What is Bamburgh Castle?
Bamburgh Castle is a Grade I listed fortress perched 150 feet above the spectacular Northumberland coastline on a basalt outcrop of volcanic dolerite rock — part of the Whin Sill. It’s one of the largest inhabited castles in England, spanning nine acres, and has been occupied for over 3,000 years (some sources claim 10,000 years). The Armstrong family still lives here, making it genuinely a working family home as well as a major tourist attraction.
The castle’s history is extraordinary: it was the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria, a royal palace where many Northumbrian kings were crowned, and famously became the first castle in England to fall to cannon fire during the Wars of the Roses in 1464. The site was originally a Celtic Brittonic fort called Din Guarie (or Din Guaydri), captured by Anglo-Saxon King Ida of Bernicia around 547 AD and later renamed Bebbanburgh after Queen Bebba, wife of King Aethelfrith.
For fans of Bernard Cornwell’s novels or Netflix’s The Last Kingdom, this is Bebbanburg — Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s fortress. The castle has featured in numerous films and TV productions including Transformers: The Last Knight, Becket (1964), King Arthur (2004), and Netflix’s Frontier.
What to see at Bamburgh Castle
The King’s Hall at Bamburgh Castle
The King’s Hall is the castle’s pièce de résistance — Lord Armstrong’s Victorian creation featuring a false hammer beam ceiling made with teak from Siam (present-day Thailand). Legend has it the King of Siam helped carve some of the elaborate designs during a visit.
The Norman Keep and Armoury at Bamburgh Castle
The massive Norman Keep, built in the 12th century (completed 1164), is the oldest surviving part of the castle above ground. It houses an impressive armoury displaying arms and armour — many pieces still bearing old battle scars. The collection includes pikes, halberds, and muskets issued to local militia in readiness for an expected Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s, offering fascinating insight into the castle’s strategic importance to national security.
State Rooms at Bamburgh Castle
Visitors can explore approximately 14 state rooms featuring the Armstrong family’s collection of furniture, tapestries, porcelain, paintings, and historical artefacts. The rooms showcase both medieval fortress elements and Victorian restoration work. The castle is beautifully decorated for Christmas from late November through December, with themed displays that change annually.
Armstrong and Aviation Artefact Museum
This dual-purpose museum displays Lord Armstrong’s accomplishments in engineering (he made his fortune producing hydraulic machinery, ships, and armaments) alongside aviation artefacts from World Wars I and II. Armstrong was known as the “Magician of the North” for his scientific discoveries and pioneering innovations.
Archaeological discoveries at Bamburgh Castle
Archaeological excavations starting in the 1960s by Brian Hope-Taylor discovered the Bamburgh Beast (a gold plaque) and the Bamburgh Sword. The site continues to reveal secrets about its ancient occupation.
Views from Bamburgh Castle ramparts
The castle offers genuinely breathtaking 360-degree views from the ramparts: sweeping panoramas of the Northumberland coastline, the Farne Islands, Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Bamburgh village below, and on clear days, the sea stretching seemingly endlessly. These views alone justify the admission price.
Visiting Bamburgh Castle: practical information
Bamburgh Castle opening hours and admission
Opening hours:
- Daily: 10.00am to 4.00pm (last admission 3.00pm).
- Occasional closures for maintenance or events. Check the castle website before setting out.
Admission prices:
- Adults: £19.95.
- Children (5 to 16 years): £10.00.
- Children (0 to 4 years): FREE.
- Disabled admission: £14.65 (one carer free with valid proof of disability).
- Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children aged 5 to 16): £58.50.
- Historic Houses Association members: FREE admission (show membership card at ticket office).
Parking: £6 (payable separately on arrival, not included in admission).
Important: Bamburgh Castle is a cash-free site — all payments by contactless card only.
Special tours: The “Uhtred of Bebbanburg Tour” costs approximately £39.95 per person (in addition to standard admission) and offers extended historical context related to The Last Kingdom. Book in advance as these tours are popular.
Annual passes: Available for regular visitors.
