Things to do in Northumberland

Join a day trip from Edinburgh to the medieval kingdom of Northumbria in North-East England. Visit Lindisfarne, once the most important center of religious learning in the British Isles. Explore the market town of Alnwick and its castle where scenes from Harry Potter and Downton Abbey were filmed. Meet your guide, hop on a bus, and make your way to your first stop, Holy Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway that leads into the quaint island village of Lindisfarne. Soak in stunning views of Lindisfarne Castle dating back to 1550. Spend time wandering through the ruins of its Priory where the Lindisfarne Gospels were produced. Sample some of the world-famous Lindisfarne ‘mead’ brewed by monks on the island, and enjoy the tranquility for which the island is renowned. Continue south passing Bamburgh, the ancient capital of Northumbria, then on to the bustling market town of Alnwick, whose greatest building is the medieval Alnwick Castle. Enjoy time in the town center or visit the castle complex which was home to the Percy Family for over 700 years. If you decide to visit the castle, step into the unexpected in the Alnwick Garden with its Grand Cascade fountain and Poison Gardens. The castle grounds were also used in the TV series Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films. In the mid-afternoon, begin the drive north to cross the River Tweed and back into Scotland at the historic border town of Coldstream. If time permits, stop at Flodden Field, the scene of the infamous battle of 1513, which ended in victory for the English and the death of James IV, King of Scots.

Combining magnificent medieval architecture with spectacular Italianate State Rooms, Alnwick Castle is one of the UK’s most significant heritage destinations and one of the largest inhabited castles in England; it has been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, for over 700 years. Alnwick’s State Rooms boast one of the finest private art collections in the country, including paintings by Canaletto, Titian, Van Dyck, Turner, and Dobson, while the Drawing Room is home to the Cucci cabinets, originally created for King Louis XIV of France. Alnwick Castle famously featured as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. The Outer Bailey is the location where Harry first learned to fly and visitors can recreate some of the magic with a tour of filming locations or a Broomstick Training lesson, courtesy of our resident wizards. The castle most recently featured in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, Transformers: The Last Knight, and as the magnificent Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's 2015 and 2016 Christmas specials as well as appearing in Elizabeth and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, among others. Families can spend quality time together in Artisans Courtyard, a vibrant and bustling medieval themed area where adults and children can dress in medieval costume and set forth to train in swordplay, play medieval games, become a craft-making artisan and make a souvenir to take home, and take photos on our thrones (or in the stocks). In Dragon’s Quest join forces with Harry Hotspur and the Dragon Catcher to battel mystical forces, conquer challenging obstacles and come face to face with a terrifying Dragon. Experience the excitement of the castle’s rich history, brought to life by our resident knights, ladies and artisans, together with a host of entertaining performers throughout the season. You might meet wizards, dragons, jesters and falconers on your adventures!

Step into one of the most beautiful contemporary gardens, The Alnwick Garden, which offers an enchanting landscape, adventure and intrigue in the heart of Northumberland.  Scale the treetops above the world's largest wooden treehouse, lose yourself in the mysterious Bamboo Labyrinth, steal through the Poison Garden or gaze upon the Grand Cascade.  No two days in The Garden are ever the same, as it greets all visitors with a cacophony of colours and geometric designs, including a traditional ornamental garden and innovative water sculptures.

You travel on old Roman Dere Street, which linked the supply ports of the south of England up to modern day Scotland. Your first stop on this tour is the border town of Jedburgh, a historic burgh dominated by a magnificent 12th century Augustinian Abbey. On arrival in Jedburgh, you may have time to take a short walk through the narrow streets and visit this impressive ruin. Continuing south we make a stop at the scenic Carter Bar on the edge of the Cheviot Hills. This crossing point between Scotland and England runs close to the ancient Roman road and has formed the border between the two countries for the past 700 years. The tour continues towards Hadrian’s Wall. We follow the road that takes us along the south side of the wall, stopping at Steel Rigg. You have time to walk beside the wall and experience the isolation that Roman foot soldiers would have experienced as they guarded their empire from the ‘barbarians’ to the north. You continue your journey along the wall where your guide will recommend the best of the sites to visit. Next up is an optional activity but one we think you'll love. Exploring the archaeoligical site of Vindolanda* allows you to step into the lives of those who lived at this Roman auxiliary fort. After years of excavation, many incredible things have been found, from shoes to jewelry, bones to pottery. With history alive in your mind, you turn north and travel back to Edinburgh through the Galloway hills.

Brace yourselves, we’re heading south into enemy territory on a small group tour! Passing gentle rolling hills and dramatic coastline, we’ll cross the border with England to explore Bamburgh - the laid-back seaside village in the heart of Northumberland. Don’t get deceived by its sleepy looks – the village and the mighty Bamburgh Castle was the seat of the early Kings of Northumbria in the 5th century. Run down to the beautiful beach to get some fresh air, imagine Viking longboats approaching the coast for a raid and try to keep up with the area’s turbulent history recounted by your guide. In the afternoon, have your broomsticks at the ready as we’re off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family for over 700 years. A long, rich history and magnificent medieval architecture makes it a film lovers’ dream as seen in Downton Abbey. After a magical afternoon in Alnwick, we’ll make our way back over the border and into Scotland where we will regale you with tales of the turbulent past before arriving into Edinburgh in the early evening.

