Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The King of Castles, a fortification has dominated this site since Anglo-Saxon times when it was the capital of the kingdom of Northumbria. The current structure with Keep, curtain walls, towers and ramparts dates from the 1500's to the Victorian restructuring of Lord Armstrong. There are fourteen rooms open to the public including the spectacular Kings Hall, with over 3000 items of artwork, furniture, china and porcelain. The separate Armstrong and Aviation Artifacts museum gives visitors a glimpse into the creativity and industrial genius of Lord Armstrong, with a look at the aviation legacy created by his company after his death. The cafeteria serves great, fresh food and then a wander around the battlements completes a great day out.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Jo L6 contributionsHistory brought to life - brilliant !Wow! What an experience ; we were lucky enough to book onto the Follow in the Footsteps of Uhtred at Bebbanburg with Ragnar tour …best decision and brilliant value for money ! History spanning 1000’s of years in just over 2 hours …weaving fantasy into historical fact. For any Game if Thrones fans it’s an absolute must. Thanks RagnarVisited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 6, 2023
- FionaG350Poole, United Kingdom301 contributionsWent as part of coach trip so unaware they do NOT accept legal cash!!!This was a nice castle in a good location, bit windy. It was very busy so moving through the house was slow. The staff were reluctant to provide maps of the castle to aid people to view everything, unfortunately. There was also a small exhibition of costumes from the BBC/Netflix series the Last Kingdom. Was unable to buy anything in the gift shop or buy any food etc as they refuse to accept cash! I thought turning cash away as payment was being made illegal.Visited September 2023Traveled soloWritten October 14, 2023
- Beverley WDurham, United Kingdom50 contributionsWell worth a visitMy Husband and I visited Bamburgh Castle on Saturday October 14th. We were there early as advised as it gets really busy so were one of the 1st in the Castle car park, chargeable at ÂŁ4 for your stay. First of all the gentleman taking payment in the car park was so lovely and it was obvious he thoroughly enjoyed his job. The Castle entry was ÂŁ15.50 per adult and well worth every penny. The views itself are breathtakingly beautiful. Every staff member was so friendly and so helpful and full of knowledge. I can honestly say that it was so obvious they all loved their jobs and they are all a credit to the Castle. WOW inside the Castle we were in for a treat, steeped in history, beautiful and so well maintained. The Last Kingdom Hall for anyone that has watched the series is so worth a visit, seeing the actual costumes worn by some of the stars of the series. We had a visit to the cafe and had some home made vegetable soup with sour dough, piping hot and a cup of tea and cake, reasonably priced as well. If you have the chance to go to Bamburgh Castle it is very well worth the visit. Wrap up as it was quite windy up there. I can't stress enough what a totally enjoyable visit and as I said before each and every member of staff were an absolute credit to the Castle, Thank you for the buggy ride back to the car park as I struggled late on in the visit with my breathing.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 16, 2023
- Ridy OsoLeicester, United Kingdom65 contributionsBeautiful castle and coastline - pricey entrance fee!As a fan of the Last Kingdom I’ve always wanted to come here and finally did! It’s so impressive and beautiful and I can’t say I’ve visited anything like it either. It was amazing to walk the beautiful coastline too and we took so many beautiful pictures. Despite getting my socks and shoes wet, it was well worth the stroll! However, £15.50 to visit the inside was I think a real rip off. The exhibition for Last Kingdom was barely 5 mins and for me, everything else wasn’t that interesting but that’s just me! To pay that I felt was a waste because I just enjoyed the courtyard and scenery. But I would recommend checking this place out.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 19, 2023
- Dave PulsNottingham, United Kingdom2,189 contributionsAmazing castle - a must seeAmazing castle, views and history. Incredible to think of King Oswald's Castle on this rock in the 600s, through the medieval times and all the way to today. The outside walk around the walls gives great views of the beach, sea, and village. The state rooms are extensive, varied and have several good audio visual presentations. Expensive at ÂŁ15.50, but it's worth it. Car parking is easy in the large long stay car park, but cost ÂŁ6 for 3 hours.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 1, 2023
