The best things to do in Northumberland with kids

When castles and beaches are two of my favourite things, the big question is why I didn’t make it to castle and beach-packed Northumberland before – especially when those certainly aren’t the only things to do in Northumberland with kids.

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After sitting on my wishlist for years, we finally managed to pack as many of Northumberland’s family attractions into our stay as possible – and it more than lived up to my expectations.

With far fewer tourists than many corners of the UK, some of the loveliest beaches in the country, castles galore, Roman history, Harry Potter links, puffins, dark sky reserves and more, here’s what should be on your list if you’re visiting Northumberland with kids too.

Hadrian’s Wall

If your kids are fascinated by the Romans, there’s nowhere quite like Hadrian’s Wall – and there’s a whole choice of sites to pick from, as well as the chance to walk along the wall itself, so the best way to get a full picture is to visit a few.

The Roman Army Museum near Hexham is a starting point to get a sense of life on the wall, including the variety of people from the Roman Empire who might have found themselves in this part of Britannia.

The sister site, Vindolanda, has its own great museum, as well as a recreation of a few buildings you’d have expected to find in the town near the fort – one centres around the children of two families, perfect if you’re exploring Hadrian’s Wall with kids.

For more tips on exploring Hadrian’s Wall for kids, check out this mini guide

Even better, you can head up to the archaeological site, some of which is still being excavated, see a recreation of the forts on the wall, and marvel at how vast the town would have been.

There are also several English Heritage sites nearby, including Chesters Roman Fort, once home to cavalry and with a bathhouse by the river, as well as Housesteads Roman Fort and Corbridge Roman Town, which often have kids’ trails and other activities, including the chance to meet a Roman legionary.

For more ideas of the best Roman places in the UK, check out this post

Alnwick Castle

For Harry Potter fans, there’s no castle better – well, except Hogwarts and it’s a bit trickier to visit that! With parts of the movies filmed here, you can also try broomstick lessons in the grounds (on the very spot where Harry tried flying for the first time).

But that’s only the start of what there is to do at Alnwick Castle with kids: explore the state rooms, with their opulent decorations, walk the ramparts and look out across the grounds, and head out on a Dragon Quest.

Check out my review of a day out at Alnwick Castle with kids

You can join tours focused on Alnwick Castle’s appearances on film (more than just Harry Potter) as well as on its history, or see a bit of history in action in the artisan’s courtyard.

Between playing on the grassy slopes, we watched jesters playing with fire, found the small displays of artefacts found on archaeological digs and tried to work out where the Whomping Willow would have been along the way.

You can even stay in a Harry Potter-themed room at Hallow & Crux in Alnwick, with great names like the Dumbledorm family room, a broomstick’s throw from Alnwick Castle

Bamburgh Castle

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to fantastic castles in Northumberland with kids, but Bamburgh Castle is another one not to miss, especially combined with a visit to the beach it overlooks.

Once the capital of the kings of Northumbia, you can trace this castle’s history back to Anglo-Saxon times: since then it has survived Viking raids, the Norman conquest, has played host to kings – and seen the first lifeboat launched under its ramparts.

Read my review of a visit to Bamburgh Castle with kids

There’s a fun trail for kids to follow as you explore, and you can venture inside the castle itself, past suits of armour and the magnificent hall through to the ancient Keep with its 11ft thick walls, built over an equally ancient spring.

In the grounds, there’s a throne to pose in, cannon galore pointing out to sea and fantastic views from the old mill too. Throw in the little Armstrong & Aviation museum and a recreated Anglo-Saxon camp, where you can listen to Viking tales, see coins being made and more.

For more of the best castles in the UK with kids, check out my top picks

Warkworth Castle

Home to the powerful Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, Warkworth Castle is another of the string of coastal fortresses that Northumberland specialises in – and while this one isn’t right on the seafront like Bamburgh, it looks out from its hill to the River Coquet.

The English Heritage site has activities for kids during school holidays, including fun trails, while there’s plenty to explore – ruined towers and the foundations of some of the old buildings but also the cross-shaped keep.

Check out our review of a day out at Warkworth Castle with kids

As well as exploring the former Great Hall and chapel, you can head down into the cellars where beer, wine and food was kept, climb up to the kitchens with their huge hearths and bread ovens (feeling thankful your job isn’t dragging the wood up there) and soak in the views.

With its links to Shakespeare – it was home to Harry Hotspur, and the action in Henry IV Part II starts here – there’s also a great free audioguide to give you more background as you explore. Keep an eye out for the Percy lion too.