Booking: Tickets can be purchased online in advance or on arrival — no time slots required, arrive anytime between opening and last admission. Online booking recommended during peak periods. Mobile signal can be limited, so download e-tickets before arrival.
Getting to Bamburgh Castle
Address: Bamburgh, Northumberland, NE69 7DF
By car from Newcastle: Approximately 50 miles north (1 hour 15 minutes via A1).
From Edinburgh: Approximately 90 miles south (2 hours).
Parking: Private car park accessible by following parking signs and driving up the hill to the castle. The access road has a steep incline — forward parking and free shuttle buggy service available for visitors with reduced mobility.
By public transport: Limited public transport to Bamburgh village. Arriva bus service 418 runs from Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Check current timetables as services are infrequent.
Bamburgh Castle accessibility
The castle has made significant accessibility improvements, though full access is limited due to the historic structure:
Accessible areas: Visitors with mobility challenges can access the first five rooms on the state room tour, including The King’s Hall. Forward parking and a free shuttle buggy service operates from the car park to the main castle.
Accessibility limitations: Due to numerous steps and narrow passages after The King’s Hall, wheelchairs, walking aids, and crutches are not permitted beyond this point for health and safety reasons. Accessible audiovisual exhibitions and a film showing inaccessible rooms are available.
Assistance dogs: Only registered assistance dogs are permitted inside the castle. Bring your Assistance Dogs (UK) identification book or international equivalent.
Touch tours: Available for guests with visual impairments — pre-book in advance.
Facilities at Bamburgh Castle
Dining:
- Clock Tower Café — full-service café with hot and cold food, freshly made sandwiches, hearty soups, homemade cakes, and local ingredients. Dogs not permitted.
- Tack Room Takeaway — takeaway refreshments available to enjoy in the courtyard, Victorian Stables, and outdoor spaces. Dogs welcome here and in the Victorian Stables.
Other facilities:
- Gift shop.
- Outdoor seating areas with spectacular sea views.
- Public toilets.
- Storage provided for prams and pushchairs (not permitted inside castle interior).
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are very welcome in the nine acres of castle grounds (on short leads). Dogs welcome in Victorian Stables and Tack Room Takeaway. Only assistance dogs permitted in State Rooms, Clock Tower Café, and Armstrong and Aviation Museum. Dog bowls provided across the site.
How long to spend at Bamburgh Castle
Minimum visit: 2 to 3 hours to see state rooms and walk the grounds.
Recommended: 3 to 4 hours including lunch at the Clock Tower Café and exploring the ramparts thoroughly.
Full day: Possible if combining with beach walks below the castle and exploring Bamburgh village.
Most visitors spend 2 to 4 hours exploring the castle, grounds, and enjoying the views.
Best time to visit Bamburgh Castle
Summer (June to August): Longest daylight hours, warmest weather, spectacular beach below the castle for post-visit walks. Peak tourist season — expect crowds.
Autumn (September to November): Beautiful light for photography, fewer crowds than summer, mild weather generally pleasant for exploring.
Winter (December to February): Christmas decorations from late November through December create magical atmosphere. Twilight openings sometimes offered for festive displays. Can be cold and windy on the ramparts.
Spring (March to May): Good weather returning, smaller crowds than summer.
For best photos: Early morning or late afternoon light makes the castle particularly photographic. Sunset views from the beach looking up at the castle are spectacular.
Events at Bamburgh Castle
The castle hosts various events throughout the year including live joust weekends (typically June), wreath-making workshops (November to December), Father Christmas experiences (November to December), and seasonal displays. Check the castle website for current events calendar.
Nearby attractions to Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh is located on Northumberland’s dramatic Heritage Coast with several nearby attractions:
- Bamburgh Beach: Immediately below the castle — one of England’s most beautiful beaches with miles of golden sand, dramatic castle backdrop, and often relatively quiet. Perfect for post-visit walks or paddling.
- Holy Island (Lindisfarne): 5 miles north — tidal island accessible via causeway at low tide, featuring Lindisfarne Castle (National Trust), Lindisfarne Priory ruins, and beautiful coastline. Check tide times — causeway floods at high tide.
