# Castles in Northumberland: 39 to visit, spot and stamp By Dan, Bairns & Beaches. Data checked Tuesday 29 September 2026. Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles.html. Printable Castle Passport for children: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/passport.html ## The short answer We list 39 castles, towers and bastles across Northumberland: 9 paid attractions, 14 free to wander round and 10 to look at from outside, plus three with occasional open days and three you can stay or eat in. For a family day, start with Bamburgh Castle (castle and beach in one), Alnwick Castle (the Harry Potter one) and Belsay Castle (play area, gardens and a medieval castle). Dunstanburgh Castle is the best walk and Lindisfarne Castle is the island adventure, timed around the tide. Northumberland isn't short of a castle. Drive anywhere up here for long enough and you'll pass one, and they run from Bamburgh Castle on its great lump of rock to pele towers in villages where the whole visit takes five minutes, including getting everyone back in the car. This is our list of 39, with what each one costs, where you park, whether the pushchair is any use, and how it goes down with children who mainly want to know if there's a dungeon. Roughly, they come in a few kinds. The paid ones (Belsay Castle, Alnwick Castle and Bamburgh Castle) tend to have the car parks, the cafés and the organised stuff for kids, and the prices to match. The free ruins (Berwick Ramparts, Etal Castle and Prudhoe Castle) are where a seven year old can storm the walls with a sandwich in each hand. Then there are the ones you can only look at from outside, the ones that open a few days a year, and three you can sleep in or eat your tea in. Every entry says which is which, including the honest ones that are a look from the road and back in the car. Two warnings before you set off. Opening times up here are seasonal and a few are a moving target (Lindisfarne Castle opens around the tides and Alnwick Castle's own pages don't agree on the last day of its season), so every castle has its season written out in plain words and a link to the official page. And a few of the winter months on the map are our best reading of what's been published, which the season notes say, so check before a long drive in January. For the bairns there's the Castle Passport: tick a castle off when you've been, watch the number climb, and print the paper version for the glovebox. Ticks stay on your phone and nothing is sent anywhere. ## Which castle for which family - **The best all-round family day**: [Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/belsay-castle.html). The Wild Man play area, a playground by the café and trails, then a walk through the old quarry garden that ends at an actual medieval castle. Probably the best all-round family castle day in the county. - **Harry Potter fans**: [Alnwick Castle](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/alnwick-castle.html). Broomstick training where the Hogwarts flying lesson was filmed, have-a-go archery and Dragon Quest in the Artisans Courtyard. Under tens will be sorted; a teenager who has gone off Harry Potter might need bribing. - **Castle in the morning, beach after lunch**: [Bamburgh Castle](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/bamburgh-castle.html). A proper clifftop fortress with one of the county's best beaches directly underneath, so the day splits itself: castle in the morning, sandcastles after lunch. - **An island expedition**: [Lindisfarne Castle](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/lindisfarne-castle.html). Walking out to a castle on a rock, on an island the tide cuts off twice a day, feels like a genuine expedition. The inside is small, so the lime kilns and the walk do a lot of the heavy lifting. - **A proper walk to a proper ruin**: [Dunstanburgh Castle](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/dunstanburgh-castle.html). The walk is half the adventure (sheep, sea, a castle that gets bigger as you go), and at the end there's a shop selling medieval toys, which is either a reward or a trap depending on your wallet. - **Ghost stories, for nine and up**: [Chillingham Castle](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/chillingham-castle.html). It sells itself as one of the most haunted castles in Britain and has a torture chamber, which is catnip for ghoulish nine year olds and possibly nightmare fuel for a nervous five year old. Know your audience. - **Free, with walls to walk along**: [Berwick Ramparts (Elizabethan Town Walls)](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/berwick-ramparts.html). Walking round the top of a whole town, past gates and bastions with the sea on one side, is about as good as free history gets. Hold small hands on the unfenced bits. - **A cheap stop with small change**: [Preston Tower](https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/preston-tower.html). Unsupervised rooms laid out as a 14th century guard room and prison, plus a room about Flodden. A lot of tower for a few quid in an honesty box. ## All the castles, by area ### Berwick and Holy Island #### Lindisfarne Castle (Holy Island, TD15 2SH; 55.6691, -1.7847) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/lindisfarne-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: National Trust - Open: Opening hours follow the tides; on the late September 2026 days checked, the castle opened 10am to 1.30pm with last entry 45 minutes before closing, and the garden was open all day. Winter and 2027 dates not published; check before you go, and check the council's Holy Island safe crossing times too. - Open months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Adult £13 (£14.30 with Gift Aid), child (5 to 17) £6.50 (£7.20), family of 2 adults and up to 3 children £32.50 (£35.80), family of 1 adult and up to 3 children £19.50 (£21.50). - Members: Free for National Trust members - Parking: Pay and display car park in the village (not National Trust; card or pay by phone), about a mile's walk from the castle. There's a drop-off point at the castle gate. - Toilets: One toilet at the castle. - Pushchairs: Partly: there's a space to leave buggies and big bags at the castle, because the way in is a steep cobbled ramp and steps. - Dogs: On short leads in the grounds; assistance dogs only inside. - Café: None at the castle, but there's a picnic area with tables and deckchairs. Food in the village. - Time needed: 2 to 3 hours, including the mile each way from the car park - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Around 1549; remodelled by Lutyens from 1901 - Condition: Restored - Known for: Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971) and Cold Feet A small fort went up on the Beblowe crag around 1549, and Elizabeth I had it strengthened in 1570 and 1571. Edward Hudson bought it in 1901 and had Edwin Lutyens turn it into an Arts and Crafts holiday home, with a walled garden by Gertrude Jekyll. The National Trust has looked after it since 1944. With kids: Walking out to a castle on a rock, on an island the tide cuts off twice a day, feels like a genuine expedition. The inside is small, so the lime kilns and the walk do a lot of the heavy lifting. Tip: Plan the whole day around the council's safe crossing times, not the castle's hours. The castle is occasionally open while the causeway is closed, which is not the same thing as you being able to get there. Official page: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/lindisfarne-castle Sources: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/lindisfarne-castle ; https://holyislandcrossingtimes.northumberland.gov.uk ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindisfarne_Castle #### Berwick Castle (Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1DF; 55.7742, -2.0119) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/berwick-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Open daily. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Public car parks around town (not English Heritage), charges apply. The remains are right by Berwick railway station. - Toilets: English Heritage points to Berwick Barracks, but the Barracks is closed until autumn 2027, so don't count on them. - Pushchairs: Partly: steep paths and steps down towards the river. - Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1120s - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Its great hall was knocked down to build Berwick railway station David I of Scotland built the first castle in the 1120s, and it swapped between Scotland and England for centuries. In 1292 Edward I's decision on who should be King of Scots was announced in its great hall, and in 1847 that hall was flattened to build the railway station. With kids: Old walls and a flight of steps called the Breakneck Stairs, right beside the station. A good free extra on a train day out. Tip: Do it with the ramparts walk; on its own it's fragments. