Visit Alnwick
Everything you need for a day in Alnwick — how to get here and where to park, the Castle and The Alnwick Garden, Barter Books and the market, where to eat and stay, and what's on. Plus the town's Tourist Information Centre.
Getting Here & Parking
Alnwick is a compact, walkable market town just off the A1 — and its council car parks are refreshingly free. The only catch is the parking disc for the central short-stay bays.
Getting here
Alnwick sits just off the A1, about 45 minutes north of Newcastle. The nearest railway station is Alnmouth (~4 miles) on the East Coast Main Line, with buses and taxis into town; regional buses also run the A1 coastal corridor.
Parking (it’s free)
The all-day car parks — Greenwell Road, Dispensary Street, Roxburgh Place — need no disc. The short-stay central bays are also free but need a £1 parking disc set to your arrival time, sold at the Tourist Information Centre, the library and local shops.
Upcoming Events
View all →Music Night: The Tides — Alnwick Castle
5:00 PM · Alnwick Castle
TicketedThe Northumbrian Gathering of Guitar and Voice
Times vary by performance (28-30 August) · Alnwick Playhouse
TicketedGlendale Show 2026
From 9:00 AM · The Showfield
See official siteAndrew Graham-Dixon: Caravaggio at Alnwick Castle
7:00 PM · Alnwick Castle
Featured Guides
More Guides
All guides →
Best Beer Gardens in Alnwick
The Dirty Bottles, Hog's Head Inn, and the Treehouse — beer gardens in and around Alnwick.
Weekend in Alnwick — 48-Hour Itinerary
Saturday at the Castle, afternoon at Barter Books, evening at the Dirty Bottles. Sunday at the Garden and Hulne Park. Your 48-hour plan for Alnwick.
Free Things to Do in Alnwick
Hulne Park, the castle grounds, Barter Books, Bailiffgate Museum, and market days — the best free days out in Alnwick.
Best Walks from Alnwick
Hulne Park, the coastal path to Dunstanburgh Castle, the River Aln, and the walk to Alnmouth — four walks from Alnwick.
The Alnwick Garden: The Complete Guide
The Grand Cascade, the Poison Garden, the world's largest play structure, and a restaurant in the trees — everything you need to know about The Alnwick Garden.
Alnwick Castle: The Complete Visitor Guide
700 years of history, Harry Potter broomstick lessons, falconry displays, and Italianate State Rooms — the complete guide to visiting Alnwick Castle.
Where to Eat & Drink
A few local favourites — from the famous Treehouse restaurant at The Alnwick Garden to the historic pubs around the Market Place. See the full list on the eat & drink guide.
The Treehouse Restaurant
Food & DrinkMagical treetop restaurant set within The Alnwick Garden, serving modern British cuisine in one of the world's largest treehouses.
Di Sopra
Food & DrinkFriendly, authentic Italian restaurant serving handmade pizza and pasta just a short walk from the castle. A firm favourite with locals and visitors alike.
Ristorante Tirreno
Food & DrinkItalian restaurant on Bondgate Without in Alnwick, opposite the Playhouse (formerly Caffe Tirreno).
The Dirty Bottles
Food & DrinkHistoric pub on Narrowgate with famously dusty bottles in the window — left untouched since the 1800s. Good ales, pub food, and rooms available.
Baileys of Alnwick
Food & DrinkLicensed coffee shop in the centre of Alnwick offering breakfast, lunch, cakes, and afternoon teas. Centrally located and dog-friendly.
The Market Tavern
Food & DrinkSteakhouse, restaurant, and lodge on Fenkle Street serving steaks, Sunday roasts, cocktails, and local ales. Open daily from noon.
Oat and Olive
Food & DrinkA 50-cover cafe and bistro in the carefully restored former Turnbull's butchers on Market Street, opened in summer 2026. Healthy breakfast and brunch with a focus on local produce, set within a Grade II listed building. Above the cafe are five Market Street Apartments holiday lets.
Where to Stay
Hotels, inns and guest houses in and around Alnwick for an overnight or a longer Northumberland break.
The Cookie Jar
AccommodationBoutique hotel on Bailiffgate in Alnwick, next to the Castle, in a converted former convent.
Holly Lodge
AccommodationLuxury bed and breakfast guest house on The Avenue in Alnwick.
The Bondgate Boutique
AccommodationCentral boutique guest house on Bondgate Without in Alnwick.
Alnwick Lodge
AccommodationBed and breakfast at West Cawledge Park, just south of Alnwick.
Bailiffgate Hotel
AccommodationBoutique hotel on Bailiffgate in the centre of Alnwick, a short walk from the castle and gardens.
Doxford Hall Hotel & Spa
AccommodationGeorgian country-house hotel and spa near Chathill, licensed for civil ceremonies and a long-established Northumberland wedding venue set in formal gardens.
Doxford Barns
AccommodationAward-winning rural barn wedding venue on a private estate near Chathill, with a restored 18th-century Threshing Hall seating up to 160 guests and on-site accommodation for exclusive-use weddings.
Ellingham Hall
AccommodationPrivately owned Northumbrian country house in eight acres about ten miles north of Alnwick, offering exclusive-use weddings for up to 180 guests with on-site cottages and gardens.
Charlton Hall
AccommodationGrade II listed country house on a private 150-acre estate near Chathill, a luxury exclusive-use wedding venue for indoor and outdoor ceremonies and receptions.
Newton Hall
AccommodationLuxury coastal country-house wedding venue at Newton-by-the-Sea, known for outdoor and beach ceremonies including Wedding Hill, the Terrace and the Enchanted Chapel.
Guyzance Hall
AccommodationPrivately owned estate at Guyzance on the River Coquet, available for exclusive-hire weddings amid landscaped lawns and a Victorian walled garden.