- ASN23243 contributionsDo the Uhtred tour!The castle itself is amazing to look around and it’s surrounding areas, I went with my partner to see the last kingdom exhibit and as I drove from hull the exhibit itself was pretty small. However we was very lucky and noticed an Uhtred tour was running so decided to pay for that and it was worth every penny. The man running the tour had incredible knowledge of history and the show itself and delivered it in a great tone with humour and kept the full audience engaged! We was so glad we did the tour as it definitely made the experience worth the long drive, massive thank you to the tour guide you was 10/10!!!Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 1, 2023
- INEVERUSETHISPort Orange, Florida258 contributionsOne Of The Best CastlesWatched the series The Last Kingdom, then after that The Last Kingdom 7 Kings Must Die. So w On my way from York to Dundee we decided to pop in and take the tour. We were there for a full 3 hours. The castle is very well preserved. The self guided tour was great and very informative.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 1, 2023
- Julie O10 contributionsStunning placeStunning castle and great beach on its doorstep. Beautifully preserved and interesting visitor info about finds at the site. Lovely shops nearby for refreshments and after a long walk along the beach they are welcomed.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 3, 2023
- JackBirmingham, United Kingdom42 contributionsAmazing castle - a must is a walk along the nearby beachA stunning castle, rich with history and beautiful views. We went on a rainy autumnal day but this did not dampen the mood. Beautiful vistas of the surrounding area, even on a bad stormy day you can see the island of Lindisfarne. Inside there is an incredible array of historical items and boards informing you of the castles past. Highly recommend a visit. Going to the beach nearby is also a must, it is a great spot for a good photo or two facing back up to the castle. Great for dog walkers.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 4, 2023
- Louise T25 contributionsGreat castle, and finish off with a walk along the beach.Excellent staff, displays were innovative and really interesting. Christmas displays were cute. The aviation museum was great, and had lots of social history elements, which I loved. Visited the cafe, food was nice, staff very helpful.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 20, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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goeco
Edinburgh, UK96 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
It’s great that dogs are allowed in the outdoor spaces within the castle plus the aviation museum. The staff were delightful and very helpful and friendly. There are fabulous views all along the coastline from the ramparts. It was disappointing though, to find that the Tack Room Cafe which is the dog friendly refreshments space, had no catering facilities and was really just a sheltered seating area. If only there had even been a coffee cart there. It’s impossible for a person visiting alone with their dog to go into the main cafe to buy some refreshments then take them to the Tack Room area as dogs can’t be taken into the main cafe. Given the lack of catering facilities for a single visitor with a dog and the fact that they can’t be taken inside most of the actual castle rooms, I would say that the £11.75 admission charge is too steep and I would hesitate to suggest the castle as a value for money destination for dog owners.
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello there,
Thanks for taking the time to review your visit to Bamburgh Castle.
We do take constructive criticism seriously and appreciate feedback greatly, this way we can take measures to address a way in which we can strengthen the visitor experience for all.
This has been the first full season of being dog friendly, which has proved extremely popular already having over 5,000 dogs on site. We were keen to see how the winter season went without having the tack room open (seasonal opening) . It has been clear that being able to take anything out of the tea room and consume in the Victorian stables didn't work as well as we thought so we will look at this and fix the little issue ready for next winter.
I hope this clears your comments up.
If you would like to discuss further please drop me an email will@bamburghcastle.com
Thanks
Will
Written March 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Josh M
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Couples
Today (11/08/2020) my family and I visited Bamburgh Castle. It was brilliant! The castle, the view, what more can you want? I can totally understand why so many people love this place. Their Covid measures are sensible and really make you feel safe while not intruding on your trip more than absolutely necessary. The staff are knowledgeable and very helpful and the parking is very well managed and cheap. A specific mention must be made of Grunal Moneta, the coin striking reenactment stalls. Dave is captivating and very knowledgeable, you can even strike your own coin for as little at ÂŁ1.50?! A bargain, let alone what you learn as well. Do not miss him. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be coming again!