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-barracks-and-main-guard/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick_Castle #### Berwick Ramparts (Elizabethan Town Walls) (Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1DF; 55.771, -2.0064) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/berwick-ramparts.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Open daily. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Public car parks around town (not English Heritage), charges apply. - Toilets: English Heritage points to Berwick Barracks, but the Barracks is closed until autumn 2027, so don't count on them. - Pushchairs: Partly: there's disabled access onto the ramparts, but some sections have steep unguarded drops. - Café: None on the walls; cafés in town. - Time needed: 1 to 2 hours for the full circuit at small-legs pace (our estimate) - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Mainly 16th century (Elizabethan) - Condition: Restored - Known for: England's most complete bastioned town defences In the reign of Elizabeth I, Berwick got new defences built to the latest angled-bastion design, which made the old castle obsolete. English Heritage calls them the most complete and impressive bastioned town defences in England, and you can walk the whole circuit on top. With kids: Walking round the top of a whole town, past gates and bastions with the sea on one side, is about as good as free history gets. Hold small hands on the unfenced bits. Tip: Keep children and dogs close on the stretches with sheer drops. Start near the station and you can take in the castle remains too. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-castle-and-ramparts/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berwick-upon-tweed-barracks-and-main-guard/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick_Castle #### Duddo Tower (Duddo; 55.6764, -2.1009) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/duddo-tower.html - Access: Free to wander - Open: No set hours; it stands on a crag in the village. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Pushchairs: No: it's up on a rocky crag. - Time needed: 15 to 20 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Late 16th century - Condition: Ruin The Scots destroyed the first pele tower here in 1496, and the Clavering family built a new tower house in the late 16th century. It was abandoned as a home in the 17th century and is now a ruin protected as a scheduled monument. With kids: A jagged ruin on a crag, with a small path round the back if you fancy a scramble (Visit Northumberland warns it can be overgrown). Tip: Combine it with the Duddo Stones, a 4,000 year old stone circle about a kilometre's walk across fields. Official page: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/itineraries/visiting-duddo-and-twizzel Sources: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/itineraries/visiting-duddo-and-twizzel ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duddo_Tower ; http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/2514.html #### Etal Castle (Etal, TD12 4TN; 55.6473, -2.1207) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/etal-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Open daily 10am to 5pm at the time of writing; winter hours not published, check before you go. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Car park on site. - Toilets: Seasonal toilets in the car park, run by the Ford and Etal Estate. - Pushchairs: Partly: the ground is grassy and uneven. - Dogs: On leads. - Café: None; the castle shop and museum have closed. - Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Around 1341 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Captured by James IV in the days before the Battle of Flodden Robert Manners built it around 1341 under a licence from Edward III, to guard a ford over the River Till. In August 1513 James IV's Scottish army took it in the run-up to Flodden and at least partly wrecked it. The Joicey family own it and English Heritage looks after it. With kids: A gatehouse and a big broken tower to peer into, plus grass for a picnic. About ten minutes of storming the walls before someone asks about ice cream. Tip: The shop and museum have shut, so bring snacks. It's quick, so pair it with Norham, Ford and the Heatherslaw Light Railway for a proper Ford and Etal day. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/etal-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/etal-castle/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etal_Castle #### Norham Castle (Norham, TD15 2JY; 55.7218, -2.1505) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/norham-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Open daily 10am to 6pm in the summer season, which runs until October. The Marmion Gate entrance and bridge, the inner ward bridge and the inner keep are closed for conservation work; the outer ward is open via the car park entrance. Winter opening not published; check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Free - Parking: Car park on site; the gate is locked in the evening and there's no overnight parking. - Pushchairs: No: uneven ground that can be muddy, with steep slopes and sheer drops. - Café: Light snacks and drinks in the shop. - Time needed: 45 minutes to an hour - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Founded 1121 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: JMW Turner's paintings of Norham Castle Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham, founded it in 1121 to protect his lands from the Scots. It held out against Alexander II for forty days in 1215 and against Robert the Bruce through long sieges in 1318 and 1319, but James IV's artillery broke into it in 1513. Turner painted it many times from 1797. With kids: Huge broken walls above the Tweed with Scotland on the far bank, though with the keep fenced off there's less clambering than there used to be. Tip: With the inner castle shut it's a shorter visit than it looks from the road, so check the English Heritage page before a long drive. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/norham-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/norham-castle/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norham_Castle #### Ford Castle (Ford; 55.6314, -2.0902) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/ford-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Not open to day visitors; see it from Ford village and nearby walks. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: 5 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Around 1278; restored 1860s - Condition: Restored - Known for: Taken by James IV on the eve of Flodden Founded around 1278 and licensed as a castle in 1338, it was captured and dismantled by the Scots in 1385 and taken by James IV on the eve of Flodden in 1513. Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford restored it in the 1860s, and PGL bought it in 2022 as an outdoor activity centre for school groups. With kids: Plenty of North East children know it from the inside on school residential trips, which is the only way in. Tip: Take a look on a Ford and Etal day; Etal Castle is a couple of miles away. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Castle ; https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/01/visit-30-castles-in-northumberland.html #### Twizel Castle (Twizel, near Cornhill-on-Tweed; 55.684, -2.1877) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/twizel-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Seen from a public footpath any time. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Small car park by Twizel Bridge, then a few minutes up a track into the woods. - Pushchairs: No: a woodland track. - Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes with the bridge - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Medieval tower; Gothic rebuild from the 1770s - Condition: Ruin - Known for: A Georgian Gothic castle that was never finished James IV's army destroyed the medieval tower here in 1496. In the 1770s the Blake family started a grand Gothic castle on the site, planned at five storeys, but it was never finished and is on the Heritage at Risk register. Below it, the Tudor Twizel Bridge crosses the River Till. With kids: A roofless, never-finished castle in the woods, reached by a short track from an old stone bridge. Spooky in the good way. Tip: Stay on the footpath: the ruin is in poor condition and on private land. Official page: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/itineraries/visiting-duddo-and-twizzel Sources: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/itineraries/visiting-duddo-and-twizzel ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twizel_Castle #### Wark Castle (Wark on Tweed) (Wark on Tweed; 55.6416, -2.282) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/wark-on-tweed-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Private land, but you can walk round part of the mound on public footpaths and the road at any time. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Pushchairs: No: the parish says not all the paths are well maintained. - Time needed: 30 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1136; rebuilt 1157 to 1161 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: The Order of the Garter legend Walter Espec built it in 1136, the Scots destroyed it after a siege in 1138, and it was rebuilt between 1157 and 1161. James IV captured and partly destroyed it just before Flodden in 1513. Legend ties it to Edward III, the Countess of Salisbury's garter and the founding of the Order of the Garter. With kids: A mound several metres high and a legend about a king and a dropped garter; not much standing, though. Tip: You need to be reasonably fit and watch for slips on the footpaths round the mound. Official page: https://carhamparish.org/wark-castle/ Sources: https://carhamparish.org/wark-castle/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wark_on_Tweed_Castle ### Bamburgh and the north coast #### Bamburgh Castle (Bamburgh, NE69 7DF; 55.6093, -1.7108) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/bamburgh-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Daily 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm) until 8 November 2026. Closed 9 to 13 November while the Christmas displays go up, then daily 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Weekends only 4 January to 12 February 2027, then daily again from 13 February. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Until 8 November 2026: adult £19.95, child (5 to 16) £10, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) £58.50, under 5s free. From 14 November 2026: adult £21, child £10.50, family £61.50. - Members: No English Heritage or National Trust discount - Parking: On-site car park £6 a day, not included in the ticket. - Pushchairs: Partly: prams and pushchairs are not allowed in the State Rooms, so bring a carrier for little ones. - Dogs: Yes, well behaved dogs are welcome in the grounds; assistance dogs only in the State Rooms. - Café: Clock Tower Café and the Tack Room Takeaway. - Time needed: 2 to 3 hours for the castle, then the rest of the day on the beach - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: Norman castle on an Anglo-Saxon royal site; restored 1894 to 1905 - Condition: Restored - Known for: Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom; also Macbeth (1971 and 2015) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny People were on this crag of Whin Sill rock long before the Normans: it was Din Guarie, then Bebbanburg, a royal seat of the Anglo-Saxon kings. In 1464, after a nine month Wars of the Roses siege, it became the first British castle to be taken by gunfire. The industrialist William Armstrong bought it in 1894 and finished restoring it in 1905, and the Armstrong family still own it. With kids: A proper clifftop fortress with one of the county's best beaches directly underneath, so the day splits itself: castle in the morning, sandcastles after lunch. Tip: The £6 parking is on top of the ticket, so budget for it. If money is tight, the view from the dunes costs nothing and is arguably the best bit anyway. Official page: https://www.bamburghcastle.com/visit-us/ Sources: https://www.bamburghcastle.com/visit-us/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamburgh_Castle #### Preston Tower (Chathill, NE67 5DH; 55.5223, -1.7105) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/preston-tower.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Every day of the year, 10am to 6pm or dusk if earlier (Historic Houses listing). - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Adults £4, concessions £3.50, paid into an honesty box (Historic Houses listing). - Members: Free for Historic Houses members - Parking: Free parking. - Dogs: Pet friendly, according to the Historic Houses listing. - Café: None listed; there's a picnic area. - Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: 1392 to 1399 - Condition: Tower house - Known for: Honesty box entry and a Flodden room Built between 1392 and 1399, it was one of 78 pele towers in Northumberland by the time of Agincourt in 1415. The tower's own site tells the story of Sir Guiscard Harbottle, killed fighting James IV at Flodden in 1513. Nikolaus Pevsner rated its masonry among the most spectacular medieval work in England. With kids: Unsupervised rooms laid out as a 14th century guard room and prison, plus a room about Flodden. A lot of tower for a few quid in an honesty box. Tip: Take cash for the honesty box. It makes a short, cheap stop between Alnwick and Bamburgh. Official page: https://www.historichouses.org/house/preston-tower/visit/ Sources: https://www.historichouses.org/house/preston-tower/visit/ ; https://prestontower.co.uk/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Tower,_Northumberland #### The Craster Arms, Beadnell (Beadnell, NE67 5AX; 55.5566, -1.6382) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/craster-arms-beadnell.html - Access: Stay or eat here - Owner: Privately owned - Open: A pub, open Monday to Sunday, noon to 11pm; food until 8.15pm Sunday to Wednesday and 8.45pm Thursday to Saturday. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Dogs: The pub has a dog friendly policy. - Café: It's a pub and restaurant, with a big beer garden and outdoor dining pods. - Time needed: As long as lunch takes - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: 16th century tower; 18th century front - Condition: Tower house - Known for: A village pub built into a pele tower Thomas Forster built the tower house here in the 16th century, and by 1818 it had become the Bull Inn, now the Craster Arms. Historic England's listing notes massive walls about 9 feet thick and a tunnel-vaulted basement behind the 18th century front. With kids: Telling children their chips are being served inside a medieval tower with walls about nine feet thick buys you at least five minutes of peace. Tip: Beadnell Bay is just down the road, so it works as a lunch stop on a beach day. Official page: https://northcoastcollective.co.uk/the-craster-arms/ Sources: https://northcoastcollective.co.uk/the-craster-arms/ ; https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1276787 ### Alnwick and the Coquet coast #### Alnwick Castle (Alnwick, NE66 1NG; 55.4158, -1.7062) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/alnwick-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Daily through the 2026 season, grounds 10am to 5pm with last entry 3.45pm. The season ends in late October, but the castle's own pages disagree on the day (one says 20 October, the FAQ says 22 October), so check before a late trip. 2027 opening date not published yet; check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Online (10% cheaper, and the ticket works as a 12 month pass): adult £22, child (5 to 16) £11.60, family (2 adults and up to 4 children) £64.20, under 5s free. At the gate: adult £24.45, child £12.90, family £71.35. - Members: No English Heritage or National Trust discount; online tickets give a year of repeat visits - Parking: Shared pay car park with The Alnwick Garden, cards accepted. - Pushchairs: Partly: pushchairs are allowed, but the castle says access is limited in some areas. - Dogs: No, assistance dogs only. - Café: Yes: the Courtyard Cafe, a pizzeria and The Armoury takeaway, and you can bring a picnic. - Time