Regularly toppings national lists, a Northumberland market town is home to a rich and magical history steeped in local legend and even holds a ‘curse’.
Although Alnwick was this year sadly pipped to the post by Whickham as the North East ‘best place to live.’ But despite the result the town has much to offer, especially in spring.
Built by the first Duke of Northumberland, the Lion Bridge holding the famous lion statue crossing the River Aln offers breath-taking views of Alnwick Castle. The population tourist attraction constructed around 1096 served as a filming location for Hogwarts School in the first two Harry Potter films and is now reopen once again for the season.
Alnwick Castle. -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle
Alnwick Gardens will very shortly be awash with white blossom as the famous 329 Tai Haku cherry orchard – the largest collection of such trees in the world, look set to again for two weeks this April.
The high street offers a plethora of independent businesses including Bowring Hepple Black, drawing in Harry Potter fans from across the world. The Swan White hotel further along is even home to titanic sister ship the RMS Olympic first-class lounge, rebuilt after bought at auction now used as a dining suite.
Alnwick in Northumberland. -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle
Steeped in ‘local legend’ the famous Dirty Bottles pub, formally known as Ye Olde Cross Inn on Narrowgate dates back to at least 1600. Displayed in the front window sits sealed bottles that according to folklore are ‘cursed.’
It’s said the innkeeping in 1725 moving the very same bottles dropped dead of a heart attack. His wife proclaimed there was a curse upon anyone who dared move the bottles would befall the same fate. They have since remained untouched ever since.
A train on the modal railway in Barter Books. -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle
Along Bondgate Without is the iconic Barter books. Housed in the former Victorian Alnwick railway station. Honouring the rich history, a model railway runs on elevated tracks above the bookshelves.
Visitors can often spend hours captivated by the book shop that was even shortlisted as ‘one of the most beautiful’ in the world by 1000 Libraries.
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