Our Northumberland Castle Challenge has finally brought us to Alnwick Castle, arguably the most famous of the Northumberland Castles, not least for it’s roles in the Harry Potter films as Hogwarts and the Downton Abbey Christmas special as Brancaster Castle!
The home of the Percy family for over 700 years, one of the largest inhabited castles in the UK. There has been a castle on this site for over 1000 years, it was the birthplace of England’s most famous knight, Harry Hotsper, and even one of Anne Boleyn’s lovers was a Percy (you can read more of the family’s rich history here). This castle promised to be a good one.
Last Friday Reuben and I joined Emily and Beau, and Cath, Isabella and baby Sam up in Alnwick. Once the kids had donned their regatta puddle suits (which got no less than 3 compliments!) we set off. While it was a grey and drizzly day, it was loads of fun and here’s why…
5 reasons your kids will love Alnwick Castle
1. The walk and surrounding grounds
Each time we visit a castle it seems the perfect time to visit, but this trip to Alnwick Castle in Autumn seemed particularly perfect as the walk up the castle (from the Alnwick Gardens entrance) is lined with beautiful trees all turning spectacular colours. Someone had even left a handy pile of these lovely leaves for us to jump in (sorry to whoever that was!!).
There was also funny looking chickens and a beautiful vista of the castle on the approach, which made our kids want to do a runner up the hill. Unheard of.
2. Harry Potter
As I previously mentioned, Alnwick Castle was used for filming bits of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film – maybe not too exciting for our kids, as they are a bit young for HP but it was exciting for us mums and any older kids. You can even have broomstick flying lessons! Unfortunately Isabella wasn’t so keen on the ‘witches’ so we decided to give it a miss. Boo!
3. Loads of Castle
A lot of our castle hunting has involved a few stones on a hill. Alnwick Castle has more castle than you can shake a stick at! It’s huge and incredibly impressive, with lots of steps to climb up and down, and nooks and crannies a plenty.
4. Knights Quest
The Knights Quest is a pretty epic kids corner, offering rats, dragons, and dressing up – what more would you need?
From a mums point of view the facilities were great, with toilets a short walk away and we were able to get baby Sam around the grounds in his buggy without any trouble. We also enjoyed our picnic undercover in the Knights Quest while it rained, alongside a cuppa and a (slightly pricy) babycino from the cafe.
5. Hills to run up and down
Alnwick Castle is where Reuben first started to crawl, 2 years ago. While this time there was running, skipping and jumping too, there was actually rather a lot of crawling thanks to all the hills there are to climb and run down! Thank goodness again for those puddle suits…
Although I could have done with one as at one point this lead to a big pile up with me at the bottom…
Unfortunately Isabella wasn’t feeling very well and seemed to get worse as the day went, so she isn’t in many of these pictures. But she did manage to raise a smile for the group shot. Ever the professional, bless her!
It was a fantastic trip and castle to visit. Thank you to Alnwick Castle for having us!
Have you ever been to Alnwick Castle? What were your favourite bits?
I’d love to hear in the comments below or come and join in the conversation on the Mums’ Days Facebook Wall! If you fancy a trip to Alnwick Castle over the half term holiday, there is lots on which you can read all about here.
This trip to Alnwick Castle was made in association with Regatta who provided the kids’ all-in-one waterproof suits (plus another 25 suits for my local kids charity). They are brilliant and I don’t know why I’ve never got one for Reuben before. The kids stayed cosy and dry, despite the drizzly weather and the hill climbing!
Wow what a great day! I love a good castle, I wish we lived nearer you, as we would have joined in with you. How cute do the boys look in those puddle suits?! xxx
We adore Alnwick castle. We go every school holidays. Myself and my oldest enjoy getting a bit of a fright in the dragons quest while my youngest like dressing up and playing the games. Alnwick gardens is also gorgeous esp on a sunny day and there is lots to look at and do there too. Just fills in a whole day in a nice way 🙂
Totally! I love Alnwick Gardens too 🙂 We did venture into the dragons quest but R decided to head back after the skeletons! Haha!
Haha Yeh I can imagine younger ones to be scared of it. It gives me the chills too 😉
What a lovely castle, so much to do! I really need to get T a new waterproof suit for the winter, they are perfect for active little boys aren’t they? X #thelist
They really are Leandra – these two would be head to toe in mud if they didn’t have them!! xx
I love castles and never bee to Alnwick. It looks fabulous. And I am a big Harry Potter fan so would love to try an spot the places were it has been filmed. Think I may have to see about visiting soon.
Ooh, well let me know if you do love! xx
It looks so cool here! I love, love, love Castles and you can’t go wrong with one that has hosted Harry Potter (huge fan) and Downton. It looks so beautiful. xx #thelist
It looks like a brilliant day out! We don’t have any castles around here but we have recently become members of the National Trust and love exploring the stately homes and their grounds. Xxx
Ive never been to Alnwick but it looks like an awesome castle. Im a complete history nerd so know rhe story of Ann Bolyne and her ill fated romance with Henry Percy. Imagine how different history would be if she had been allowed to marry him??
(sorry,I really am a nerd).
I also want to learn to fly a broomstick!! #Thelist
Gorgeous post and I love the broomsticks for a spot of quid ditch! My son would love the knights too #thelist
Seems like you had a fab day out! Have not been to Alnwick Castle but looks very interesting and a great place to visit. I Loved the Knights Quest, they look so cute with the costumes. Thanks for sharing! #TheList
I love Alnwick castle, I have not visited since having the little two children so it was handy to know that it is easy to get around with a buggy and a toddler. xx
Forget the kids – I’d love it too! Another fab castle day out, I’m really going to have to get into this castle spotting 🙂 Thanks for hosting lovely, have a fab weekend xx
Alnwick Castle is such a great place. My daughter loves Harry Potter so it’s always a thrill to do a bit of broomstick training!
This looks gorgeous and how cool that harry Potter was filmed there. Looks like you had a wonderful day 🙂 Thanks for hosting #TheList
I want to go to Hogwarts! I hope it’s occurred to them that they should send people invites to come on 1st September! 😀 #thelist
Alnwick Castle looks amazing and so beautiful Hannah, and I would love to see Hogwarts! Those puddlesuits look great and so cosy. Lovely photos too xx
How regal and romantic it must be visiting a castle…we are seriously a little light on the ground for those down here in Oz…perhaps we’ll just stick to a beach visit this weekend. Gorgeous photos!!#TheList
This looks like a fun day. What gorgeous photos. Lovely x #TheList