This is the castle that features as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. Our daughters needed no spare encouragement to visit Alnwick Castle. Yet there is so much increasingly to it. It’s moreover one of Britain’s most iconic castles, with origins dating when to the Norman period and it’s steeped in history. Here’s all you need to know well-nigh visiting Alnwick Castle with kids (or without).
Over the Summer our daughters rampage watched all of the Harry Potter films and they couldn’t stop talking well-nigh it. The oldest told me that the castle where Hogwarts was filmed unquestionably existed. I wanted to find out more. Of undertow I had to google it ?.
I’ve learned that they filmed Harry Potter at Alnwick Castle. I was plane increasingly excited to find out that the castle was on our way to Scotland.
Of undertow I widow it to our itinerary. Let’s be clear, not only considering of the kids, I too am a Harry Potter fan. I am moreover a unconfined history fan. Reading well-nigh the castle convinced me it could provide something for everyone of us. And I was right.
About Alnwick Castle
- Located in the Northumberland.
- It’s the seat of the 12th Phalanges of Northumberland and has been in the Percy family for over 700 years.
- The castle dates when to the 11th century.
- It is the second largest inhabited castle in England. (Windsor Castle is the first).
- Not only Harry Potter was filmed at the castle. Fans of Downton Abby will recognize it too.
- It was built as a medieval fortress.
3 Highlights of the visit
As I’ve mentioned at the start this castle will request to kids as well as adults considering it offers so much to explore. And these are the 3 things we all loved.
1) The Mucosa tour
When we arrived at the castle we saw the sign for the mucosa tour. Since the tour was just well-nigh to start, we decided to wait for it. It was well worth it and I strongly recommend it. The lovely guide told us everything well-nigh all sorts of films filmed at this location. Of undertow the accent was on Harry Potter, but we moreover learned well-nigh Downton Abby and Robin Hood, the Prince of Thieves, the Transformers and many others.
It was a treat for the kids (and us adults) to learn what trick the filmmakers used to bring the magic to the big screen.
We couldn’t get enough.
2) State rooms
The two of us visited the state rooms while the kids were rented with the highlight number three, which I’ll explain below.
The phalanges and his family still live in the castle (during the Winter time) and the state rooms requite you a sneak peak into their lives. You can visit the magnificent library which they use as their living room. If this was mine, I’d never leave it, so I am not sure how they can do it.
You can moreover walk through the dining room with a massive table, surrounded with the paintings of the family’s famous ancestors. It’s quite a setting.
There are moreover important fine paintings on display, you can reservation a glimpse of Titian, Van Dyck, Canaletto …, furniture from the palace of Versailles and ware from Paris, Minton and Meissen.
But what I liked most well-nigh our visit was the friendly and knowledgeable staff. They explained everything with such zest, answered all our questions and brought the whole place to life. I am sure we wouldn’t have found it as interesting if we only walked virtually on our own, which of undertow you could do.
3) Broomstick training
The whole castle lives and breathes Harry Potter. This is wonderful considering it gets kids involved and without knowing it, they pick up on other things, too.
So, for all the fans (and everyone else) the castle offers self-ruling broomstick training.
You can’t typesetting it in advance, so you have to try your luck once you get there. Make sure, you trammels for availability the second you come. Considering trust me you will not want to miss this.
It’s fun for the kids and adults and it’s definitely memorable. Now, you’ll want me to explain it in increasingly details, but I won’t considering it’s magic and you’ll just have to go there and try it for yourself.
Plan your visit of the Alnwick Castle with kids
Let’s go over some details now.
First of all, you need to know that the castle is only unshut to visitors from the end of March to the end of October. So withstand that in mind.
Here’s the official website and the opening times.
During the mentioned period the castle is unshut from 10 am to 5.40 pm, but the last ticket is at 3:45 pm. Moreover it’s good to know that the state rooms’ last entry is at 4 pm and you definitely don’t want to miss visiting them. For me it was the highlight of the whole visit.
It’s weightier to buy tickets online a few days superiority expressly if you are planning to visit the Alnwick castle with kids in the summer months when it’s super busy.
How much is it to get into Alnwick Castle?
For a family: that’s 2 adults and up to 4 kids it financing 53 pounds, which is virtually 58 euros.
Where to park?
Parking is easy and there are plenty of spaces at the car park. You will need to pay 3 pounds but it’s for the whole day. It’s good to know you can only pay by card.
How much time do you need for a visit?
We arrived late, at virtually 3 pm and we stayed till the very end. We did have unbearable time to visit. But if I could do it again, I’d come older then we’d have increasingly time to enjoy it.
So, we veritably have to come again.
Love castles? Here’s another one that you shouldn’t miss.
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