Looking for a market town that serves up ancient castles, giant bookshops and gardens full of dangerously interesting plants? Alnwick (pronounced “Annick”) in Northumberland ticks every box. With a history that reaches back to the Norman Conquest and a high street that hasn’t given up on manners, it’s one of the most memorable places to visit in Northumberland.
Here’s your guide to the best things to do in Alnwick, whether you’ve got a weekend to fill or just a day to spare.
Explore Alnwick Castle without needing a film crew
Alnwick Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Northumberland, and it’s easy to see why. It looks like it was designed with fairy tales and period dramas in mind, which probably explains why it’s been used as a filming location for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and about a dozen others.
This is no dusty ruin. It’s still a working castle, home to the Duke of Northumberland and family, and very much open to visitors. Inside, you’ll find lavish state rooms, art collections, and portraits of stern-looking ancestors. Outside, you can try broomstick training, watch archery displays, or just stare in disbelief at how photogenic it all is.
If you’re searching for iconic things to do in Alnwick, this should be at the top of your list.
Visit the garden with a dangerous side
Right next to the castle is The Alnwick Garden, a brilliant mix of landscaped beauty and unexpected mischief. The Grand Cascade alone is worth the trip, tumbling down a series of stone terraces in spectacular style. But the real draw for the curious is the Poison Garden – a locked and guided experience filled with plants that have genuinely unpleasant intentions.
Tours are informative, a little dark, and strangely enjoyable. You’ll learn which shrubs can send you to sleep permanently and which flowers might be best left alone in the wild. It’s not your average day out, and that’s the point.
Browse Barter Books and lose all sense of time
If you like your bookshops atmospheric, independent and enormous, Barter Books is your next stop. Housed in a grand old railway station (and the place where the ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ poster was born), this legendary secondhand bookshop is one of the best-loved places to visit in Alnwick.
There are shelves upon shelves of everything from paperbacks to antique volumes, crackling open fires in winter, and a model train that trundles overhead. It’s the sort of place where people wander in for five minutes and stay for an hour and a half. And yes, there’s tea, cake and comfy chairs, because reading is better with snacks.
You can even bring in your old books to trade. Just don’t be surprised if you leave with more than you came in with.
Stroll the town and soak up the charm
Alnwick’s town centre is compact, characterful, and just busy enough. The market square still holds regular markets where you can buy everything from Northumbrian cheese to handmade soaps, and the surrounding streets are filled with independent shops, cafés, pubs, and bakeries.
There’s a pleasing lack of big-name stores, replaced instead by businesses that know their regulars and welcome visitors like long-lost cousins. If you’re after local produce, gifts, or just a very decent sausage roll, this is the place.
See what’s just outside the town
One of the best things about Alnwick is how easy it is to get out of it — in the best possible way. In under 15 minutes you can be walking on the sands at Alnmouth, enjoying fresh crab in Craster, or exploring ancient woodland trails in Hulne Park.
Northumberland’s wild coastline and open countryside are right on the doorstep, and whether you’re after dramatic castles, quiet beaches, or wildlife-packed estuaries, you’ll find plenty within a short drive or bus ride.
How to get to Alnwick
Alnwick is located just off the A1 and is around 35 minutes north of Newcastle by car. The nearest train station is Alnmouth, which connects to London, Edinburgh, and beyond. From there, regular buses and taxis can take you into town. Once in Alnwick, everything is within walking distance – though sturdy shoes are a good idea if you’re planning to explore the surrounding area.
Why Alnwick is worth the trip
For a small town, Alnwick delivers an impressive list of highlights. There’s heritage without stuffiness, charm without trying too hard, and a welcome that doesn’t feel scripted. Whether you’re here for the castle, the bookshop, the poison plants or just to see what all the fuss is about, you’ll likely leave wishing you had a little longer.
It’s one of the most rewarding places to visit in Northumberland, and a brilliant base for discovering the wider region. And once you’ve been, you’ll understand why people keep coming back.
