Alnwick Castle

July 15, 2024

Alnwick Castle (pronounced A-nick), in Northumberland, was used as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies. As a massive fan, it was super exciting to walk out onto the instantly recognizable courtyard where Harry, and his classmates, learn how to ride their brooms with Madam Hooch. Even more awesomely, you can take flying lessons here yourself! The lessons are free and any witch or wizard of any age can join in. You just need to grab a time-slot ticket from the staff. As you can imagine Broomstick Training is extremely popular. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to get one as soon as you arrive. Practice jumping high!

Once you've mastered that, take a tour of the elaborate state rooms, then make your way over to the massive gardens.

Alnwick Castle Gardens

If walking around the grounds of Hogwarts wasn't fun enough, I have to say that walking around the elaborate gardens was even more fun. Words cannot describe how eccentric they are in the best way. How fun it must be to have enough money to create something like this in your backyard. Yes, please!

Accessing the gardens requires an additional admittance fee. Don't come all the way here and not see them! They are an attraction onto themselves and you can spend so much time here. 

There are countless amazing water features, a cherry orchard, a bamboo maze, and a poison garden just to name a few. Every area of the gardens has a jaw dropping affect. The Grand Cascade at the entrance is pretty spectacular. It's a multi-tiered water feature with jets that spray out water. You can walk along a pathway right beside it and enjoy the sound of the tranquil running water. The Serpent Garden was my favorite part, as well as all of the little kids that were getting soaked. At the top of the Grand Cascade is the Ornamental Garden, which was my second favorite. It's just incredibly colorful and lovely. 

If all this wasn't enough, there's also a massive treehouse! If I had any clue about what was all here before I got here, I would have spent far less time at the castle. I booked the tour thinking I was just going to see Hogwarts. After about an hour and a half, I was more than done at the castle, and I still had an hour and half left. I moseyed on over to the gardens and instantly realized my mistake. As a result, I ended up rushing around the gardens to make sure I saw it all.

The Grand Cascade, this picture doesn't do it justice. 

I finally found the exit to the Bamboo Maze!

The Poison Garden has more than 100 toxic plants. You have to go with a guide to get in.

Ornamental Garden

The Treehouse is the largest wooden treehouse in the world. It has it's own cafe and dining facilities.

Treehouse Turret

Bamburgh Castle

Alnwick Castle, is in Northern England. I got here from Scotland. I took a day tour from Edinburgh with Haggis Adventures. (I am not affiliated with them.) The name of this tour was Castles & Broomsticks. We made a quick stop at Bamburgh Castle first. It was more of a photo stop because we didn't have time to go inside. Bamburgh Castle is mighty impressive and right on the beach. 

The beach and a castle, two of my favorite things!

I don't look too bad at the beginning of the tour!

After about a 10 hour day, I got dropped back off in Edinburgh, and on the way back to my hotel on Princes Street, I stopped to say hello to Hazel the Owl, who can usually be found on the Royal Mile. This time I found her at Waldrop's Close.

The next morning I flew to Belfast, for some Game of Thrones adventures.

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