needed: At least 2 to 3 hours (the castle's own advice); most families make a day of it - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: From around 1096 - Condition: Complete and lived in - Known for: Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets; also Downton Abbey and Blackadder Ivo de Vesci built the first parts around 1096 to guard a crossing of the River Aln, and the Percy family have held it since the 14th century. It is still home to the Duke of Northumberland and is the second largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor. Inside you get the State Rooms, the Great Kitchen and the Fusiliers Museum as well as the walls and courtyards. With kids: Broomstick training where the Hogwarts flying lesson was filmed, have-a-go archery and Dragon Quest in the Artisans Courtyard. Under tens will be sorted; a teenager who has gone off Harry Potter might need bribing. Tip: Buy online: it's cheaper and the ticket gets you back in for a year, which pays for itself if you holiday up here. The season finishes before the Northumberland October half term, so don't promise anyone Hogwarts that week. Official page: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/ Sources: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/ ; https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/opening-times-ticket-prices ; https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/faqs ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Castle #### Dunstanburgh Castle (Craster, NE66 3TW; 55.4911, -1.5932) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/dunstanburgh-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Daily 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm) at the time of writing. Winter 2026/27 opening not published yet; check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Prices vary by date and show when you pick a date on English Heritage's booking page; booking online in advance saves 15%. 20% off walk-up tickets if you arrive on certain local buses. - Members: Free for English Heritage and National Trust members - Parking: No car park at the castle. Use the council car park in Craster (60 spaces, coin machines) and walk 1.3 miles along the coast. - Toilets: Two unisex toilets at the castle. - Pushchairs: Partly: pushchairs are allowed, but there are steps and uneven paths, and the walk in crosses grassy farmland. - Dogs: On leads. - Café: Castle shop with hot and cold drinks, snacks and medieval toys; benches and picnic tables on site. - Time needed: Half a day, including the walk from Craster and back - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1313 to 1322 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Painted again and again by JMW Turner Thomas, Earl of Lancaster built it from 1313 on a remote Whin Sill headland, partly as a safe retreat from Edward II and partly to show off. John of Gaunt turned the great gatehouse into a keep in the 1380s, and the castle changed hands more than once in the Wars of the Roses. The National Trust owns it and English Heritage runs it. With kids: The walk is half the adventure (sheep, sea, a castle that gets bigger as you go), and at the end there's a shop selling medieval toys, which is either a reward or a trap depending on your wallet. Tip: Wear proper shoes and take a coat, because that path is exposed. Craster's car park machines take coins, so bring some. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dunstanburgh-castle/facilities/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunstanburgh_Castle #### Warkworth Castle and Hermitage (Warkworth, NE65 0UJ; 55.3452, -1.6118) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/warkworth-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Daily 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) at the time of writing. The Hermitage opens Sundays and Mondays, 11am to 4pm, with tickets sold at the castle on the day for 6 people per half hour. Winter 2026/27 opening not published yet; check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Prices vary by date and show when you pick a date on English Heritage's booking page; booking online in advance saves 15%. 20% off walk-up tickets if you arrive on certain local buses. - Members: Free for English Heritage members - Parking: About 48 spaces outside the castle, free for English Heritage members showing a car sticker, paid for everyone else. - Toilets: Yes, including an accessible toilet, with baby changing in both the men's and the women's. - Pushchairs: Partly: pushchairs are allowed throughout the grounds, but the keep is all staircases. - Dogs: On leads at the castle; not allowed at the Hermitage. - Café: Small shop with snacks, hot drinks and ice cream. No picnic tables, but picnics on the grass are fine. - Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours, more with the Hermitage - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 12th century; great keep late 14th century - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Scenes in Shakespeare's Henry IV; the Hermitage chapel carved into the riverbank The castle is first recorded in a charter of 1157 to 1164 granting it to Roger fitz Richard. The Percys took it over in the 14th century and built the great cross-shaped keep in the late 1300s, and Shakespeare set scenes of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 here. It still belongs to the Duke of Northumberland, with English Heritage looking after it. With kids: The great keep is a warren of rooms and stairs, there's a World Builder trail, and on Sundays and Mondays the Hermitage adds a riverside walk and a short boat crossing to a chapel cut into the rock. Tip: Go on a Sunday or Monday if you want the Hermitage, and get there early because it only takes six people per half hour. Dogs can come to the castle but not the Hermitage. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage/plan-your-visit/facilities/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warkworth_Castle #### Edlingham Castle (Edlingham, NE66 2BW; 55.3768, -1.8184) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/edlingham-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Any reasonable time in daylight hours. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: A few spaces at the church next door. - Pushchairs: No: uneven ground, and English Heritage recommends waterproof footwear. - Dogs: On leads. - Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Manor fortified from the 1290s; tower around 1396 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: The leaning solar tower A manor house here was progressively fortified against the Scots through the 14th century, starting after William de Felton bought it in 1294. The solar tower added around 1396 is the part still standing, and it leans noticeably. With kids: A small ruin in a riverside field with a tower that visibly leans. Ten minutes of fun rather than an afternoon, and the leaning bit does most of the work. Tip: Wellies, not trainers. It's a good leg stretch on the drive between Alnwick and Rothbury. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/edlingham-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/edlingham-castle/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edlingham_Castle #### Bondgate Tower (Alnwick; 55.4125, -1.7036) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/bondgate-tower.html - Access: Outside only - Open: Stands over the street; see it any time. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: 5 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1450 - Condition: Restored - Known for: Also called the Hotspur Gate Built in 1450 by Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, as a gate in Alnwick's town defences. It's also known as the Hotspur Tower after Harry Hotspur, and it's really a gatehouse: a three-storey arch flanked by two polygonal towers. With kids: Count the vans that have to turn back: low traffic still squeezes through the medieval arch, tall vehicles go round. Tip: It's on the way into town, a few minutes' walk from the castle, so tick it off before you pay for Hogwarts. