Alnwick campsites

Alnwick is situated in the Heart of Northumberland with the Alnwick Castle taking pride of place in the town of Alnwick. A historic and grand affair, the castle has a momentous history, as far as Norman times, and is surrounded by stunning Northumberland views. Made famous in Downton Abbey, it's even better known as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. The castle has a superb art collection and Harry Potter fans can let their inner wizard out with broomstick training.

Keeping with the magical theme The Wicked Wizard of Alnwick self-guided Mystery Themed Treasure Trail is a great way of getting the whole family out exploring rather than just wandering around aimlessly.

Next up has to be The Alnwick Garden, home to one of the world's largest wooden tree houses, with walkways in the sky, rope bridges and a fantastic place to eat in the treetops. The Garden also features the Grand Cascade, a tumbling mass of water with shooting jets, and the Rose and Ornamental Gardens. The Serpent Garden features interactive water sculptures, and there's also the Bamboo Labyrinth and the Poison Garden.

To live a little of the history yourself Bailiffgate Museum is a fun day out for all the family. It tells the history of Alnwick and district in colourful, interactive displays. Highlights include a Victorian schoolroom, a nineteenth century printer's workshop, a miner's kitchen and artefacts from a ten thousand-year-old house, the oldest in Northumberland.

Not far and perched on the edge of the Northumberland coastline you’ll find Dunstanburgh Castle. This iconic castle ruin was once upon a time one of the largest and most grandiose forts in Northern England. There are great views from the top of the tower if you're brave enough to climb all the way up.

Head just south towards Amble Beach. The finest sands are toward Hauzley to the south of the harbour, which offers a great view of Coquet Island and its working lighthouse. Coquet is managed by the RSPB and is home to over 18,000 puffins, the UKs largest colony.

Fancy getting a little closer to the puffins and a plethora of other sea birds, Dave Gray's Boat Trips have been running happy families between Coquet Island and Amble harbour for just over forty years now.

Families and train enthusiasts alike will enjoy a ride on the excellent Aln Valley Railway, while outdoor enthusiasts of all ages can get active with Adventure Northumberland which offers exciting kayaking, mountain biking, coasteering and rock climbing activities.

The ruins of Edlingham Castle are an intriguing place to visit, while for something on a grander scale the 12th century Chillingham Castle is also a must-see attraction for anyone who loves castles, while the Chillingham Wild Cattle are a great sight to be seen too.

Don’t miss Preston Tower,a great example of medieval masonry, with the walls containing stone blocks that are over 2 metres thick. The tower is surrounded by peaceful gardens, with three short walks around the grounds and nearby woodland. There are plenty of interesting plants to see, a spring on the Woodland walk, and if you are lucky, you may even see red squirrels.

Fluffy friends, adorable animals and farmyard fun await you at Northumberland Country Zoo! Set in 15 acres of countryside in the heart of Northumberland there’s a wide range of animals to visit, from wallabies to racoons in the mammals’ section, to Shetland ponies, pigs and donkeys in the farm. There are also small adorable furries to visit or even reptiles and fish if you want something a bit scalier

Also within convenient travel distance are Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed and the beautiful Northumberland National Park and Northumberland Coast AONB.