After exploring within the walls, you can also wander around outside, following paths leading into the moat and to the old Warkworth Hermitage – tickets can be booked at the castle, with a separate fee, and are currently first come, first served.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle might not be the most intact of the historic fortresses in Northumberland, but it’s easily the biggest, and you can still get a sense of its size and might today.

The only way to reach the castle ruins are by walking: you can park at Craster and it’s an easy stroll along the clifftop path – we spotted a dolphin in the waves as an added bonus – before you reach it.

Tip: there’s very limited signal in the car park at Craster to use the PayByPhone app, so it’s worth doing that in advance (unless you think you might not get a space) or making sure you have cash.

One tower can still be climbed, with views across to Bamburgh Castle on a clear day, as well as discovering the ruins of an old gatehouse.

Built by Edmund, Duke of Lancaster, cousin to the unpopular Edward II – mostly to annoy his royal cousin and show off his own power – the space within the castle’s curtain walls measures almost 10 acres, and it was surrounded by three meres, or artificial lakes as well.

Stroll around the path by the walls and you can spy colonies of seabirds as well as wildflowers and the remains of more castle buildings, plus Embleton Bay in the distance with its lovely beach.

Stroll for another mile or so and you can combine this castle with time on the sand too.

Read our full review of a day out at Dunstanburgh Castle with kids

Belsay Hall & Castle

Home to a medieval castle, grand Victorian manor house and 30 acres of Grade I listed gardens, Belsay Hall estate is somewhere the whole family will enjoy.

While it’s also home to the medieval Belsay Castle, during the 1800s, the Middleton family abandoned life within its walls – which had been in their family since the 13th century – to move into a custom-built Greek Revival manor house right next door.

Which means that as well as climbing the 56 spiral steps in the tower of the ancient castle and exploring its maze of rooms – keep an eye out for the elaborate medieval wall paintings – you can also venture into the grand rooms of the hall.

Then head out into the 30 acres of grounds, where there are often trails for kids, and play hide and seek among the many exotic plants growing in the microclimate of the estate’s Quarry Garden, or spot the rhododendrons before a slice of cake in the traditional Victorian tea room.

Lindisfarne Priory

There’s something very special about a visit to Lindisfarne – read on for more on exploring Holy Island itself – but one place not to miss once you’ve crossed the causeway is Lindisfarne Priory.

With a small museum at the start to give you all the background, kids can learn about the early Christians and the first monasteries, including the priory here, Viking attacks and final dissolution by Henry VIII before heading inside.

You walk through the churchyard, which is lovely itself, before heading inside the priory walls.

Ruined now, it’s still fascinating to explore. The huge arch of the old monastery church with its beautiful stone tracery, gives an idea of just how big the buildings once were, and you can also spot the priory’s wells, the day and night stairs which the monks would have used and the old kitchens.

There’s an eye-catching sculpture within the grounds too, as well as views across the sea and the island to Lindisfarne Castle.

For more ideas of how to spend a day on Lindisfarne with kids, check out this post

Lindisfarne Castle

Castles with a mixed history are nothing new, but few places have such an unusual past as Lindisfarne Castle.

The old Tudor fort was once the guard post that no soldier really wanted to be sent to, isolated on the island, manning the guns and staying alert for trouble – the views as a visitor are wonderful, head right up to the Upper Battery and you can gaze right out to sea.

In the 20th century, all changed when Edward Hudson, the founder of Country Life magazine, invited architect Edwin Lutyens to transform it into an Edwardian holiday home.

With some of the most notable artistic figures of the time staying, guests could apparently expect plenty of luxury and a famously good dinner (although sadly followed by long and very boring after-dinner speeches from their host, it seems).

Inside today, it’s relatively small and you don’t need long to explore (as National Trust members, it was free for us) but with plenty of intriguing little touches in both the servants’ quarters and upstairs rooms.

Even if you choose not to go inside, head out to the headland here for a blustery walk, a stroll along the beach, more coastal views and the wonderful Gertrude Jekyll garden, a sheltered walled treat just a short walk from the castle that’s a glorious splash of colour.

Cragside, Morpeth

This important country home in Northumberland, was once owned by Victorian inventor Lord William Armstrong and his wife Lady Margaret Armstrong, so you’ll find more at Cragside than the usual stately home.

Thanks to its innovative owners, the house was well ahead of its time, with modern features such as fire alarms, telephones and a lift. Cragside was even the first building in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.

As a result, you’ll sometimes find interactive exhibitions showcasing Lord and Lady Armstrong’s impressive engineering accomplishments (ideal if you’re visiting with budding engineers).

