UK’s beautiful historic market town with £160k homes and indie shops | UK | Travel

Tucked away in the Northumberland countryside is a charming market town full of winding cobbled streets where you’ll discover quirky bookshops, independent boutiques, and cosy cafés.

A twice-weekly market still brings visitors to the town, while a grand castle and steam railway preserve the town’s fascinating past.

Despite its charm, Alnwick in Northumberland was often overlooked as a tourist destination until its castle was used in a very famous movie production. Alnwick Castle was transformed into Hogwarts for the Harry Potter movies, with Quidditch scenes filmed on its outside green, and iconic scenes such as the flying car crash taking place on its grounds.

Whether you’re a Potterhead or not, Alnwick Castle is well worth a visit. Dating back to the 12th-century, this imposing building is the second largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor, and the gates open to the public in the summer to explore.

In the centre, you’ll see some of the remains of Alnwick’s defences in the town walls, built in the 15th century to keep the town safe. Bondgate Tower has strong stone walls and a narrow tunnel that was well-guarded during times of war. Unfortunately, while it was useful centuries ago, in the modern world, it tends to cause traffic as only one car at a time can pass through its narrow passageway.

Harry Potter isn’t the town’s only literary connection. It also boasts one of Europe’s largest secondhand bookstores, Barter Books, set in an old train station. Amongst rows and rows of books, you’ll find armchairs and open fireplaces, making it a cosy place to spend the afternoon. Not to be outdone, a competitor, The Accidental Bookshop, claims it has the UK’s tallest bookshop bookshelf, so you may need to ask staff to grab anything you want from the top.

Alnwick has plenty of charming, independent shops, found down the town’s narrow maze of streets. Market days are Thursday and Saturday, and there’s also a popular farmers’ market on the last Friday of the month. The cobbled Market Place is taken over by colourful stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, flowers, crafts, and food, with lots of traders selling goods made in Northumberland.

A good way to see the surrounding countryside is on the Aln Valley Railway, which runs seasonally. Made up of restored diesel and steam trains, it takes passengers on a half-hour journey through green landscapes. Just a 15-minute drive away is Alnmouth Beach, a long stretch of sand that’s dog-friendly and offers a number of walking routes and birdwatching.

After a long day of exploring, Alnwick has lots of cosy, old-fashioned pubs where you can enjoy a beer or a meal. Dirty Bottles might have a slightly unappetising name, but it refers to a local legend. In between two window panes sit some dusty old bottles. The legend goes that over 200 years ago, an innkeeper died while interfering with the bottles, and his widow warned that anyone moving the bottles would suffer the same fate. Therefore, the items have been safely sealed away, and you can enjoy classic British pub food or sit in the sunny beer garden without fear of being cursed.

The John Bull Inn is a favourite with real ale drinkers, and is known for its wide selection of whiskies. Found down a small residential street, it’s a hidden gem. The Plough is another must-visit for lovers of historic pubs, and while this coaching inn has been modernised inside, the exterior still has many of the beautiful stonework carvings from the 19th century. 

You might assume living in this charming town would come with a hefty price tag, however, while the average house price in the UK is around £300,000, Alnwick has a number of three-bedroom properties under £200,000. Recent listings on Rightmove include a terraced home for £160,000 and a property with a garage and driveway for £189,950, falling way below the national average. 

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