Written August 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PandPBlackpool
Blackpool, UK324 contributions
Jun 2021
Visited last week during a tour of Northumberland. A stunning castle that is the location of the Bernard Cornwell "Last Kingdom" books and the new Indiana Jones film (Harrison Ford was there a couple of weeks ago). We decided to go into the castle and grounds on a whim and we were blown away (figuratively and literally) by the place. It was very cold with a North Sea wind. It was, however, fascinating. The grounds held some artefacts and recalled historical living quarters. We decided, since it was unlikely that we would return anytime soon, that we would queue to enter the castle. In one way this was a mistake. Because of restrictions, patrons are only allowed an hour to view the contents of the interior of the castle. This means that people who are interested in the history and wish to look at the exhibits do not have enough time to do so without holding up the queue of people behind. Such a shame we didn't get chance to view things properly. In addition, after queuing outside for half an hour in very cold, windy weather, the doorman asked me to move aside to allow a party of schoolchildren into the castle. I refused, informing him that the lady who was in charge of the schoolchildren had been queuing behind us. He grudgingly allowed us to enter first but, once the schoolchildren had entered, they wandered about with no social distancing and, because they had a guide explaining everything to them, this resulted in even further delays for the people waiting outside. I do not think that parties of schoolchildren should be allowed into the castle until all COVID restrictions have been lifted. I fully support the need for our children to learn about the history of our land but they should also learn about the need to queue for some things. But for this I may possibly have rated this experience a 5.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John F
Retford, UK646 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
The castle looms above Bamburgh, and the coastline. If you’re staying in the area it is a must see. Privately owned, and part occupied, it presents a well organised tour. You can park at the bottom and walk up, or in the carpark at the top of the hill.
There is a one-way system around the castle grounds, observed by most visitors, and much to see, either from the battlements, or in the various outbuildings, including a museum based on the industrial family history of the present owners.
Inside the castle, many rooms are open, filled with furniture and artefacts, together with some informative notices. A shop of course, and also a cafe.
A useful castle handbook is on sale, but as always with these things, you could do with reading it beforehand.
A very enjoyable outing.
There is a one-way system around the castle grounds, observed by most visitors, and much to see, either from the battlements, or in the various outbuildings, including a museum based on the industrial family history of the present owners.
Inside the castle, many rooms are open, filled with furniture and artefacts, together with some informative notices. A shop of course, and also a cafe.
A useful castle handbook is on sale, but as always with these things, you could do with reading it beforehand.
A very enjoyable outing.
Written October 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jade2102
Lancaster, UK383 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Bamburgh and its castle are stunning. There are plenty of places to park but due to the bad weather we opted for the castle itself and it cost ÂŁ3 for all day parking.
The castle and grounds are lovely and so well cared for by the owners. It is so worth a visit, and there is so much history within the walls and lots of family memorabilia too which I thought was lovely. The view of the beach, Holy Island and the Farne Islands are amazing.
The castle and grounds are lovely and so well cared for by the owners. It is so worth a visit, and there is so much history within the walls and lots of family memorabilia too which I thought was lovely. The view of the beach, Holy Island and the Farne Islands are amazing.
Written October 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Afternoon Jade2102,
Thank you very much for not only visiting us but also having such kind words to say following your visit.
Thanks
Will
Written October 22, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gary C
Preston, UK181 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
Is there a British castle in a more spectacular location...probably not! Even on a wild windy rainy day Bamburgh is a marvellous place to visit. Give yourselves 2 to 3 hours to truly appreciate all the castle has to offer. I’d recommend booking online for the admission & car park and arriving just before it opens at 10am. You’ll enter quickly and then head straight for the staterooms to get ahead of the crowds. A must visit is the clock tower tea room...fruit scone highly recommended. Lots to explore and great views towards Lindisfarne to the north & Craster/Dunstanborough to the south.
