A day in Alnwick

Why does anyone visit Alnwick, Northumberland? The castle, with its long history going back to the 1300s is one. Though if you’re a child, you may be more interested in the fact that scenes from Harry Potter films were shot there. In fact there was a Quidditch lesson taking place when we got there. We found the real history, and the political intrigues and bloody battles of the Wars of the Roses and after more interesting.

Alnwick Castle

And another reason is to visit Barter Books. This emporium of second hand volumes is housed in a whole railway station. You’ll need to make use the refreshments in the waiting rooms.

Barter Books
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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

45 thoughts on “A day in Alnwick”

  6. Margaret – a bookshop is always a wonderful find. I spied a book I’ve read and is one of my favorites – the light blue book on the lower right shelf – Wonder. It’s the story of boy who gets picked on because of how he looks and how he deals with it and changes the world around him for being who he is. I read it aloud to be English classes. It’s a wonderful story. The castle looks interesting and so does the Quidditch match, but I think just exploring. A new place might be enough. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  7. Margaret, you are w/o fail and always a well of interesting/fun/unexpected/fascinating info and pics. Thank you so much. If my eyesight were better, I‘d probably grab my sleeping bag, lamps and a bed and just live in that ex-train station.
    the castle also looks magnificent, and this is the 1st time I admit that after some of the many HP books I stopped reading them; now I often think ‚What a pity‘, there would have been so much more. Also never saw any of the HP films – but hey ho, with not much vision left, I have to concentrate on what‘s really important to me!
    Tks for the mighty impressive walk through this post.

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  8. Two good reasons to visit Alnwick indeed! But I would add the town itself, with the Dirty Bottles and the White Swan hotel with its dining room displaying the original panelling, mirrors, ceiling and stained glass salvaged from the RMS Olympic, sister ship of the Titanic!

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      1. It’s enough to see the Dirty Bottles from outside – they’re all in the window after all! But do go inside the White Swan to see that dining room. And the food used to be good too although it’s years since we’ve eaten there.

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  10. Didn’t you go to the gardens to stock up on your poison cupboard Margaret? Barter Books is fantasmagorically brilliant and we always spent far too long in there whenever we were near. Over the years I bought lots of old, obscure books. In fact there is one within reach now. “Select Library of Biography – Eminent Philanthropists, Patriots &c.” Presented to Ambrose Robinson for having passed the IV standard at Mary Street Board School August 31st 1886. I hope he had a fantastic life!

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  12. Visited Alnwick before the film came out but knew it was the setting for Quidditch! So we jumped about but kids too young to go and find the real history. I realise now I am talking 2001. How time and other brooms fly! Must try that bookshop.

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  14. The castle was closed for filming when we were there in 2016, but I knew that and was more interested in the water garden anyway. A wet morning saw us browsing in the bookshop. Altogether a really lovely town. You away on a break then?

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