Lady’s 11 Places to Visit in Northumberland

Today I want to share my guide to places to visit in Northumberland. England always amazes me. Just when I think I’ve seen a lot of it, I find entire counties I didn’t know about. Like Northumberland. Then I visit and discover I’ve been missing out on a stunning corner of the UK. Naturally, I want to share it with you. Because there are some incredible places to travel in Northumberland and you should see them.

Places to Visit in Northumberland

Northumberland is the northernmost county in England and it sits just across the border from Scotland. Since I’ve spent a lot of time in the Scottish Borders, I’ve also been to Northumberland a lot.

And for good reason. There’s so much to see in this part of England, from stunning coastal castles to beautiful rolling hills. So below are 11 places to visit in Northumberland that I hope will inspire you to travel here.

There’s a lot more about Northumberland in Lonely Planet Great Britain, too. You can get it here. I’ve had a copy since I moved to London, and I’ve used it to plan a lot of my trips.

1. Alnwick Castle

Perhaps the most famous place to visit in Northumberland, Alnwick Castle is not only stunning in its own right but also known for being a filming location for the Harry Potter movies and Downton Abbey.

I visited to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the A Lady in London blog, and it was amazing to see the gardens and State Rooms in person.

On another trip, I spent 3 days in Northumberland for a photo shoot where I modeled for English clothing company Barbour.

Not only did I eat at the tree house restaurant at Alnwick Castle, but I also got a chance to explore the town of Alnwick. It’s home to beautiful streets, one of the most unique bookshops I’ve ever been to, and a sweet little hotel called The Cookie Jar.

2. Holy Island

Another destination with a stunning fortress, Holy Island is one of the best places to visit in Northumberland for a number of reasons.

First, the hilltop beauty of Lindisfarne Castle is unparalleled. But there’s a lot more to it than that, from Gertrude Jekyll’s stunning Arts and Crafts Movement garden to the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory.

Add to that the fact that the island is only accessible via a causeway from the mainland at low tide, and even getting there is an adventure.

3. Berwick-upon-Tweed

Up the coast from Holy island, Berwick-upon-Tweed is another of the best places to visit in Northumberland.

Steeped in history, this border town has changed hands between England and Scotland countless times. Its thick city walls and fortifications testify to its turbulent past.

But there’s a softer side to Berwick, too, from the beautiful lighthouse to the trail following the paintings of artist L. S. Lowry. And that’s to say nothing of the views over the bridges.

4. Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland

Back down the coast, Bamburgh Castle is one of the most stunning fortresses in England and one of the best places to travel in Northumberland.

Sitting on a cliff above a beach, it’s not only striking because of its location, but also because of its beautiful interiors and legendary history as the seat of the Kings of Northumbria.

5. The Cheviot Hills and Northumberland National Park

Far from castles and towns, the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland National Park are some of my favorite places to visit in Northumberland. I love getting out into nature in England here.

With gorgeous views and lots of woolly sheep, the Cheviots deliver on all fronts. I’ve done a lot of country walks here, and I’ve loved the scenery every time.

6. Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland

Equally removed from the bustle of town life, Hadrian’s Wall is one of my ideal places to visit in Northumberland. I’m a fan of ancient Roman history, and this is one of the finest examples of it in England.

It’s not just the wall, either. There are Roman forts, archaeological sites, and museums to explore along it, too.

7. Craster

I discovered Craster by accident, but I’m glad I did. My boyfriend and I were looking for somewhere to eat after visiting Alnwick Castle, and Craster seemed to have a cluster of good seafood restaurants.

In we drove, and when we arrived we discovered a pretty seaside village with the best fish and lobster I’ve had in a long time. There’s a reason Craster kippers are considered the best in Britain.

8. Dunstanburgh Castle

As an added bonus, Craster has stunning views of Dunstanburgh Castle. Sitting right above the shoreline on the Northumberland Coast, this 14th-century ruin dominates the landscape.

Its keep also offers great views up and down the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This is truly one of the best places to visit in Northumberland.

9. Chain Bridge Honey Farm

Perhaps the quirkiest place on my list of Northumberland destinations, the Chain Bridge Honey Farm is not only known for its bee products, but also a colorful collection of vintage vehicles ranging from tractors to caravans.

The most delightful of them is a bright green vintage double-decker bus that houses a hidden cafe. It’s one of the most unique things in the area.

10. Union Chain Bridge

Right next to the honey farm, the Union Chain Bridge is another of the best places to visit in Northumberland.

Spanning the River Tweed between Horncliffe, England and Fishwick, Scotland, this historic suspension bridge not only ties two parts of Britain together, but also looks good doing it.

When it opened in 1820, the Union Chain Bridge was the world’s longest wrought-iron suspension bridge and the UK’s first vehicular bridge. Today it’s fun to walk across it and take in the river views.

11. Cragside in Northumberland

Cragside is a stunning 19th-century country house with extensive gardens near Rothbury. It’s one of the most unique places to visit in Northumberland.

The home of Lord Armstrong, a Victorian inventor and industrialist, Cragside was the world’s first building to be lit by hydroelectric power.

Built on a rocky crag above Debdon Burn, the house also has a rhododendron maze, waterfalls, over 30 miles (48 kilometers) of footpaths and trails, one of Europe’s largest rock gardens, and five lakes.

Cragside is one of the most pleasant surprises I’ve come across in the north of England. I could spend days exploring the beautiful interiors and grounds.

Places to Visit in Northumberland

And that’s what I love about Northumberland: it keeps surprising me. There are still a lot of places I want to discover, and I can’t wait to explore more of this beautiful county in the future.

How about you? What are your favorite places to visit in Northumberland?

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