Alnwick Castle – A Harry Potter Connection

OVERVIEW

Travel to iconic Alnwick Castle, real-life home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and stand-in for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in two Harry Potter films. Located an hour north of Newcastle near England’s border with Scotland, this imposing 12th-century fortress brims with star quality inside and out. Owned by the Percy family for over 700 years, Alnwick – it’s pronounced “Annick” – has undergone many home improvements over the centuries, including the addition of numerous towers, a moat and a luxurious Gothic residential wing. Inside, you’ll encounter lavish rooms filled with period furniture, including a pair of ornate Cucci cabinets originally made for Louis XIV. The library holds nearly 14,000 books, some of them read by a Percy ancestor with too much time on his hands while imprisoned in the Tower of London. Masterworks by Canaletto, Van Dyck, Claude and Titian adorn the walls, and the Grand Staircase is made of solid Carrara marble, each 12-foot-long step carved from a single stone. The Alnwick grounds are just as breathtaking, as you’ll discover on a stroll through the elaborate gardens and parkland. Overall, the atmosphere here would qualify as magical even without the Harry Potter connection.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a drive across pastoral Northumberland to visit a destination with star qualities.
• Tour Alnwick Castle, home to the Percy family for seven centuries and Hogwarts School for two films.
• Wonder at the spectacular marble staircase and wander among rooms brimming with museum-grade furnishings and paintings.
• Admire the castle’s 14,000-book library and learn about the colorful stories and history lived here.
• Take a walk through Alnwick’s parkland and imagine a pitched Quidditch battle taking place overhead.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear layered, weather-appropriate clothing; include a jacket or umbrella in case of rain.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.