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondgate_Tower ### Wooler, Rothbury and the Cheviots #### Chillingham Castle (Chillingham, NE66 5NJ; 55.5258, -1.9041) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/chillingham-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Historic Houses lists the 2026 season as 30 March to 1 November, gates 11am to 5pm, last admission 4pm, then closed from 2 November until Easter 2027. The castle's own site just says Easter to the end of October; check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct - Prices: Historic Houses lists adult £14, concession (65 and over) £13, child (under 16) £8, family (2 adults and 3 children) £38, garden only £7. The castle's own site doesn't publish prices, so check. - Members: Free for Historic Houses members - Parking: Free, signposted, with disabled parking next to the castle. - Toilets: Yes, but up spiral stone steps with a rope handrail. - Pushchairs: No: uneven floors and steep spiral staircases, so leave the pushchair in the car. - Dogs: No, guide and assistance dogs only, in the castle and the grounds. - Café: The tea room is closed until further notice; drinks and a smaller food selection to take away from the Summerhouse. - Time needed: About 2 hours - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: Licence to crenellate 1344 - Condition: Restored - Known for: Ghosts (the Blue Boy) and Most Haunted; also the film Elizabeth Edward I stayed here in 1298 on his way to Scotland, and in 1344 Edward III granted a licence to crenellate that turned it into a fortified four-sided castle. It was the seat of the Greys and later the Earls of Tankerville until Sir Humphry Wakefield bought it in 1982 and began restoring it. With kids: It sells itself as one of the most haunted castles in Britain and has a torture chamber, which is catnip for ghoulish nine year olds and possibly nightmare fuel for a nervous five year old. Know your audience. Tip: Don't count on a sit-down lunch while the tea room is shut. The rare wild white Chillingham cattle live in the park here, which is worth knowing if you have an animal-mad child. Official page: https://chillingham-castle.com/your-visit/ Sources: https://chillingham-castle.com/your-visit/ ; https://www.historichouses.org/house/chillingham-castle/visit/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chillingham_Castle #### Harbottle Castle (Harbottle; 55.3372, -2.1083) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/harbottle-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Open: Free access; no set hours published. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Car park 0.1 miles west of the village, then a 200 metre walk to the castle. - Pushchairs: No: a short walk up to ruins on a mound. - Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Around 1160 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Birthplace of Margaret Douglas, grandmother of James VI and I The Umfravilles built it around 1160 at Henry II's request to hold the border, and the Scots took it in 1174. In 1515 Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's sister, gave birth here to Margaret Douglas, who became grandmother of James VI and I. Today it's mostly earthworks with chunks of standing masonry, looked after by the National Park Authority. With kids: Broken walls on a big grassy mound with a view down Coquetdale, and a permissive path down to the River Coquet for stone throwing. Tip: Pair it with Alwinton and the upper Coquet valley on a dry day. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbottle_Castle #### Tosson Tower (Great Tosson; 55.2988, -1.9554) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/tosson-tower.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Free access; no set hours published. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Car park at Tosson Tower Farm, then a 50 metre permissive path across a field. - Time needed: 20 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 15th century - Condition: Ruin The ruins of a 15th century tower house in the hamlet of Great Tosson, below the Simonside hills near Rothbury. It sits on private farmland, with a permissive path listed by the National Park. With kids: A short field walk to a proper ruined tower with the Simonside hills behind. A quick tick on the way to or from a Simonside walk. Tip: Tosson limekiln, built in 1888 for Lord Armstrong's Cragside estate, is just up the lane if you fancy a second stop. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ #### Woodhouses Bastle (Holystone, NE65 7AN; 55.2967, -2.0554) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/woodhouses-bastle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Free access; no set hours published. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Car park in the Holystone Grange parkland, then about 0.1 miles on a permissive path. - Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 16th century - Condition: Ruin - Known for: A spout for pouring molten lead on raiders A ruined fortified farmhouse, or bastle, from the Border Reiver years, with walls about one and a half metres thick and a stone spout for pouring molten lead on unwelcome visitors. With kids: Walls a metre and a half thick and a stone spout for pouring molten lead on raiders. That detail alone will do the job. Tip: Lady's Well, a small pool where St Ninian is said to have baptised early Christians, is a short walk from Holystone for a second stop. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ ### Kielder and the North Tyne #### Black Middens Bastle House (Tarset, NE48 1NE; 55.2037, -2.358) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/black-middens-bastle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Any reasonable time in daylight hours. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Small car park on a minor road; follow the brown signs. - Pushchairs: No: 180 metres over uneven grassland, sometimes with livestock. - Dogs: On leads. - Time needed: 30 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 16th century - Condition: Ruin - Known for: A Border Reiver bastle raided by the Armstrongs in 1583 A thick-walled fortified farmhouse, or bastle, of a type found along the troubled 16th century Anglo-Scottish border, with the living quarters only reachable at first floor level. The National Park records that the Armstrongs attacked it in 1583. With kids: Shows how ordinary farming families in reiver country protected themselves: the living quarters could only be reached at first floor level. More of a story than a playground. Tip: It's remote, so combine it with Bellingham or the drive up to Kielder. Expect farm animals in the field. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/black-middens-bastle-house/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/black-middens-bastle-house/ ; https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ #### Dally Castle (Near Tarset; 55.1533, -2.3549) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/dally-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Open: Free access; no set hours published. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Two spaces in a roadside lay-by, then a 30 metre walk. - Time needed: 15 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 13th century - Condition: Ruin The remains of a medieval hall beside the Chirdon Burn, about 1.5 miles south-west of Tarset. The National Park notes that the surviving masonry is of good quality, a hint that it once belonged to someone important. With kids: Low grassy walls by a burn, for keen explorers and completists only. Tip: Only two parking spaces, so it's a quick stop on the way to Kielder rather than a destination. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ #### Chipchase Castle (Near Wark on Tyne, NE48 3NT; 55.0759, -2.1854) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/chipchase-castle.html - Access: Open days only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: In 2026 the castle and gardens opened 3 to 28 June and 4 to 5 July, 1pm to 5pm. 2027 dates not published yet; check before you go. - Open months: Jun, Jul - Prices: £12 per person, £10 for under 16s and over 66s; cash only. - Members: No longer discounted for Historic Houses members - Parking: Free parking (Historic Houses listing). - Time needed: 1 to 2 hours - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: 14th century tower; mansion 1621 - Condition: Complete and lived in - Known for: A 14th century pele tower joined to a Jacobean mansion The Heron family built the pele tower in the mid 14th century, and in 1621 Cuthbert Heron added a Jacobean mansion alongside it, which is why it looks like two buildings bolted together. Money troubles made the Herons sell to George Allgood in 1727, and it's been in private hands ever since. With kids: Better for grown-ups than bairns: it's a house to look round, not a ruin to charge about in. Tip: Bring cash. Outside its short summer opening it's a private house and wedding venue, so don't turn up on spec. Official page: https://www.chipchasecastle.com/ Sources: https://www.chipchasecastle.com/ ; https://www.historichouses.org/house/chipchase-castle/visit/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipchase_Castle #### Elsdon Tower (Elsdon; 55.2349, -2.102) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/elsdon-tower.