Alnwick

A Northumberland market town of stone streets, with the Percys' castle — Hogwarts in the first Harry Potter films — the Alnwick Garden beside it and Barter Books in the old station.

From King's Cross St Pancras: Over 4 h by train · Over 4 h by car

Travel times by TravelTime

Time there: 5–8.5 h to see all 3 places

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TownGardens & parksCastlesIndependent shops

Must-see places

Alnwick Castle

Castle · A medieval fortress above the River Aln, the Percy family's home since 1307 and Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films.

The Alnwick Garden

Garden · A water-garden next to the castle, with a Grand Cascade, a Poison Garden and a treehouse restaurant in the lime trees.

Barter Books

Attraction · One of Britain's largest secondhand bookshops, set in Alnwick's former railway station.

Quick facts

Alnwick Castle has been the home of the Percy family, later the Dukes of Northumberland, since 1309.

The castle stood in for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films.

Barter Books fills the Victorian railway station; the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was found there in 2000.

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