Alnwick Castle
Our verdict · Fly a broomstick in the courtyard where Harry had his first lesson — a genuinely magical hook for film-mad families.
Visit if
Your children love Harry Potter or Downton Abbey and want to stand in the real filming locations.
Skip it if
You are travelling in winter, when the castle closes to visitors for the season.
Plan your visit
Alnwick Castle
From ~£19.50 pp adult (indicative, online advance)
Indicative price at the time of review.
Alnwick is a real, lived-in home of the Duke of Northumberland that moonlights as one of Britain's most photogenic film sets — the outer bailey doubled as Hogwarts, and broomstick training with a resident 'wizarding professor' is included with entry (it's free, but you collect a timed slot on arrival, so head there early). Beyond the wizardry there is the Knight's Quest dressing-up zone, dragon-themed adventures and grand state rooms filled with Old Masters. Next door, the separately ticketed Alnwick Garden adds a giant treehouse, the notorious Poison Garden and splash fountains, easily turning this into a two-day trip. The castle is seasonal: the 2026 season is advertised as running 27 March to 22 October, so it is a spring-to-autumn day out rather than a winter one — confirm current dates on the official site before travelling.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Broomstick training included in standard entry (free timed slot)
- Real Harry Potter and Downton Abbey filming locations
- Adjacent Alnwick Garden and treehouse extend the trip
Cons
- Castle closed over winter (2026 season advertised 27 Mar–22 Oct; confirm on official site)
- Alnwick Garden next door is a separate paid ticket
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Warwick Castle | 94/100 | Adult from ~£26 online; family of 4 from ~£86 (indicative, online advance) | overall family day out |
| 2.Alnwick CastleThis pick | 92/100 | From ~£19.50 pp adult (indicative, online advance) | film and Harry Potter fans |
| 3.Dover Castle | 90/100 | Adult from ~£23.60 online (indicative; English Heritage members free) | budding historians |
| 4.Leeds Castle | 88/100 | Family from ~£87 (1 adult + up to 3 children); ~£115 for 2 adults — valid all year (indicative) | gardens and repeat visits |
| 5.Edinburgh Castle | 86/100 | Adult ~£21.50; family (2+2) from ~£62 (indicative, online advance) | a city-break with older kids |
Good to know
- Address
- Alnwick NE66 1NQ
- Nearest station
- Alnmouth
- Phone
- +44 1665 511100
- Price
- From ~£19.50 pp adult (indicative, online advance)
- Opening
- Seasonal — 2026 advertised 27 March to 22 October (confirm on official site); grounds from 10am
- Prices
- Adult from ~£19.50 online; under-5s free
- Best for ages
- All ages; broomstick training a hit with 5–12s
- Highlights
- Broomstick training, Knight's Quest, state rooms, film-location tours
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday
- 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address, hours & rating verified via Google · Sept 2026
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 2 September 2026
- Updated
- 2 September 2026
- Last verified
- 2 September 2026
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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