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Pictures of Alnwick

a Historic Market Town in the county of Northumberland

Old City Gate in Alnwick, Northumberland

About Alnwick

Set magnificently in the heart of the beautiful northern countryside is the great castle that has dominated the life and times of Alnwick for centuries.

Alnwick Castle is a Border castle and has been the home of the Percy family since the year 1309. To-day, being the second largest inhabited castle in England, Alnwick is often called the Windsor of the North and welcomes visitors from all over England and Europe. There, was though a time in the Middle Ages when the Percy family held an uneasy position. As subjects of the English king, their position was to defend the border against the Scots but this did not always happen, if the occasion suited them they allied themselves with the Scottish Kings. It was during these turbulent times that the castle was ruined during the fighting and fell into a state of decay. Restoration work too place in the 14th-century when the castle was once more returned to it's position as foremost guardian of England's northern territory.

The romantic building that we see today is the result of centuries of extensive restoration and rebuilding as the Percy family strove to make the daunting castle conform to the standards of comfort and style dictated by each particular age. The two main periods of restoration were at the behest of the Ist Duke of Northumberland in the 18th-century when he employed the Architect, Robert Adam and more latterly in the 19th-century by the 4th Duke, who had Slavin as Architect. The interior of Alnwick is richly decorated in the Italian Renaissance style and contains some fabulous paintings by Canaletto, Titian and Van Dyke. Among the very fine furniture to be seen is the ornate ebony inlay cabinet that was made for Louis XIV for his apartment at the Palace of Versailles. After the French Revolution, the cabinet came into the hands of the 3rd Duke, who was Ambassador in Paris in 1825. The castle also houses some exquistite porcelain, silver and many other antiquities.

Interestingly, this magnificent castle was used as a location for scenes shot for Harry Potter and the Philosopheres Stone and one wonders, if this latter day event will at some point feature in the long and illustrious history of this ancient and most noble of Castles.

To the north of the town stand the remains of Alnwick Abbey which has a well preserved 14th-century gatehouse. The magnificent church of St. Michael has a battlemented tower and is said to have some of the finest 15th-century workmanship in the county. There are many fine monuments inside and the church also houses a carved Flemish chest that dates from the 14th-century. In 1816 the local tenant farmers erected what is called the Percy Tenantry Column, this was built in gratitude to the 2nd Duke of Northumberland for his understanding of their plight and reducing their rent at a time of depression.

This attractive town is well worth a visit, there is much to do, see and admire. It is enchantingly set amid fabulous scenery with the sparkling River Alne skirting the northern side of the town as it journey's to the sea-estuary at Alnmouth on the beautiful Northumberland Heritage Coast. This is a place in which you need to take time to explore and enjoy all that the town and surrounding countryside has to offer. It is an area of great charm and beauty which once visited, you will doubtless wish to return to once again.

For further information, please visit www.visitalnwick.org.uk


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Alnwick

Alnwick Castle(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)Pictures
The Alnwick Garden(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)Pictures
Hulne Park(1.8 miles, 2.8 km, direction NW)Pictures
Warkworth Castle(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SE)Pictures
Dunstanburgh Castle(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction NE)Pictures
Callaly Castle(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction W)Pictures
Cragside(9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction SW)Pictures
Druridge Bay Country Park(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction SE)Pictures
The Breamish Valley(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Chillingham Park(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NW)Pictures
Chillingham Castle(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction NW)Pictures
Lordenshaw(12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction SW)Pictures
Bamburgh Castle(13.6 miles, 21.9 km, direction N)Pictures
Bamburgh Lighthouse(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction N)Pictures
Farne Lighthouse(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction N)Pictures

All attractions in Alnwick
All attractions in Northumberland
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Alnwick

Alnmouth, a Picturesque Village in the county of Northumberland (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction SE)
Alnmouth lies on a coastline famed for its outstanding natural beauty, thus one of its greatest pleasures is found in wandering the coastal paths enjoying uninterrupted sea and coastal views.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Craster, in the county of Northumberland (6.1 miles, 9.7 km, direction NE)
Craster is a quiet and unspoiled fishing village in Northumberland, famous for its Kippers and beautiful cliff scenery
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Warkworth, in the county of Northumberland (6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SE)
Sparkling in high summer and tinged with frosty thin ice in winter, the River Coquet makes its final loop before entering the sea at Amble.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Beadnell, in the county of Northumberland (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction N)
On this coast of sheer perfection, amongst timeless coastal villages, lies Beadnell an historic fishing village.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Thropton, in the county of Northumberland (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction SW)
This pretty village straggles the banks of the sparkling River Coquet. It is a lively invigorating place, lying amidst the stunning countryside of Simonside, a 1,409 foot high peak.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Netherton, in the county of Northumberland (12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction W)
The village of Netherton nestles in the wild countryside beneath the southern slopes of the Cheviot Hills on the fringe of the Northumberland National Park.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bamburgh, in the county of Northumberland (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction N)
Bamburgh, is known as the ancient capital of the Northumbrian coast and it is home to probably the finest Castle in England.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Budle Bay, in the county of Northumberland (13.7 miles, 22.1 km, direction N)
Budle Bay is a wonderous place, the shallow estuary is almost totally enclosed, and it is used by many species of wildlife as winter roosting territory.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Wooler, in the county of Northumberland (15.2 miles, 24.4 km, direction NW)
Here in these high upland regions you feel immediately relaxed, at ease and although Wooler bustles with life, it has a timeless quality where you feel a world away from civilisation.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Morpeth, in the county of Northumberland (16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction S)
Hidden in the spacious Northumberland countryside where centuries ago the towns and villages of this vast region were the scene of border raids and skirmishes, lies the busy market town of Morpeth.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Alwinton, in the county of Northumberland (17.1 miles, 27.5 km, direction W)
Alwinton occupies a lovely position in a hollow of the Cheviot Hills where the waters of the Alwin and the Coquet Rivers meet.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, in the county of Northumberland (17.5 miles, 28.1 km, direction SE)
The bay is a major attraction, often lively with fishing cobbles and pleasure craft, it is also a haven for sun-bathers.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Hartburn, in the county of Northumberland (18.0 miles, 28.9 km, direction S)
This is a wonderful place to be, especially on a bright summer day when the sun beats down relentlessly.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Holy Island, in the county of Northumberland (18.3 miles, 29.4 km, direction N)
Holy Island lies close to Beal and is reached - tides permitting - by a causeway.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lindisfarne, in the county of Northumberland (19.0 miles, 30.5 km, direction N)
Each day for several hours the beautiful island of Lindisfarne is cut off by the tide from the mainland. Tide permitting it can...
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All towns in Northumberland
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Alnmouth Station(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction SE)
Acklington Station(7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction S)
Newcastle International Airport(26.1 miles, 42.0 km, direction S)
New Bridge Street(30.5 miles, 49.1 km, direction S)
A1(M) Junction 65(35.5 miles, 57.2 km, direction S)
Teesside International Airport(63.4 miles, 102.0 km, direction S)
Alnwick to London(277.7 miles, 446.8 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Alnwick

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Alnwick center
The Masons Arms(4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction NE)
The Sun Hotel(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction SE)
The Victoria Hotel(13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction N)
Ryecroft Hotel(15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction NW)
Tankerville Arms Hotel(15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction NW)
The Queens Head Hotel(17.0 miles, 27.3 km, direction S)
The Otterburn Tower Hotel(22.4 miles, 36.0 km, direction SW)
Percy Arms Hotel(22.5 miles, 36.2 km, direction SW)
Tillmouth Park Country House Hotel(26.2 miles, 42.2 km, direction NW)
All hotels in Alnwick

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