Readers may recognise Alnwick Castle as one of the filming locations for the first couple of "Harry Potter" films; it was Hogwarts. Its popularity in the franchise has helped establish its visitor base to over 800,000 visitors a year and can be combined with The Alnwick Garden attraction next door. The castle was also used in other films, and it is a popular attraction in Northumberland. I went on a visit to it in the middle of July.
The earliest parts of the castle dated from the end of the 1000s. The area here was always in a state of conflict between the Scottish and English, and the castle was captured by a king of Scotland. The castle was eventually sold to the Percy family, now the Dukes of Northumberland. It is currently owned by that family, and they live at the castle today. It is the second largest inhabited castle with the first place going to Windsor. The castle is open to the public in the summer months.
The castle's towers contain sculptures; no doubt, this was a symbol of power and prestige.
Inside one of the buildings at the outer bailey, this horse-drawn carriage is on display.
The outer bailey contains views of the castle keep and archway leading to the inner bailey.
The towers around the inner and outer bailey host museums with one containing items from all over the ancient world. The other contains weaponry and items from the military force in the early 1800s. The inner bailey was used in the "Harry Potter" films as well, and "Downton Abbey" and "Transformers" were also shot here.
There is a small section of wall walk here in the inner bailey between a couple of the towers that house the museums. I found one of the museums especially fascintating with the ancient items collected from all over the world. A very small section can be seen in the photographs below.
Visitors to the castle can enjoy special talks. There was one about the history of the castle, one about the filming locations of the castle, and another about arms and armoury. For children and adults, there were bird of prey talks and demonstrations. There is also archery, but this was currently not open. Children could also enjoy photographs of themselves on green-screened broomsticks in front of the castle, broomstick training (where the famous scene was filmed in the "Harry Potter" movies) and "Dragon Quest", an interactive and immersive game. The birds or prey had attracted a large crowd during my visit.
The castle keep is where the family lives today and where visitors can enjoy viewing the "state rooms" and collections of finery - paintings, precious items, and so on. Photography is not allowed inside the "state rooms", so I am unable to show the amazing rooms and items on display there. However, I did take a few photographs of the inner keep, which was also used in the first "Harry Potter" movie and other films.
The inner keep towers contain the emblems of other allies of the Dukes of Northumberland. The building was designed in the Italian style.
The parkland below the castle was laid out by Lancelot "Captability" Brown. It has been sculptured into a pleasure area with rolling hills, pasture, and a lake.
In the far corner of the outer bailey, the broomstick classes appear to be a big hit with the visitors.
The shop, cafe, and Dragon's Quest adventures are located near the entrance (or exit), tucked out of the way.
Visitors to the castle should spend at least four hours minimum at Alnwick Castle to see everything, but it is possible to spend nearly a day here to partake in the different options, especially if it is busy. The tours take nearly an hour each and are interesting if you wish to know the history of the castle and the filming locations. If visiting with children, I would spend at least five hours here.
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