Written October 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
doofvfood (with botak ahjussi)
World5,855 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Have been looking forward to seeing Bamburgh Castle for some time as have seen really nice pictures of the stunning setting on the coast. Was really pleased it was reopening on 6 July around the time we were planning a visit. Worth paying for carpark at the castle as it's for all day at ÂŁ3 which was good value. We went early and had a walk on the beach and also did that after visiting the castle. There was press coverage at the reopening and photographers taking pictures but no clear information about how people's data would be used and what to do if we didn't want to be filmed or photographed which could have been handled better. We got there before 10 am so there was already a queue of people waiting to get in. Staff have done a good job of implementing a one way system & most people stuck to it, so it was good. The layout of the castle is reminiscent of Edinburgh castle & there are nice views to the beach & sea. There was a bit of a queue to the state rooms but it wasn't a long wait. The interior of the castle didn't interest me as much as the exterior views & location of the castle but I did like the keep & kitchen. Bamburgh Castle is probably one of the most beautifully sited castles we have visited & it's definitely worth visiting. While entry is pretty pricey it's still worth travelling there to have a look round the castle - the beach is great for social distancing!! There is also a mound next to the castle with a bench sponsored by Kingsmill - voted one of the best lunch views in the UK! A really nice view of the castle, so worth the short climb up.
Written July 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good Afternoon doofvfood,
Thanks very much for visiting us and sharing your experience.
Its lovely to hear that you enjoyed your visit on our first day of re-opening following our 3 month closure.
I'm really sorry about the press part, i think we all got carried away with the excitement of being able to welcome guests again and I'm sure you can imagine we were all not only on cloud 9 but but also there was a little bit of pressure on us to ensure everywhere was good to go.
Definitely a learning curve for us.
Thanks again for your nice words.
Will
Written July 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AnnabelRudd
Shepreth, UK46 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
This is a great half day out to really get into Northumberland's history and enjoy the stunning scenery from the castle grounds.
The castle itself is imposing: set into the cliff tops looking out towards Lindisfarne and it's obvious it was built to defend this part of the coast from invaders. Booking essential in the time of COVID and the managers have obviously worked hard to make the castles interior safe for visitors.
The teenage boys particularly enjoyed the armoury with its impressive collection of swords, muskets and other gruesome weapons but there was something for everyone here and the family who live own and manage the castle have left a personal stamp on it which is really touching.
The castle itself is imposing: set into the cliff tops looking out towards Lindisfarne and it's obvious it was built to defend this part of the coast from invaders. Booking essential in the time of COVID and the managers have obviously worked hard to make the castles interior safe for visitors.
The teenage boys particularly enjoyed the armoury with its impressive collection of swords, muskets and other gruesome weapons but there was something for everyone here and the family who live own and manage the castle have left a personal stamp on it which is really touching.
Written October 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi AnnabelRudd,
Absolutely lovely review, thank you very much indeed!!!
Feedback like this really means alot to our team here.
Thanks again
Will
Written October 31, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrea_Watson76
Marple, UK574 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
After seeing Bamburgh Castle on Countryfile I really wanted to go, so we booked for 29th August. My mum uses a wheelchair so we had to email and reserve the tickets and they put you in the diary, and you pay for them on arrival.
Disabled guests are at a slightly cheaper rate and Carer’s go free. Parking is £3 and as my mum uses a wheelchair you don’t park in the main carpark as it would be too hard to push the wheelchair up the hill, instead you get to drive into the castle grounds which was nice and was much easier to manoeuvre the wheelchair.
When I went to collect the tickets I was told to take a pencil and write my name and number down for track and trace. I went to give the lady the pencil back after I wrote my details down but she didn’t want the pencil back because I had “touched it”. Although she was more than happy to take the paper off me that I’d wrote my details on, that I had also “touched”. They need to be more consistent with the covid measures.
The castle was absolutely stunning and so were the views. The staff were great and was really knowledgeable as well.
It was extremely windy too and was great watching the sea in the windy weather.
We was there about 3 hours in total and we really enjoyed it.
Disabled guests are at a slightly cheaper rate and Carer’s go free. Parking is £3 and as my mum uses a wheelchair you don’t park in the main carpark as it would be too hard to push the wheelchair up the hill, instead you get to drive into the castle grounds which was nice and was much easier to manoeuvre the wheelchair.