Best of all, there’s a whopping 1,000 acres of beautiful grounds to explore, including the lake and gardens, with 14 marked walking trails and routes, as well as a sculpture hunt, outdoor kids’ play areas and den building supplies.

Seaton Delaval Hall

There’s 300 years of history to discover at the Grade I listed Seaton Delaval Hall, as well as being another great place to get outdoors in Northumberland with kids.

After climbing the many spiral staircases and spotting the ornate statues of the impressive National Trust hall, the estate’s grounds have natural play areas as well as formal gardens designed by Vanbrugh, with wonderful views out to the Cheviot Hills.

Stroll to the obelisk, wander in the woodland with its wildflowers, or head to one of the natural play areas, as well as spotting the Mirror Cube and Dark Matter Cube, a nod to the Delaval family, with their love of mischief and illusions.

You’ll also find special events and activities for families during school holidays, including pop-up theatre, crafts areas and treasure hunts.

The Alnwick Garden

The wonderful Alnwick Garden is probably best known for its unusual poison garden – which is as darkly fascinating as you’d expect – but with far more for kids to enjoy at this Northumberland attraction, it’s a great family day out.

From the moment you walk in, greeted by the fountains and jets of the Grand Cascade at the centre of the gardens, the sides lined by tree tunnels, it’s far from the average collection of flowers.

My daughter’s own two favourite areas were the Serpent Garden and the Bamboo Labyrinth – we ventured into the latter several times, including when sunshine was casting a dim green light into the tunnels, and later when it had clouded over, and it was even more of an adventure in the darker shadow.

With all its interactive water installations, the Serpent Garden is somewhere you could lose hours: squeezing through a tiny gap between two curved slabs with running water, hiding inside a dome of water and more.

Plus others demonstrating various laws of physics, including a water vortex, another clever display where water was forced up a tube until it reached a particular level and sprayed down onto those below… some prepared with a change of clothes, others playing chicken as the level inched up.

Add in the pretty rose garden, the poison garden (look but definitely don’t touch) and other ornamental gardens and trees, and it’s very easy to while away at least half a day, especially if you also visit Forgotten Garden adventure golf.

Do save some time for the astonishing Lilidorei play area, the world’s largest play structure, as well – you’ll need a separate ticket though.

Check out my review of a day out at Alnwick Garden with kids

Hit the beach

The Northumberland coastline includes some of the loveliest stretches in the UK – 40 miles of it has even been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Which means you won’t be far from a great beach… even better, if you’re used to the popular beaches of the south, they’re so much quieter too.

Our own favourite was Embleton Beach, a short walk from Dunstanburgh Castle along the coast path. Backed by dunes, there were gentle waves at one end for bodyboarding, a few tide pools and water shallow enough to paddle, and plenty of space to make a sandcastle with views of the actual castle.

Bamburgh beach is similarly lovely. A little busier than Embleton as it’s easier to reach, it’s another long stretch of soft powdery sand backed by dunes (and Bamburgh Castle) that’s ideal for kite flying, beach games and lounging.

Other contenders for the list of best beaches in Northumberland including Alnmouth Beach, Druridge Bay, Beadnell Bay and Cresswell Beach.

For sand with a few more facilities, head to Seahouses for all the traditional seaside bonuses plus boat tours (don’t miss the fish and chips) or Warkworth Beach is walking distance from the village but still stays quiet.

If you’re visiting Druridge Bay, make a stop at Cresswell Pond nature reserve nearby for a lovely walk in the protected reserve

Walk the coast

If you fancy a more active holiday than sitting on the beach, you can walk Northumberland’s coastline too.

Not necessarily all of it – the Northumberland Coast Path stretches for around 62 miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north down to Cresswell – but there are stretches to suit all levels.

One of the easiest is the walk from Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle, less than a mile’s stroll by the seaside through fields of sheep, watching out for dolphins in the waves – plus the castle at the end to give younger kids a tempting goal.

For more adventurous kids, the coast path is broken into six sections – the shortest is still six miles long, but it’s a good starting point to walk an amount you’re comfortable with.

Alternatively, you could head to Druridge Bay Country Park and combine a walk there with a stroll along the beach (all seven miles of it).

Or how about a walk around Lindisfarne – there are several options on the island, depending how much of a challenge you fancy.

Read on for more places to get outdoors with kids in Northumberland

Get cut off on Lindisfarne

There’s something I find incredibly tempting about the thought of being cut off on an island – temporarily, at least. And a day on Lindisfarne was easily one of my favourite parts of our trip (despite some stiff competition).

Whether you actually get cut off will depend when you visit: during our visit, the causeway didn’t open until around 11.45 and stayed that way until after 8pm, when the tide came in again.