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Private home; free to look at, but access stops just inside the entrance gates. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Parking spaces by the village green. - Time needed: 10 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 15th century (recorded 1415) - Condition: Tower house - Known for: A fortified vicarage recorded in 1415 First recorded in 1415 as the Vicar's Pele, held by the Rector of Elsdon, it was a rectory until 1960 and is now a private home, restored between 1995 and 1998. With kids: A chance to explain why even the vicar needed a tower, on a village green made for running about. Tip: Look from just inside the gates and no further, then let the kids loose on the green. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsdon_Tower #### Kielder Castle (Kielder, NE48 1ER; 55.2336, -2.5806) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/kielder-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Open: The building is closed for renovation; Forestry England lists it as reopening in 2026 with no date given. The trails, Team Cycles bike shop and car park are open as usual. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: Forestry England car park: up to 1 hour £2.50, all day £6.50. - Café: Café and information point closed at the time of writing. - Time needed: As long as the forest trails take - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 18th century - Condition: Restored - Known for: The Duke of Northumberland's hunting lodge at the heart of Kielder Forest The Duke of Northumberland built it in the 18th century as a hunting lodge, and it later became the visitor and information centre for Kielder Forest. Battlements, yes; battles, no. With kids: Not a fortress, but it's the start of Kielder's forest trails and bike routes, which is what they came for anyway. Tip: Check Forestry England's page for the reopening before going specially for the café or exhibition. Official page: https://www.forestryengland.uk/kielder-castle Sources: https://www.forestryengland.uk/kielder-castle ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielder_Castle ### Hexham and Hadrian's Wall #### Aydon Castle (Corbridge, NE45 5PJ; 54.9914, -1.9994) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/aydon-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Closed for winter at the time of writing (late September 2026) and reopening in 2027; the reopening date isn't published yet, so check before you go. - Open months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep - Prices: Prices vary by date and show when you pick a date on English Heritage's booking page; booking online in advance saves 15%. - Members: Free for English Heritage members - Parking: 20 spaces 100 metres down the lane, plus 6 disabled spaces; free for members, charges for non-members. - Toilets: Yes, with baby changing and an accessible toilet. - Pushchairs: Yes: pushchairs are allowed, though parts of the visit are up on the battlements. - Dogs: On leads. - Café: None. Food in Corbridge, about 2 miles away; grassy areas inside the walls with some seating. - Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: From 1296 - Condition: Restored - Known for: One of England's least altered fortified medieval manor houses It was built as a comfortable manor house from 1296 and had to be fortified almost straight away when the Scottish wars began; the Scots captured and damaged it in 1315. English Heritage describes it as one of the least altered fortified medieval manor houses in England, with original fireplaces and a garderobe still in place. With kids: Room to run about inside the walls (ball games allowed, kites not), a real medieval toilet to giggle at and battlements to walk along. Tip: It's shut until 2027, so wait for the reopening date before you plan a trip. Corbridge is two miles away for lunch. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/aydon-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/aydon-castle/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/aydon-castle/facilities/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aydon_Castle #### Prudhoe Castle (Prudhoe, NE42 6NA; 54.9652, -1.8584) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/prudhoe-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Grounds open daily 10am to 4pm. The inner ward opens on the first Sunday of each month, 11am to 3pm, with volunteers on hand. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free (donations welcome on inner ward days) - Parking: Free parking 70 metres from the entrance, reached via a slope, cobbles and loose gravel; space for two disabled visitors' cars. - Toilets: English Heritage lists toilets, with baby changing, through the archway in the inner bailey; check they're open outside the first Sunday openings. - Pushchairs: Partly: the grounds are compacted gravel and smooth grass, but the way in from the car park has cobbles and a slope. - Café: No café; there's a picnic area. - Time needed: 45 minutes, longer on a first Sunday - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 11th century earthwork, rebuilt in stone in the 12th century - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Holding out against two Scottish sieges in 1173 and 1174 The Umfraville family built a Norman earthwork castle here above the Tyne and rebuilt it in stone, and Odinel II Umfraville beat off sieges by William the Lion of Scotland in 1173 and 1174. The Percys took it over in 1398, and between 1808 and 1817 the Duke of Northumberland put a Georgian house inside the walls. With kids: A gatehouse, a deep ditch and a cracking story: this castle saw off William the Lion of Scotland twice. Tip: Go on the first Sunday of the month if you want to get into the inner ward and climb to the gatehouse chapel. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/prudhoe-castle/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/prudhoe-castle/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/prudhoe-castle/facilities/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudhoe_Castle #### Staward Peel (Allen Banks, near Haydon Bridge, NE47 7BP; 54.9409, -2.3125) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/staward-peel.html - Access: Free to wander - Owner: National Trust - Open: Countryside open dawn to dusk. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free to walk; National Trust car park £3 for 4 hours or £5 all day. - Members: Free parking for National Trust members - Parking: Allen Banks car park (postcode for the car park): £3 for 4 hours, £5 all day, 3.3 metre height limit. - Toilets: Yes, at the car park, including an accessible toilet. - Pushchairs: No: the paths are mostly uneven and steep in places. - Dogs: On a lead. - Time needed: Half a day as part of a woodland walk - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1316 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: A ruined pele hidden in the Allen Banks woods Anthony de Lucy built a timber pele here in 1316 on a ridge above the gorge, and from 1385 it was rented to Hexham Priory until the Dissolution. What's left is masonry from three walls of the gatehouse, plus the ditch and earthworks, in National Trust woodland. With kids: A ruin at the end of a woodland walk is the oldest trick in the book for getting reluctant legs moving, and this one works. Tip: It's a proper walk, not a stroll, so wear boots and pack snacks. Official page: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/allen-banks-and-staward-gorge Sources: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/allen-banks-and-staward-gorge ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staward_Peel #### Thirlwall Castle (Greenhead; 54.9888, -2.5338) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/thirlwall-castle.html - Access: Free to wander - Open: Free access; no set hours published. