 
For your protection, we are running an enhanced cleaning routine throughout the site, with staff working on a continuous rota, and all staff are supplied with personal protective equipment, for their safety and yours.  Additionally, hand sanitiser will be readily available across the site and we encourage you to use it regularly. 
 
To ensure that your visit is a positive and safe experience, we have extra staff on site to support and guide you.  All our staff have been given specific Coronavirus training to keep themselves and all our visitors safe. 
 
We ask that you do not visit the site if you, or any of your group, are showing symptoms of COVID-19.  This includes a high temperature, a new continuous cough and loss of taste or smell.  If you have a visit booked, please contact us prior to your arrival time and we would be happy to re-arrange your visit for you.  Please use our live chat service or call 01665 511 100 and we can check future availability for you. 
 
To protect our visitors and our staff, the Castle is operating as a cash-free zone and as such all payments will need to be made via card payment using the contactless facility where possible.
 
Please be aware, only assistance dogs are permitted within the Castle grounds.

Whilst our Café and Fryery Chip Shop remained closed, our mobile cart will be offering refreshments and snacks and located within the Castle walls offering refreshments.  Additionally, we have a takeaway service on offer from our pop-up catering partners, situated within the Castle Courtyard. 

We ask that you follow the 2 metre social distancing guidelines when queuing for the catering facilities. 
 
The following will be on offer:
 
Hog Roast – supplied by The Rolling Pig
Fish and Chips – supplied by Geoff Allan Catering
 
You are welcome to bring picnics to the Castle, a number of picnic benches are available on the Bowburn Picnic area along with litter bins which we politely ask you to make use of.
 
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.