This small group tour adventure from Edinburgh takes you through the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Borders, with stops at the charming town of Coldstream and the awe-inspiring Bamburgh Castle. But the highlight of the day is Alnwick Castle, famous not just for its grand history but also as a key filming location for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Setting off from Edinburgh in the morning, you’ll journey east, soaking up views of rolling hills and dramatic coastlines along the way. Our first stop is the beautiful coastal town of Bamburgh. Take a stroll along its breathtaking beach and admire the striking 5th-century Bamburgh Castle, perched majestically on its volcanic rock. In the afternoon, we arrive at Alnwick Castle. Explore its grand stately rooms, take in the impressive architecture, or discover the magic behind the many films and TV shows filmed here, including Harry Potter. Entry to Alnwick Castle is optional and can be selected at the time of booking. Before returning to Edinburgh, we make a final stop at Coldstream, a historic border town nestled on the north bank of the River Tweed. Here, you’ll hear tales of its turbulent past before we make our way back to the capital, arriving in the early evening.

Visit intriguing Rosslyn Chapel, explore the town of Melrose, journey to the Scottish Borders, and see Hadrian’s Wall on this full-day tour from Edinburgh. Rosslyn Chapel has always been mysterious, and has achieved worldwide fame since the publication of The Da Vinci Code. This beautiful and highly ornate 15th-century chapel has long been the subject of speculation about its origins and the meanings of its famous stone carvings. Visit the charming town of Melrose for lunch, then cross the ancient Scotland/England border at Carter Bar. Follow in the footsteps of feuding clans and families, known as Border Reivers, who fought a series of violent raids here until the end of the 16th century. Then visit one of the world's most important Roman monuments: Hadrian’s Wall. Travel to Housesteads Fort (National Trust) in Northumberland National Park, the best preserved Roman fort along Hadrian’s Wall. Enjoy a free nature walk along one of the most dramatic and photographed stretches of the wall. Upon returning to Edinburgh, stop in the Border market town of Jedburgh to stretch your legs and take photos of the famous abbey.

Your tour begins by following the road that connected Caledonia with Roman Britannia. You stop in Kelso where you explore this handsome town and what is thought to be Scotland’s largest market square. You also see the ruins of Kelso Abbey, a reminder of the many ancient conflicts between Scotland and England. Continuing south, you cross the border and travel to Alnwick Castle, an immense fortification that has stood strong for nearly a millennium. It was originally built to assert Norman rule over newly conquered lands. But more recently Alnwick Castle has found fame as one of the settings for the fictional Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter movie series. Book lovers can also take the opportunity here to explore one of the largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain. After around three hours at Alnwick, you travel north along the Northumberland Coast. You stop on your way back to Edinburgh at one of the beautiful historic villages or castles that pepper the rolling landscapes of Southern Scotland.

Your Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland and Alnwick Adventure tour departs from Edinburgh City Centre in the morning, taking in the sights of Scotland’s capital as you head out of the city towards the East coast. As we head east, we will pass some beautiful spots in East Lothian as we make our way to the first stop of the day, Holy Island. Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, a unique island connected to the mainland by a causeway. This leads to the quaint village of Lindisfarne which offers sensational views of the Priory that shares its name. During the winter months, the Priory is closed but we are able to visit the beautiful gardens. The island is also home to monks, who brew the world-famous Lindisfarne ‘Mead’. While you are here, immerse yourself in the peace and tranquility for which the island is renowned. Should it not be possible to visit Holy Island due to the tidal conditions, this tour will visit the picturesque seaside village of St Abbs, named after a Northumberland Princess who was washed ashore in the area following a shipwreck. You might also recognise the village, and its stunning surroundings of rugged coastline and bays from the movie Avengers: Endgame, as it was the filming location for New Asgard. From here, we will continue down England’s northeast coast towards the bustling market town of Alnwick, home to the magnificent Alnwick Garden (optional extra). Here, you may choose to visit the Garden with its wonderful Grand Cascade and Poison Gardens, or spend your time exploring the charming streets of the town. Whilst in the town, you may also be able to spot Alnwick Castle, famous as a filming location for both Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter film series. Our tour returns to head back north, to the impressive medieval Bamburgh Castle (optional extra), dating back to the 5th century. The castle spans nine acres of land and is one of the biggest inhabited castles in the United Kingdom. Its history spans centuries, countless societies, numerous rulers, and many battles, but the impressive stronghold still stands tall today. Spend time at the castle to learn all about its colourful history as well as the many myths, legends and spooky stories associated with the castle. You may also recognise the castle from appearances in film and tv, such as in the latest instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise, The Dial of Destiny. Our tour then begins the journey home to Edinburgh as the sun sets on your day of adventure across the border in the north of England. After a comfort break, we arrive back in the city.

Visit the rolling, beautiful hills of the Scottish Borders and hear tales from your guide about the infamous Border Reivers who raided villages and settlements in this part of the country for centuries. You’ll see for yourself why Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s greatest cultural figures, loved this landscape. Learn all about Scotland’s Outlaw King, whose heart is said to be interred in Melrose Abbey. Then, cross the English border and head to the magical Alnwick Castle. See where Harry Potter learned to fly and play Quidditch and take part in the famous broomstick training sessions with the resident Wizarding Professor. There is something for everyone in this historic fortress which has links to the Norman Conquests, wars of independence, War of the Roses and Oliver Cromwell. In the late afternoon, depart Alnwick and travel North along the rugged Viking Coast towards the Scottish border. Please note: If you join us before the 27th of March 2025 Alnwick Castle will be closed, and the tour will make a longer visit to Bamburgh Castle instead of Alnwick Castle. Here you can explore over 3000 years of incredible history while enjoying fantastic views and sea air.