But at other points of the year, you can cross and know that the sea lies between you and the mainland for hours, until the tide drops. It goes without saying to always, always check the tides before you visit and don’t be tempted to cross outside those times.

Once you’re there? Parking is limited, and there are some restrictions for visitors (unless you have a blue badge), so it’s best to head straight to the main car park on the approach to the village – you can’t miss it.

And while it’s not a big island, it’s not hard to fill a day – we spent five hours there, and I’d have happily stayed longer. Even better, stay overnight to experience Holy Island after the day visitors have left.

As well as Lindisfarne Priory and Castle (scroll up for more), you’ll find beaches near the castle and rocks to clamber over, plus the pretty village itself.

There are walks too around the island, as well as the chance of seal spotting in the summer.

On a sunny day, don’t miss Pilgrim’s Gelato with their chocolate waffle cones and fabulous flavours (I went for summer, a fruit mix including apricot, mango and pineapple), plus some great fudge.

Or next door, Pilgrim’s Coffee House has great cake to go with its coffee (and tea), as well as sandwiches.

A crab sandwich is traditional on Holy Island, and you’ll be spoiled for choice – I found mine freshly made at the Island Shack food stand near the priory (worth the queue), but you can also get them at the Post Office, the island pubs and the food truck near the car park, just for starters.

See stars at Kielder Observatory

There are few better places to star-gaze in the UK than at Kielder Forest – the dark sky reserve was the first of its kind in England and one of the largest in the world, stretching for nearly 580 square miles.

And as well as simply marvelling at the glories of the night sky in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, as it’s officially known, head to the Kielder Observatory to learn even more about the universe.

Perfect for kids who are fascinated by science and astronomy, you can ask questions of real-life astronomers and even get the chance to search for celestial objects thought the observatory’s powerful telescopes.

The Space Kids events are ideal if you’re visiting with younger star-gazers but there are various different options to suit teens as well – don’t just try to turn up and hope for a peek at the planets though, you do have to book onto one of the scheduled events.

Get outdoors at Kielder Forest

Beautiful Kielder Forest isn’t only a night-time destination – as well as being one of the best places in Europe to watch the wonders of the night sky, Kielder Water and Forest Park is one of the best places in Northumberland with kids, if you want to get outdoors.

Home to England’s largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe, there are walking and cycling routes, including gentler trails for younger kids, plus geocaching and wildlife spotting.

Or head out onto the water itself – only for prebooked activities, you can’t just turn up with your own paddleboard – to try canoeing, sailing, waterskiing and paddleboarding, including family-friendly options.

For a more relaxed way to explore the reservoir, hop onto the Osprey Ferry to learn more about the area and its history, or to take a short-cut back if you don’t fancy taking on the entire 27-mile route around the lake – do check the ferry is running before you set off though.

Northumberlandia, Cramlington

Fittingly known as the Lady of the North, the 46-acre national park of Northumberlandia is centered around the world’s largest human landform sculpture.

Using a whopping 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay and soil from a local mine, the unusual sculpture of a reclining lady was built in 2010 and it’s completely free to visit.

You’ll find several walking routes around the lady to explore, as well as the park itself (also free to visit, although parking is paid), including the visitor centre.

There are also lots of family-friendly events taking place throughout the year, including scavenger hunts, story sessions and outdoor theatre.

Cruise to the Farne islands

If your kids love seals or puffins, don’t miss a boat tour to the Farne islands. Lindisfarne might be the best known of the islands but the others, generally smaller and uninhabited, are a haven for wildlife.

Seahouses is the main starting point with a string of companies offering different boat trips, spotting the various seabirds, including puffins, as well as seals, some with the option to spend time on the islands, especially Inner Farne.

I went for Billy Shiels boat trips, which has several shorter family-friendly trips, including a 90-minute grey seal cruise and my own two-hour seabird cruise – where we also saw grey seals, puffins, seabirds galore and some gorgeous views to Bamburgh castle as we sailed around the islands, plus learning more about Grace Darling and her famous rescue of nine men from a shipwreck.

What you get to see will depend on what time of year you go, and the trips are weather dependent (but as the seating is often open air, and as I wouldn’t fancy a boat trip on rough seas with my daughter, that’s only a good thing!)

Other companies include Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, all of which depart from the same place at the harbour in Seahouses. You can also get boat tours to Lindisfarne from here.

Find out more about visiting the Farne Islands with kids

Northumberland Country Zoo, Morpeth

For anyone who loves animals, you can’t visit Northumberland with kids without a day out at Northumberland Country Zoo. 

