Opening times summary
Day	Hours
Today:	10am - 5pm
Tomorrow:	10am - 5pm

Alnwick Castle Grounds

Castle With Bridge And Lion 72Dpi, 907 X 600

Castle From Pastures With River Summer Haze, 72Dpi

The North Demesne

Landscaping Alnwick Castle

In the 1700s, the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland hired famous gardener Capability Brown and Thomas Call to redesign the land around Alnwick Castle. They smoothed the ground, planted thousands of trees, and reshaped the River Aln to reflect the castle. New roads, bridges, and gentle cascades were added. The Lion Bridge, built in the 1770s and topped with a Percy family lion, still stands today.

The Gun Terrace

Built in the 18th century, the Gun Terrace was designed as a viewpoint to enjoy the new landscape. Parts of the castle wall were removed to open up the view. Cannons from the 1700s and 1800s gave the terrace its name. At the far end stands the Falconer’s Tower, bearing a Victoria Cross in memory of the 5th Duke’s son—his sword is displayed in the castle’s State Rooms.

The Pastures

The Pastures, the grassy area north of Alnwick Castle, were shaped in the 1700s by Capability Brown to create sweeping views and peaceful reflections of the castle in the River Aln. Over time, the area has hosted many events, including a World War I training camp, the Olympic torch relay in 2012, and the town’s annual Shrove Tuesday football match, where the game begins with the ball being thrown from the castle walls.

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The Baileys and Courtyards

The Baileys

The Inner and Outer Baileys are key areas of Alnwick Castle. The Inner Bailey, at the heart of the castle, holds the keep and entrance to the State Rooms. In medieval times, it included a brewhouse, bakehouse, and chapel—traces of which can still be seen today. The Outer Bailey, next to the main Courtyard, once housed the Exchequer House and stables for up to 160 horses. Today, it’s best known as the setting for broomstick lessons in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

The Courtyards

The courtyards of Alnwick Castle were once the centre of daily activity in this medieval fortress. Surrounded by defensive walls and towers, they connected key areas like the Inner and Outer Baileys, the keep, and service buildings such as stables, kitchens, and storehouses.

The Inner Courtyard, now the entrance to the State Rooms, features Norman-era details. In the 18th and 19th centuries, more courtyards were added for stables and coach houses—today, they host the Courtyard Café, gift shop, and Artisans Courtyard.

Castle Towers & Structures

The Barbican

The Barbican is a fortified entrance to the castle and its strongest medieval defence. Finished in 1475, it extends 19 metres from the walls and was designed to slow down attackers with various obstacles.

Despite many attempts, Alnwick Castle was never taken by force.
Lion Arch

Built in the 1800s, the Lion Arch replaced an earlier gateway from the 1700s that led to the castle’s gardens and parkland. It created the first entrance on this side of the grounds and now connects to The Alnwick Garden. Its grand look has made it a popular filming location, appearing in productions like Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Transformers.
Curtain Wall

The curtain wall is a defensive wall around the perimeter of the castle. Curtain walls had to be strong enough to withstand sieges and high enough to make them difficult to scale with ladders. The defence of a castle could be conducted from the curtain walls.

As well as large towers on each corner, the curtain wall of Alnwick Castle includes several smaller watch towers, called guerites or garrets.
The Prudhoe Tower

This square tower was built in the 19th century; its foundation stone was laid in 1854. The name comes from the title of Baron Prudhoe, which the 4th Duke of Northumberland was known by before he inherited the dukedom.

The Prudhoe Tower includes the Front Hall, Upper Guard Chamber and Library. The tower shows a Percy lion and heraldic symbols of the family. A chapel was also built next to the Prudhoe Tower at this time.
Octagonal Towers

The Octagonal Towers were built in the 14th century during the time of the 2nd Lord Percy. They are decorated with 13 shields of notable medieval families, topped with eight stone figures.

The archway leads to the main entrance of the Keep, so the towers act as a form of defensive gatehouse. The ground floor of the right tower contains a guard room, and below it, an underground chamber which may have been the castle prison.
The Constable’s Tower

Built in the 14th century, the Constable's Tower has remained largely unchanged. The Constable managed the castle, especially when the Percy family was away. In the late 1700s, it became an armoury for the Percy Tenantry Volunteers. Today, you can explore an exhibition about the regiment upstairs and see a 3D model of the castle from 1608 in the basement.
The Postern Tower

Named after a secret gateway used for surprise attacks or escapes, the Postern Tower now houses the Castle Museum. Opened in the 1820s by the 3rd Duke of Northumberland, it still displays centuries of archaeological finds collected by the Percy family.