10 Best Castles In Northumberland, England

Last Updated on 23rd September 2023

This post about the best castles in Northumberland contains previously gifted experiences with Visit Northumberland. Please see my disclaimer for more.

The Best Castles In Northumberland - Top Historic Sites

Are you planning a trip to Northumberland and want to find the best castles in the county? This post is for you!

Northumberland is famed for its spectacular landscapes, beautiful beaches and of course, its fantastic fortresses and compelling castles. While I haven’t quite had the chance to visit all of Northumberland’s castles just yet, I have paid a visit to some of its very best ones, which is exactly what today’s post is all about.

The castles in Northumberland range from grand, seemingly almost brand-new works of art, to centuries-old architectural marvels and once you’ve visited a few, you’ll be hard-pressed to decide which one is your favourite!

If I had to choose just one castle to recommend to you guys that you absolutely have to visit, it would probably have to be Bamburgh Castle, as the castle itself is not only a marvellous masterpiece but the surrounding scenery and sea views make it one of the most beautiful places in Northumberland!

If you’re looking for some of the best castles in Northumberland and you want to add some of the county’s top historic sites to your Northumberland itinerary, check out the post below!

P.S. This post about the best castles in Northumberland obviously isn’t exhaustive, there are so many more castles to visit in Northumberland, the ones featured in this post just happen to be some of my favourites and the ones that I’ve frequented the most!

10 best castles in Northumberland

There are over 70 castles in Northumberland and this ultimate guide to the best castles in Northumberland includes 10 of the very best!

Bamburgh Castle
Alnwick Castle
Warkworth Castle
Dunstanburgh Castle
Lindisfarne Castle
Chillingham Castle
Prudhoe Castle
Etal Castle
Edlingham Castle
Kielder Castle

1. Bamburgh Castle

As I mentioned above, Bamburgh Castle is probably my favourite castle in Northumberland and potentially even in the whole of the UK! Not only is it one of the top castles, but it’s also the oldest castle in Northumberland!

With its history spanning over 1,400 years, Bamburgh Castle’s impressive and imposing stronghold offers striking views out to the North Sea and on a clear day, you can even see out to Holy Island.

It’s also one of the largest inhabited castles in the country and inside the castle grounds, you’ll find ornate staterooms, the mighty keep and the armoury which is home to dozens of weapons that have been used in numerous battles throughout the years.

If you have time, it’s also worth taking a stroll along Bamburgh Beach to see the castle from below, as well as wandering around the adjacent football field which also offers impressive views up towards the mighty stronghold.

Book tickets to visit Bamburgh Castle here!

2. Alnwick Castle – the biggest castle in Northumberland

Alnwick Castle is the biggest castle in Northumberland!

Famed for playing host to many TV and film set locations, Alnwick Castle is arguably most iconic for being featured in the Harry Potter film franchise.

While at Alnwick Castle, you can even take flying lessons so you can truly live out all your Hogwarts fantasies and strolling around the grounds of the castles really feels like Hagrid will walk past at any second!

It’s also famous for “playing the role” of Brancaster Castle in the hit Downtown Abbey television series!

Read my full guide to Alnwick Castle here!

3. Warkworth Castle – the best castles in Northumberland

Warkworth Castle - best castles in Northumberland

Warkworth Castle was actually one that I’d not even heard of before researching for our trip to Northumberland but it actually turned out to be one of my favourite castles in Northumberland.

Dating back to the 12th century, Warkworth Castle was home to the infamous Percy family between the 14th and 17th centuries.

The cross-shaped keep is potentially the most beautiful and iconic part of Warkworth Castle and as you wander around the almost fully intact tower, it’s hard to imagine that it was built over 600 years ago by the Earl of Northumberland.

You can also go inside the keep to discover the remaining ruins of the fortress walls and look out through the little windows to see views of the River Coquet and the neighbouring villages.

While much of the castle is in ruins, you can still see many remnants of what the castle would have once looked like and it’s easy to imagine Earls and Dukes calling Warkworth Castle their home, as well as the castle playing a major part in numerous battles between England and Scotland.

Warkworth Castle is open daily Monday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and 10am-4pm on Sunday. English Heritage members are able to visit the castle for free, and tickets cost £7.90 for adults and £4.70 for children.

4. Dunstanburgh Castle

The walk to Dunstanburgh Castle is in itself a marvellous experience and once you catch a glimpse of the imposing fortress, you’re sure to be blown away!

Nestled on a clifftop looking out to the choppy sea below, it’s clear to see why Dunstanburgh Castle was built to defend first against the Earl of Lancaster and then later against the Scots.

Walking along Northumberland’s picturesque, rugged coast to reach Dunstanburgh Castle cannot be missed, and when you arrive at the castle, be sure to spend plenty of time walking around the grounds, as well as along the coastline for breathtaking views out to the wave-battered clifftops and Embleton Bay.

To get to Dunstanburgh Castle, you will need to park at the Craster Quarry Car Park and then walk to the castle; it’s not the most accessible footpath, although it is largely flat most of the way, it’s very rocky and muddy, particularly in the bad weather.

Tickets cost £5.90 for adults without donations and £3.50 for children. Members of English Heritage can gain entry to the castle for free. The castle is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

5. Lindisfarne Castle – castles of Northumbria

Unfortunately, Lindisfarne Castle was still closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic when we visited, so we didn’t actually get the chance to look inside or wander around the grounds properly, but we did have a little wander around the base of the castle and enjoyed the wonderful views out to sea.

Even though we visited Holy Island and Lindisfarne Castle at the beginning of May, it was still unbelievably cold and windy, so this is definitely something to bear in mind when visiting the island – make sure you wrap up warm!

Perched on top of a hill that offers 360° views of the sea and Holy Island, Lindisfarne Castle is a must-see when visiting Northumberland.

While lockdown restrictions are still gradually easing in the UK, you will have to book a timed slot to visit Lindisfarne Castle and you can do so on their website. Tickets are £8 for adults for non-members of National Trust and £4 for children.