Cottages in Alnwick

Named by Country Life as the quaintest town in Northumberland and the best place to live in Britain, Alnwick draws tourists first and foremost to its famous castle, which is home of the wealthiest family in the medieval north, the Earls of Northumberland. There are a handful of cottages right in the heart of Alnwick, where you can fully immerse yourself in its 2,000 year history. Alternatively, look out for the cottages a few minutes’ drive to the east of Alnwick in the verdant Northumberland countrywide and close to its gorgeous sandy beaches.

Cottages in Alnwick are spacious and well presented. Built from the brown brick so typical of this region of England, they are cosy and warm, with large gardens and patios that are perfect for summer al fresco dining. Cottages are family-friendly and offer direct access to the historic centre of Alnwick and miles of countryside trails.

Dunstanburgh Castle is the epitome of a picturesque ruin, stranded on a dark headland on the south side of Embleton Bay near Alnwick. The castle can be reached from via a spectacular coastal path which has been named one of the UK's favourite walks. Alnwick Castle has been the seat of the powerful Dukes of Northumberland since the 13th century. Today Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the UK after Windsor. It was also a set in the Harry Potter films, which you can visit on a guided tour.

The Northumberland coastal area boasts wild untamed landscapes and exceptional natural beauty, and welcomes you to its shores in any season of the year. The picturesque town of Alnmouth is just five minutes from Alnwick. It boasts the stunning natural beauty of wide, golden, sandy beaches that are lovely for a walk or for sunbathing when the weather allows. Another beach of unforgettable beauty, Embleton Bay, boasts a mile-long stretch of sand bordered by dunes that are an important breeding site for all sorts of fascinating wildlife.

Alnwick is a popular weekend getaway for families. The Alnwick Garden is home to one of the world's largest wooden tree houses, with fabulous walkways in the sky for your kids to explore. Feudal knights, dragons, and Harry Potter – Alnwick Castle may very well be heaven on earth! For younger children Castle Mania Indoor Adventure Play Centre is a heavenly kingdom for a princess and a challenge fit for a price.

Through a set of black iron gates adorned with ominous skull and crossbones warnings you will find the garden of deadly plants in Alnwick Garden. This has been described by Smithsonian Magazine as the "deadliest garden in the world" and is home to 100 plants that can kill.

In one of the oldest corners of the city, Bailiffgate Museum occupies the old Church of St. Mary, a Gothic building dating back 200 years. The museum uncovers the rich industrial and cultural heritage of Alnwick and Northumberland.

Howick Hall Gardens were remodelled in the 1900s in an informal and natural style. Praised for its fabulous colours, Howick Hall Gardens is often cited as the UK's best gardens to visit in spring. In February it is home to a wonderful snowdrop festival, and in March and April, the daffodils reveal their kaleidoscope splendour.

Covering thousands of hectares, the park houses three waymarked trails of different lengths. It is a wildlife paradise, and you can look forward to crossing paths with a plenitude of pheasants, deer, rabbits, rare birds and maybe even a cheeky weasel.

On the edge of Alnwick you will find St. Michael's Church, one of the most dazzling examples of perpendicular Gothic architecture in England. A listed building, it dates to Saxon times and was splendidly rebuilt in the 14th and 15th centuries.

In the most sparsely populated region of England, and close to the edge of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, a 572-square-mile area free of light pollution, Alnwick is one of the best places to visit and admire the Milky Way and events such as the auroras and meteor showers!

The White Swan Hotel is a special place to eat in Alnwick. A fine 300-year-old Baroque inn, you can enjoy your dinner surrounded by the wood panelling, stained glass windows, mirrors and carved ceilings of the RMS Olympic ocean liner, the nearly identical sister ship to the Titanic!