Low angle of Alnwick Castle's stone towers and battlements from the grassy Outer Bailey.

Alnwick Castle Tours: Where Hogwarts Learned To Fly

The Northumberland castle where Harry Potter took his first flying lesson, plus Downton Abbey filming locations and free broomstick training

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The Short Answer

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland served as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films and as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey. It is open seasonally until 20 October 2026, grounds from 10am to 5pm. Visitors can book official tickets online from £21.55 for adults, or join guided day tours from Edinburgh.

Alnwick Castle has stood above the River Aln since the Percy family took ownership in 1309, making it one of the largest inhabited castles in the United Kingdom. Film fans know it better as Hogwarts. The Outer Bailey is where Harry took his first wobbly broomstick lesson in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), and the Inner Bailey hosted the flying Ford Anglia's crash landing in Chamber of Secrets (2002).

The castle's screen credits stretch well beyond wizardry. The State Rooms played Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's Christmas specials and series five and six. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves used it as Nottingham Castle, and Transformers: The Last Knight filmed here too. Most visits take three to five hours, which leaves time for the adjacent Alnwick Garden with its Poison Garden and treehouse.

Compare The Tours

The tours listed below split into two groups: direct castle tickets booked from Alnwick itself, and full-day excursions from Edinburgh that pair the castle with Northumberland and Borders highlights such as Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle and the Viking Coast. Group sizes, routes and side stops vary, so the right pick depends on how much of the region travellers want to cover in one day.

Holy Island Day Tour

From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

The most reviewed option at 1,601 reviews, pairing the castle with Holy Island and Northumbria in a single day.

4.7 out of 5 · 1,601 reviews

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Holy Island and Northumbria

Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Kingdom of Northumbria

An established Holy Island and Alnwick itinerary with 540 reviews from Edinburgh.

4.6 out of 5 · 540 reviewsEdinburgh

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Castle Ticket From Alnwick

Alnwick: Alnwick Castle Ticket

A skip-the-line style castle ticket with 531 reviews, ideal for visitors already in Alnwick with their own transport.

4.7 out of 5 · 531 reviewsAlnwick

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Edinburgh Day Trip, Bamburgh Included

From Edinburgh: Day Trip to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle

Combines Alnwick with Bamburgh Castle, another Transformers: The Last Knight filming location, on one Edinburgh round trip.

4.6 out of 5 · 353 reviewsEdinburgh

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Very Small Group Tour

Viking Coast and Alnwick Castle Very Small Group Tour from Edinburgh

A very small group tour along the Viking Coast, good for travellers who dislike big coach crowds.

4.7 out of 5 · 177 reviewsEdinburgh

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From Edinburgh, $78

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland & Scottish Borders 1-Day Tour

A budget-friendly $78 day tour from Edinburgh covering Alnwick Castle, Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

4.3 out of 5 · 29 reviewsEdinburgh

From$78Check availability

Winter Adventure From Edinburgh

Edinburgh: Bamburgh, Northumberland & Alnwick Winter Adventure

A winter departure visiting Bamburgh and Northumberland when most castle tours pause for the season.

4.8 out of 5 · 19 reviewsEdinburgh

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Hogwarts Filming Location Tour

Edinburgh: Alnwick Castle & The Borders Hogwarts Filming Location

A film-focused trip with a perfect five-star rating, zeroing in on the Hogwarts filming location and the Borders.

5.0 out of 5 · 8 reviewsEdinburgh

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What You Will See

Outer Bailey

The exact spot of Harry's first broomstick flying lesson and the Quidditch scenes. Free Broomstick Training sessions run here, led by costumed instructors, and they recreate the film moment with visitors taking the controls.

Inner Bailey

Where Harry and Ron crash landed the flying car in Chamber of Secrets. Today it forms part of the castle's medieval core, with stonework that reads convincingly as Hogwarts on screen.

Lion Arch

This archway served as a Hogwarts entrance and the exit toward the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut. It remains one of the most recognizable filming points for fans walking the grounds.

State Rooms and Library

The opulent interiors stood in for Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's Christmas specials and series five and six. Rooms are open 10:30am to 4:30pm, with last entry at 4pm.

Courtyards and Grounds

The courtyards and surrounding grounds appear across the Harry Potter films as student spaces and backdrops, and they also feature in other productions shot at the castle over the years.

Great Kitchen

A Victorian kitchen opened to visitors in 2025, adding a domestic slice of castle life to the itinerary. It sits among the newer additions to the visitor route alongside the film locations.

Planning Your Visit

Getting There

Drivers will find the castle one mile from the A1, well signposted, with parking at the main car park costing £3.75 per day. The nearest railway station is Alnmouth, roughly four miles away, connected to Alnwick by bus or taxi. Admission postcodes are NE66 1NG and the visitor entrance is NE66 1HB, both a short walk from the town centre.

Tickets, Hours And Timing

Official online tickets start at £21.55 for adults and, as of 2026, function as annual passes valid for 12 months with unlimited re-visits; gate prices are higher. The 2026 season runs until 20 October, grounds open 10am to 5pm with last entry at 3:45pm, and State Rooms open 10:30am to 4:30pm. Plan for three to five hours. Guided day tours from Edinburgh bundle transport, with one option priced at $78 per person, removing the need to arrange trains and taxis independently.

Booking Tips

  • Book online for a 10% discount and the annual pass with unlimited re-visits.
  • Broomstick training is free with entry but requires a timed slot ticket, so reserve early on arrival.
  • Children 16 and under must be supervised by an adult.
  • Opening is seasonal, so check the calendar before travelling; the 2026 season ends 20 October.

On The Map

3 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Alnwick Castle Really Hogwarts?

Yes. It served as the Hogwarts exterior in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Chamber of Secrets (2002). The Outer Bailey hosted the broomstick lessons and Quidditch scenes, the Inner Bailey the flying car crash, and Lion Arch an entrance toward the Forbidden Forest.

Can You Do Broomstick Training?

Yes. Broomstick Training sessions take place in the Outer Bailey, on the very ground where the film scenes were shot. Sessions are free with castle entry but require a timed slot ticket, so visitors should collect or reserve one early in the day to secure a place.

How Much Are Tickets?

Official online adult tickets start at £21.55 and act as annual passes valid for 12 months with unlimited re-visits as of 2026. Gate prices are higher. Booking online also brings a 10% discount, so advance purchase is the cheaper route for most visitors.

How Long Should A Visit Take?

Most visitors spend three to five hours, covering the film locations, State Rooms and grounds. The Great Kitchen, opened in 2025, and Broomstick Training slots can extend the day. Many people also add the adjacent Alnwick Garden with its Poison Garden and treehouse.

Can You Visit From Edinburgh?

Yes. Several day tours run from Edinburgh, with one option priced at $78 per person, pairing the castle with Holy Island, Bamburgh, the Scottish Borders or the Viking Coast. These handle all transport, which is convenient given Alnmouth station is four miles from the castle.

What Else Was Filmed At Alnwick?

Downton Abbey used the State Rooms as Brancaster Castle in the Christmas specials and series five and six. The castle also appeared as Nottingham Castle in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and featured in Transformers: The Last Knight, which also used nearby Bamburgh.

Alnwick Castle delivers the rare combination of a genuinely historic fortress and a walkable film set. Fans of Harry Potter get the broomstick lesson lawn, the flying car crash site and Lion Arch, while Downton Abbey viewers can wander the State Rooms that doubled as Brancaster. Book online for the annual pass, reserve a broomstick slot, and consider an Edinburgh day tour to fold in Bamburgh or Holy Island along the way.

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