This fantastic family-run zoo is home to over 100 different species, with everything from friendly farm animals to endangered snow leopards, lemurs, lynxes and more, including native animals.

There are virtual feeding times and animal talks with the keepers at present, with QR codes on the exhibits to download the information.

And there are plenty of options to play too. As well as its furry inhabitants, the zoo also has several kid-friendly attractions, including a large outdoor play area, a tractor museum and electric ride-on tractors.

Whitehouse Farm Centre, Morpeth

Whitehouse Farm Centre is another great family-friendly Northumberland attraction, especially for families with younger children.

The 40-acre farm is home to loads of different farmyard animals, including cows, goats, ponies, llamas and alpacas, many of which children can pet and feed.

And there’s also chance to take a wildlife walk through the surrounding forest to spot local wildlife.

Other than the animals, kids can enjoy the farm centre’s indoor soft playroom, outdoor adventure playground, electric racing cars, pedal go-karts, trampolines and tractor rides too.

Andy Howeys Birds of Prey Centre, Haggerston Castle

When it comes to animal attractions, Northumberland has plenty to offer. Andy Howeys Birds of Prey Centre in Haggerston Castle’s Italian Gardens is the place to take little ones who aren’t afraid to get hands-on.

Kids can hold and touch many of the centre’s insects, reptiles and birds of prey, including tarantulas, pythons, bearded dragons, owls and kestrels – do book ahead.

Even if you don’t want to touch the animals, there are 45-minute displays to watch, where you can see the centre’s many residents up close.

Heatherslaw Light Railway, Ford and Etal

Discover more of the stunning Northumberland countryside by taking a ride on the Heatherslaw Light Railway, a 15 inch gauge railway pulled by two steam locomotives.

The railway runs along the banks of the River Till until it reaches Etal Castle, where you can stop for a quick stroll around charming Etal village, before completing the 4-mile return journey back to Heatherslaw.

Plus, to add to the fun, Heatherslaw station has a model railway room where kids can press the button that makes the model trains run.

Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick

Close to ​​Alnwick Castle and Garden, you’ll find the interesting Bailiffgate Museum, one of the best kid-friendly museums in Northumberland. 

The museum tells the story of Alnwick over 10,000 years of history, including its involvement in the conflict between Scotland and England, including a string of interactive exhibits.

Kids can travel back in time to its traditional Victorian schoolroom, as well as heading down a replica mine (you need a hard hat to enter this one) and they’ll love checking out the vintage toy exhibition.

Under-12s get a free ‘mouse hunter’ pack, with coloured pencils, pictures to colour and stickers to keep them entertained too, although everyone is welcome to search for the Bailiffgate mice, 24 knitted mice dressed in historical costumes which are hidden around the museum.

Explore Amble

Head down to Amble Harbour Village and grab an ice cream from one of the little stalls – you’ll also find cheese, sandwiches and other local food, along with souvenirs and gifts – before heading past the lobster pots and out along the pier.

It’s a great place to buy fresh fish as well (although you might want to do that on the way back from your walk!) or you can try your hand at crabbing off the pier.

At the end, there’s the red and white striped lighthouse that guards the mouth of the River Coquet and views to Coquet Island, along with walks over the dunes and rockpooling down by the sea.

Don’t miss Paddlers Park too, a play area with water play (and the usual playground swings and so on) plus areas themed around sea creatures – a really lovely spot for kids to blow off a bit of steam.

Eat fish and chips in Seahouses

Is it really a seaside holiday if you don’t have fish and chips at least once? And while you’ll be spoiled for choice, Seahouses is one of the best places to grab some – perfect to combine with a wildlife boat tour too.

We got ours from Neptune Fish restaurant – you can eat in, but we took ours away to a bench on the clifftop, looking down to the beach – there’s also a string of benches near the harbour (get there early to snaffle one on a sunny day in summer), as well as the beach itself or follow the cliff path round the headland.

Visit Barter Books, Alnwick

One of the largest secondhand bookshops in Britain, set in a converted train station, I defy you to go into Barter Books and not emerge with something.

There’s a children’s book area, as well as adult books galore, all divided into different themes – with some unusual finds as you browse, alongside bestselling authors.

It’s the kind of place you could curl up and lose hours on a rainy day in Northumberland – there are open fires and comfy chairs, as well as hot drinks and snacks at the Station Buffet and Paradise ice cream parlour.

And as the name suggests, you can bring your own books to trade in for Barter credit, to then spend on a new volume to take home (not in the station buffet).

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN NORTHUMBERLAND WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. My visits to some attractions were free for the purposes of review but all opinions are my own.

Lemur/owl/Kielder courtesy Depositphotos, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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