When I went to collect the tickets I was told to take a pencil and write my name and number down for track and trace. I went to give the lady the pencil back after I wrote my details down but she didn’t want the pencil back because I had “touched it”. Although she was more than happy to take the paper off me that I’d wrote my details on, that I had also “touched”. They need to be more consistent with the covid measures.
The castle was absolutely stunning and so were the views. The staff were great and was really knowledgeable as well.
It was extremely windy too and was great watching the sea in the windy weather.
We was there about 3 hours in total and we really enjoyed it.
Written August 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorraine S
Newport Pagnell, UK90 contributions
Aug 2021
Arrived in Northumberland on the Friday, got bearings on Saturday, tried to vist Bamburgh Castle on Sunday - no tickets available at the Castle without a significant and unpredictable wait, we were advised to book online for later in the week.
We returned to our accommodation an hour away, and tried to book. The next tickets available were Thursday (we go home on Friday), tried to book 4 tickets (myself, partner, 17 and 14 yr old children) normally we would have purchased a family ticket, but these are currently not available.
My booking was declined because there was only 1 (as in one person) ticket left for Thursday, meaning only one of us could visit. The alternative was to return to Bamburgh and try and get a ticket at the gate again; and if not successful, another wasted trip.
How disappointing, Bamburgh castle was top of our list when visiting Northumberland. And living nearly 300 miles away it's not somewhere we can just plan for another time.
If you want to visit this attraction, plan you visit well in advance, as in before you're even in the area, and book well ahead. Absolutely gutted; really poor experience.
We returned to our accommodation an hour away, and tried to book. The next tickets available were Thursday (we go home on Friday), tried to book 4 tickets (myself, partner, 17 and 14 yr old children) normally we would have purchased a family ticket, but these are currently not available.
My booking was declined because there was only 1 (as in one person) ticket left for Thursday, meaning only one of us could visit. The alternative was to return to Bamburgh and try and get a ticket at the gate again; and if not successful, another wasted trip.
How disappointing, Bamburgh castle was top of our list when visiting Northumberland. And living nearly 300 miles away it's not somewhere we can just plan for another time.
If you want to visit this attraction, plan you visit well in advance, as in before you're even in the area, and book well ahead. Absolutely gutted; really poor experience.
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
can i use my national trust card
Written June 5, 2024
No, I asked when paying, as some web sites say you can, but its privately owned.
Written June 6, 2024
Can you give me some information about bamburgh Town centre does anyone have mobility scooter for hire for my wife and me please help me with some information about the loan of scooters ASAP
Written August 14, 2023
Probably too late to help you = I seldom check Alerts; I am sorry. The guard at the parking lot called for a golf cart which took my husband/myself right up to the center court. I hope you were able to see the castle; it is really interesting.
Written August 22, 2023
Can you give me some information about bamburgh Town centre does anyone have mobility scooter for hire for my wife and me please help me with some information about the loan of scooters ASAP
Written August 14, 2023
Sorry,I'm not sure,there maybe information on the council website
Written August 15, 2023
Is there any secure bike storage here or nearby?
Written February 19, 2023
Don't know. Suggest you call them directly
Written February 20, 2023
Have they changed the dog policy? Website says dogs are allowed everywhere but the state rooms but when I go to buy a ticket it states "Dog (allowed In Grounds Only And Not Inside The Castle.) Please Keep Your Dog On A Lead At All Times".
Written March 31, 2022
The staterooms are the inside of the castle. We saw dogs everywhere else - in the grounds and in the museum but always on leads.
Written April 1, 2022
Hi,
We visited with my retired parent, there was no concessions for OAP’s.
We pre-booked our tickets on the website, but couldn’t see any concessions other than for Children and for reduced access fee if certain areas are closed off.
I’m sure they will enjoy their visit, but I would suggest parking up the hill next to the castle as it’s quite a steep walk from the main road car park.
Hope this helps
Enjoy x
Written July 19, 2021
What is nearest railway station? Is it accessable by public transport??
Written April 1, 2021
The nearest rail stations are Alnmouth and Berwick upon Tweed. Both can reach the castle using Arriva buses or there are also plenty of taxis.
Written June 1, 2021
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