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Parking: No car park at the castle: walk in on public footpaths from Greenhead (0.4 miles) or Walltown Country Park (0.6 miles). - Time needed: 45 minutes including the walk - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 12th century; fortified around 1330 - Condition: Ruin - Known for: Built with stone robbed from Hadrian's Wall Built in the 12th century and fortified around 1330 by John Thirlwall, it was strengthened with stone taken from Hadrian's Wall. The Thirlwalls held it until 1738, it was falling apart from the 17th century, and big sections collapsed in 1832 and 1982. The National Park Authority has looked after it since 1999. With kids: A gaunt ruin you can walk right up to, and a neat way to explain where so much of Hadrian's Wall went: some of it is in here. Tip: Start from Walltown and add the Roman Army Museum or the wall at Walltown Crags for a full day. Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ Sources: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/nature-landscape/explore-culture-heritage/historic-sites/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirlwall_Castle #### Dilston Castle (Dilston, near Corbridge; 54.9642, -2.0397) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/dilston-castle.html - Access: Open days only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: No public openings published for 2026 or 2027 at the time of writing. The Northumbrian Jacobite Society has opened the tower and chapel by appointment in past years; check before you go. - Open months: none published - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 15th century tower; chapel early 17th century - Condition: Tower house - Known for: Home of the Jacobite Earl of Derwentwater, executed in 1716 Sir William Claxton built the tower in the 15th century on the site of an earlier pele, and the small chapel beside it is early 17th century. It was the home of the Jacobite 3rd Earl of Derwentwater, who was executed in 1716. With kids: More of a Jacobite story to tell in the car than a day out for small children. Tip: The grounds are shared with a residential college, so don't turn up expecting to wander in. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilston_Castle ; https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/16620083.dilston-castle-and-chapel-opens-to-the-public/ #### Langley Castle (Langley on Tyne, NE47 5LU; 54.9566, -2.2596) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/langley-castle.html - Access: Stay or eat here - Owner: Privately owned - Open: A hotel, open all year. Non-residents can book a table in the Josephine Restaurant or afternoon tea in the Drawing Room. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Dogs: Dog friendly rooms available. - Café: Restaurant and afternoon tea for non-residents; book ahead. - Time needed: An afternoon tea's worth - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: Around 1364; restored 1882 to 1914 - Condition: Restored - Known for: A tower with 12 medieval garderobes Sir Thomas de Lucy built it around 1364, and Henry IV's forces burned it in 1405, leaving it a shell for centuries. The historian Cadwallader Bates bought it in 1882 and began restoring it, his widow Josephine finished the job in 1914, and it has been a hotel since 1986. One tower holds 12 medieval garderobes, four to a floor. With kids: A real medieval tower you can sleep in, if the budget stretches. Afternoon tea is the cheaper way through the door. Tip: Book afternoon tea if you want to see inside without paying for a room. Official page: https://www.langleycastle.com/ Sources: https://www.langleycastle.com/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley_Castle #### Haughton Castle (Humshaugh; 55.0505, -2.1299) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/haughton-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Private home, not open to visitors. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: A glimpse - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 13th century; remodelled 1816 to 1845 - Condition: Complete and lived in A 13th century tower house on the west bank of the North Tyne, enlarged and fortified in the 14th century and ruined by the 1500s. John Dobson turned it into a mansion between 1816 and 1845, and Anthony Salvin added a west wing in 1876. It's the private home of the Braithwaite family. With kids: Nothing for a family visit beyond a look. Tip: There's no public access to the grounds, so check an OS map for nearby rights of way before planning a look. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haughton_Castle #### Vicar's Pele, Corbridge (Corbridge; 54.9743, -2.0195) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/corbridge-vicars-pele.html - Access: Outside only - Open: Seen from the churchyard and the street any time. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: 5 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 14th century - Condition: Tower house - Known for: One of Northumberland's three fortified vicarages Built in the 14th century in the south-east corner of St Andrew's churchyard, it's one of three fortified vicarages in the county, with walls 1.3 metres thick. With kids: A small tower in the middle of town: a two-minute look on the way to an ice cream. Tip: Aydon Castle is two miles away if you want a castle you can go inside (it reopens in 2027). Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbridge ### Morpeth and the south east #### Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens (Belsay, NE20 0DX; 55.1013, -1.8687) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/belsay-castle.html - Access: Paid entry - Owner: English Heritage - Open: Daily 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) at the time of writing. It stays open into winter (the tea room opens Wednesday to Sunday and the Coach House café at weekends in winter), but winter hours aren't published yet; check before you go. Halloween half term events run 24 October to 1 November 2026. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Prices vary by date and show when you pick a date on English Heritage's booking page; booking online in advance saves 15%. - Members: Free for English Heritage members - Parking: About 115 spaces (14 accessible) on gravel, 200 metres from the entrance; free for members, charges for everyone else. Sat nav NE20 0DU. - Toilets: Near the car park before the shop, and at the Coach House café; baby changing in the accessible toilet. - Pushchairs: Yes, mostly: pushchairs are allowed and the paths round the grounds are flat, but the castle and hall interiors mean stairs. - Dogs: On a short lead in the grounds; not in the hall or castle. - Café: Tea room and the Coach House café (fewer days in winter); picnic tables in the stables courtyard. - Time needed: Half a day at least - Rainy day: Good in the rain: there's enough under a roof - Built: Tower around 1370; manor house 1614 - Condition: Tower house - Known for: The quarry garden walk from a Greek Revival hall to a medieval castle The Middleton family built the tower around 1370 and added a manor house to it in 1614. In the early 1800s Sir Charles Monck built the Greek Revival hall nearby and made a garden out of the quarry between them, so the old castle became the finale of a garden walk. With kids: The Wild Man play area, a playground by the café and trails, then a walk through the old quarry garden that ends at an actual medieval castle. Probably the best all-round family castle day in the county. Tip: The October half term Halloween trail and storytelling (24 October to 1 November 2026) are included with admission, and free for members. Official page: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/ Sources: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/plan-your-visit/facilities/ ; https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/belsay-hall-halloween-2026/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsay_Castle #### Cresswell Pele Tower (Cresswell, NE61 5JU; 55.2336, -1.5398) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/cresswell-pele-tower.html - Access: Open days only - Open: The walled garden is open daily 10am to 5pm (not in bad weather). The tower opens on special dates only; the next published one is Sunday 1 November 2026, 1pm to 4pm. 2027 dates not published yet. - Open months: Sep, Nov - Prices: Free for tower and garden; donations welcome. - Parking: Free