Regional Guide
The Best Castles in Northumberland & the North East
Nowhere in England has more castles than the North East. Centuries as the front line of the wars between England and Scotland left this corner of the country studded with strongholds — royal fortresses, Percy family seats and windswept coastal ruins. Here are the finest, from the great clifftop castles of the Northumberland coast to the mighty keep that gave Newcastle its name, with practical notes on who looks after each and how to plan a visit.
Along the Northumberland Coast
The great coastal castles, strung between beaches and fishing villages.
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, north Northumberland
Owned by the Armstrong family
The most dramatic of them all — a vast fortress standing on a basalt crag directly above miles of golden beach. Bamburgh was the royal seat of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, and was bought and restored by the Victorian engineer and inventor the first Lord Armstrong in 1894; his family still owns it today. It is open to visitors all year round, closing only briefly in January for conservation.
Dunstanburgh Castle
near Craster, Northumberland
National Trust, managed by English Heritage
A hauntingly beautiful ruin on a lonely headland, reached only on foot. Begun in 1313 by Earl Thomas of Lancaster — built as much as a defiant symbol of his opposition to the king as a stronghold — it is now approached by a gentle 1.3-mile coastal walk from the fishing village of Craster, past working farmland and sea cliffs. There is no road to the door, which is exactly what makes it special.
Warkworth Castle
Warkworth, Northumberland
English Heritage
A hillside stronghold of the powerful Percy family, its magnificent cross-shaped keep rising above a loop of the River Coquet. A short riverside walk and a small ferry take you to Warkworth's atmospheric Hermitage, a tiny chapel carved into the rock — an unusual companion to the castle and well worth the trip.
Tynemouth Priory & Castle
Tynemouth, North Tyneside
English Heritage
Castle and priory share a commanding headland above the mouth of the Tyne. The moated towers, gatehouse and keep stand beside the ruins of the Benedictine priory where early kings of Northumbria were buried, and you can descend into the underground gun batteries that defended the river through both World Wars. English Heritage members visit free.
Plan a day in Tynemouth→Alnwick, the Tyne & Inland
The showpiece castle of the north, the city keep, and the quieter forts of the Tyne Valley.
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick, Northumberland
Home of the Duke of Northumberland (Percy family)
The second-largest inhabited castle in England, and the seat of the Percy family for over 700 years. The Duke and Duchess still live in part of it while the state rooms and grounds open to the public — over 800,000 people visit each year. Film fans will know it as Hogwarts from the first two Harry Potter films, and its Broomstick Training sessions take place where Harry had his first flying lesson. The Alnwick Garden, with its Grand Cascade and Treehouse, sits right next door.
Plan a day in Alnwick→Newcastle Castle
Newcastle city centre
Run by the Old Newcastle Project charity
The castle the whole city is named after. The surviving medieval Castle Keep and the Black Gate stand between the river and the railway viaduct, the last of the 'new castle' first raised here in Norman times. Climbing the keep gives one of the best views over the Tyne bridges — check current opening times before you go.
Tyne Valley castles
near Hexham
English Heritage
West of Newcastle, the Tyne Valley around Hexham holds a cluster of smaller but rewarding fortifications — among them Prudhoe Castle, a Norman stronghold above the river, and Aydon Castle, one of the best-preserved fortified manor houses in England. They pair naturally with a day exploring Hexham's abbey and the Roman frontier of Hadrian's Wall.
Plan a day in Hexham→More to explore
Beyond these, the region rewards castle-hunters further afield: Lindisfarne Castle perched on Holy Island (reached across a tidal causeway, so always check the safe crossing times), and Chillingham Castle, a medieval fortress in the Cheviot foothills famous for its history and its resident wild cattle. Between the coast, the Cheviots and the Tyne, you could fill a dozen days out without seeing the same battlement twice.
Make a day of it
Many of these castles sit right beside a great North East beach one of Northumberland’s historic market towns or the region’s best days out. Browse the full Visit the North East guide for local tips on parking and where to eat, or see what’s on across the region this weekend.