Alnwick Castle

I really enjoyed our tour of Alnwick Castle...the family anecdotes that were shared with our group were really enlightening. I enjoyed hearing how the family still manages to comfortably live in a house that was designed for another time but is now inhabited by a modern family and how they make it work for them! There wasn't much "fawning" on the part of our docent...it probably depends on who you get! The history of the place is wonderful and the interior is well-maintained and beautiful. I think it's worth taking the tour.

It's more "stately home" inside than castle - lots of antiques and ornate sets of china. We didn't particularly care for it, although it was amusing to hear the docent fawning over the family photos on display in the grandiose living room - you would have thought they were her own relatives!......What is worthwhile is the gardens. They are beautifully laid out and the "poison garden" is fascinating......For castles in that area, we enjoyed the ruined ones near the coast....And don't miss a visit to "Barter Books" in Alnwick.

We were there last week and really enjoyed it. Found the docents delightful and wonderfully informative. We were there on a stunning weekday and practically had the place to ourselves. Perfect! Ds wanted to visit because of the HP connection, but ended up finding the history and the house itself more interesting than the HP part! When are you planning on visiting? As an FYI, the youngest daughter of the family is getting married in mid-June and the wedding will be at the castle. Not sure about the access to the castle during the wedding preparations and just after.