Six Weeks of Summer Holiday Fun at Alnwick Castle

If you’re looking for a summer holiday family day out in Northumberland that’s packed with action, real life history and excitement, then don’t miss a trip to Alnwick Castle – now officially Heritage UK’s “Best Family Day Out 2018”.

There’s more fun, games, history and laughter to be had here over this summer than you can shake a (magic) stick at!  As well as all the daily popular activities - the broomstick training, film location tours, hands-on crafts, archery, magnificent stateroom tours and scary Dragon Quest, you’ll find exciting “themed” weeks will be taking place here right through the summer holidays.  All activities are included in your admission ticket, and remember if you pay to visit once, you can return for free for a whole year afterwards*!

1. It’s Great War Week at Alnwick Castle from 23 July.  Many of Alnwick Estates employees fought and you can see their names in a roll of honour and hear tales from a First World War soldier.  As well as the famous, ghostly “There But Not There” life-sized, seated silhouettes of soldiers in Alnwick Castle Chapel, this week visitors will also be able to see standing silhouette “Tommies” in Alnwick Castle grounds.  Heritage theatre group “Time Will Tell” will perform their powerful play “Letters Home” twice during the day. This is described as "an extraordinary story of ordinary people" and shows the effect of letters to home from the frontline during the war.

2. In Fools’ Week from 29 July - 2 August, Alnwick Castle’s popular medieval jesters, Zooted and their naughty friend, Devilstick Pete, will be entertaining you throughout the day with their wacky mix of fire-eating, sword-juggling, comedy and trickery. Escape them if you can!  Fancy trying circus skills like juggling, diablo and plate spinning?  Get expert tuition from these madcap professionals!

3. Interested in the knights of olde, their lives, armour, horses and fighting styles?  It’s Knight’s Week from 4 August – 10 August when you can enjoy sword fighting lessons, try on authentic, reproduction armour of the middle ages, watch the gruesome operations of the Barber Surgeon, find out how the horses were trained, learn about the weaponry used and see how a medieval army would fight on the battlefield.

4.There’s medieval mirth and mayhem in Medieval Week from 11 – 20 August at Alnwick Castle. An entertaining cast of characters shows you what life was really like in the middle ages, from skilled artisans, craftspeople and expert falconers with their beautiful birds of prey to artful jesters and a strange and spooky alchemist! Lots of opportunity for hands-on fun with crafts, spells and giant puffs of smoke!

5. The stage is set for Story-telling Week from 21 August – 24 August. This week you can watch a variety of original, magical tales adapted specially for Alnwick Castle this year.  Stories have been taken from historical folklore and will be acted out by Alnwick Castle Performers Guild in splendid costumes several times per day. Hurry along to Artisans Courtyard to get a seat at the front… you might be asked to join in!

6. Wizarding Week from 28 August – 1 September is sure to cause a stir.  Costumed guests are especially welcome so put on your best robes, bring your wands and join the Wizard Professors for a week of enchantment, broomsticks and mystery!   Meet lookalike characters inspired by the world of Harry Potter, follow the Wizards’ Trail and see real live magical beasts in Artisans Courtyard. Don’t forget your camera to capture the magic for ever!

Rest assured that’s just a quick preview of the action at Alnwick this summer – and there’s heaps more fun to be had!

The Courtyard Café and Stable Fryery are available for delicious meals and refreshments and there are two well-stocked gift shops.

For more information on Alnwick Castle please visit  www.alnwickcastle.com or call 01665 511 100