parking 200 metres from the site; accessible drop-off on request. - Dogs: On leads in the garden. - Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 14th century; restored 2021 - Condition: Tower house - Known for: The legend of the White Lady It was built in the 14th century as a defence against the Border Reivers. Volunteers finished a big restoration in 2021, including a new timber roof, and it came off Historic England's at-risk register. Local legend says a Cresswell daughter died of a broken heart after her brothers killed her Danish prince, and still watches from the roof as the White Lady. With kids: A real pele tower a few minutes from the beach at the top of Druridge Bay, and it comes with its own ghost story. Tip: Time it for an open day if you want to go inside; otherwise the garden and a look at the outside fit round a Druridge Bay beach day. Official page: https://cresswellpeletower.org.uk/opening-times/ Sources: https://cresswellpeletower.org.uk/opening-times/ ; https://cresswellpeletower.org.uk/location/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cresswell_Pele_Tower #### Morpeth Castle (Morpeth, NE61 2PW; 55.1636, -1.6874) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/morpeth-castle.html - Access: Stay or eat here - Owner: Landmark Trust - Open: A Landmark Trust holiday let, bookable all year. No public open days published for 2026 or 2027 at the time of writing; you can see it from outside any time. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Dogs: Guests can bring up to two dogs, £20 per dog per stay. - Time needed: 10 minutes for a look, or a few nights if you book it - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Around 1350 - Condition: Restored - Known for: Holding out in a Civil War siege in 1644 The gatehouse was built around 1350 as the entrance to Morpeth's second castle; the first, on nearby Ha' Hill, was destroyed in 1216. In 1644 a small Parliamentary garrison held it against a much larger Royalist force. The Landmark Trust finished restoring it in 1991. With kids: You can sleep in a proper castle gatehouse (it sleeps 7), which is an easy sell to any child; everyone else gets a look from outside. Tip: The Landmark Trust runs occasional open days at its buildings, so it's worth checking their site. Otherwise it's a free look on a Morpeth wander. Official page: https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/morpeth-castle-12017 Sources: https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/morpeth-castle-12017 ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpeth_Castle ; https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/01/visit-30-castles-in-northumberland.html #### Bothal Castle (Bothal; 55.1724, -1.625) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/bothal-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Private; exterior only, from nearby walks. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: 10 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: 1343 - Condition: Complete and lived in Sir Robert Bertram got permission in 1343 to turn his manor house into a castle with a gatehouse. It passed to the Ogles by marriage and in 1591 to the Cavendish family, whose Cavendish-Bentinck descendants still own it; it also houses the Welbeck Estate office. With kids: A gatehouse castle to look at from outside; not a visit. Tip: Look from the village and the nearby walks; the castle itself isn't open. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bothal_Castle ; https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/01/visit-30-castles-in-northumberland.html #### Mitford Castle (Mitford; 55.1635, -1.7344) Page: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/castles/mitford-castle.html - Access: Outside only - Owner: Privately owned - Open: Private land; the exterior can be seen from nearby walks. - Open months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec - Prices: Free - Time needed: 10 minutes - Rainy day: Mostly outdoors, so better on a dry day - Built: Late 11th century; stone keep early 13th century - Condition: Ruin - Known for: A five-sided keep A Norman motte and bailey rebuilt in stone, with an unusual five-sided keep added in the early 13th century. King John's troops seized it in 1215, and in 1315 Sir Gilbert de Middleton used it to hold high-profile prisoners. By 1323 it was recorded as entirely destroyed and burnt. With kids: A broken keep on a mound. Better as a story than a visit. Tip: It's on private land and on the at-risk register, so look from the walks rather than trying to get in. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitford_Castle ; https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2023/01/visit-30-castles-in-northumberland.html ## Questions people ask **How many castles are there in Northumberland?** We list 39: every castle, tower and bastle we think is worth knowing about for a day out, from the big paid castles to towers you can see from the road. It isn't every fortified building in the county: Preston Tower alone was one of 78 pele towers recorded in Northumberland by 1415. **Which castles in Northumberland are free to visit?** 14 are free to wander round: Berwick Castle, Berwick Ramparts, Duddo Tower, Etal Castle, Norham Castle, Edlingham Castle, Harbottle Castle, Tosson Tower, Woodhouses Bastle, Black Middens Bastle House, Dally Castle, Prudhoe Castle, Staward Peel and Thirlwall Castle. Another 10 are free to look at from outside only. Parking is not always free, so check each castle's page. **Which Northumberland castles are good on a rainy day?** The ones with enough under a roof are Bamburgh Castle, Preston Tower, The Craster Arms, Alnwick Castle, Chillingham Castle, Chipchase Castle, Aydon Castle, Langley Castle and Belsay Castle. Most of the rest are open ruins, so save them for a dry day. **Which castles can you take a pushchair to?** The easiest are Aydon Castle and Belsay Castle. Partly manageable, with steps or rough ground somewhere: Lindisfarne Castle, Berwick Castle, Berwick Ramparts, Etal Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle, Dunstanburgh Castle, Warkworth Castle and Prudhoe Castle. Each castle's page says which bits are a problem, so you know whether to bring a carrier. **Which Northumberland castles are open in winter?** Of the paid castles, Bamburgh Castle, Preston Tower and Belsay Castle list winter opening, Bamburgh Castle only at weekends for part of it. 13 of the free ones have no closed season. Some winter months are our best estimate where a castle hasn't published dates yet, so check the castle's page before you go. **Which Northumberland castles have been in films and on TV?** Lindisfarne Castle: Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971) and Cold Feet. Bamburgh Castle: Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom; also Macbeth (1971 and 2015) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Alnwick Castle: Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets; also Downton Abbey and Blackadder. Chillingham Castle: Ghosts (the Blue Boy) and Most Haunted; also the film Elizabeth. **What is the oldest castle in Northumberland?** Going by the dates on our list, the earliest are Prudhoe Castle (11th century earthwork, rebuilt in stone in the 12th century), Mitford Castle (late 11th century; stone keep early 13th century) and Alnwick Castle (from around 1096). As a site, Bamburgh Castle is older still: the crag was a royal seat of the Anglo-Saxon kings before the Normans built there. Dates for early castles are rough, because several began as earth and timber before the stone went up. **Are the castles free for English Heritage or National Trust members?** Free for English Heritage members: Dunstanburgh Castle, Warkworth Castle, Aydon Castle and Belsay Castle. Free for National Trust members: Lindisfarne Castle and Dunstanburgh Castle. Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle are privately owned and give no English Heritage or National Trust discount. **Which Northumberland castles are dog friendly?** Dogs are allowed, usually on leads, at Lindisfarne Castle, Etal Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Preston Tower, Dunstanburgh Castle, Warkworth Castle, Edlingham Castle, Black Middens Bastle House, Aydon Castle, Staward Peel, Belsay Castle and Cresswell Pele Tower. Not at Alnwick Castle and Chillingham Castle (assistance dogs only). Several only allow dogs in the grounds and not inside, so check the castle's page.