- Farne Islands: 2 miles offshore (visible from castle ramparts) — seabird colonies including puffins, Arctic terns, and guillemots. Boat trips from Seahouses (3 miles south).
- Dunstanburgh Castle: 9 miles south — atmospheric castle ruins on coastal headland, accessible via scenic coastal walk from Craster.
- Alnwick Castle: 16 miles south — the Duke of Northumberland’s seat, second-largest inhabited castle in England, filming location for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
- Alnwick Garden: Adjacent to Alnwick Castle — spectacular contemporary garden with Grand Cascade, Poison Garden, and Treehouse Restaurant.
- Seahouses: 3 miles south — fishing village with harbour, fish and chips shops, and departure point for Farne Islands boat trips.
- Craster: 11 miles south — picturesque fishing village famous for kippers and coastal walks to Dunstanburgh Castle.
- Lindisfarne Castle: On Holy Island — 16th-century castle converted by Sir Edwin Lutyens, managed by National Trust.
- Berwick-upon-Tweed: 18 miles north — historic border town with Elizabethan walls and three bridges spanning the River Tweed.
Dining near Bamburgh Castle
In Bamburgh village:
- The Lord Crewe — historic pub with restaurant, supposedly haunted.
- The Copper Kettle — café and tearooms.
- Various cafés and pubs within short walking distance.
Nearby:
- The Jolly Fisherman, Craster — pub famous for crab sandwiches.
- Seahouses has numerous fish and chips shops and restaurants.
Tips for visiting Bamburgh Castle
- Book tickets online to guarantee entry during peak periods, though it’s usually possible to buy on arrival.
- Download e-tickets before arrival — mobile signal is limited.
- Bring contactless payment — the castle is completely cashless.
- Wear layers — the ramparts are exposed and can be very windy, even on otherwise pleasant days.
- Allow time to walk down to Bamburgh Beach after your castle visit — the views looking back up at the castle are stunning.
- Historic Houses Association members get free admission — excellent value if visiting multiple historic properties.
- The Uhtred of Bebbanburg Tour is expensive but receives excellent reviews from Last Kingdom fans.
- Visit during Christmas for themed decorations — twilight openings create magical atmosphere.
- If visiting Holy Island the same day, check tide times carefully — people regularly get stranded by incoming tides.
- Prams and pushchairs aren’t permitted inside but storage is provided.
- Photography is permitted and encouraged — the views are genuinely spectacular.
- Visit early or late in the day during summer to avoid peak crowds.
- Don’t miss walking the ramparts for the full 360-degree views — this is where the castle really impresses.
Why visit Bamburgh Castle?
Bamburgh Castle offers something genuinely rare: a medieval fortress that’s been continuously occupied for over 1,400 years, perched on one of England’s most dramatic coastal locations, and still serving as a family home. The combination of ancient history (Anglo-Saxon royal palace, Norman stronghold, first castle to fall to gunpowder), Victorian restoration (Lord Armstrong’s magnificent work), and stunning natural setting makes it exceptional.
The views alone justify the visit — standing on the ramparts with the North Sea stretching to the horizon, the Farne Islands dotting the seascape, Holy Island visible in the distance, and Bamburgh’s golden beach sweeping below is genuinely gorgeous. It’s the kind of view that makes you stop talking and just stare.
What makes Bamburgh particularly special is that it feels genuinely inhabited rather than museumified. The Armstrong family still lives here, the rooms feel like someone might walk through at any moment, and there’s a warmth to the place despite its martial origins. Yes, some visitors find the Armstrong family displays a bit much, but there’s something rather charming about a castle that’s genuinely been someone’s home for 130 years rather than a sterile National Trust property.
For Last Kingdom fans, this is Bebbanburg — Uhtred’s fortress made flesh. The connection to Bernard Cornwell’s novels and the Netflix series adds an extra dimension, and the Uhtred tour (though pricey) reportedly provides exceptional historical context that brings both the fiction and reality to life.
The castle successfully caters to diverse interests: history enthusiasts appreciate the Anglo-Saxon heritage and Wars of the Roses significance; families enjoy exploring the ramparts and beach; Last Kingdom devotees get their Bebbanburg pilgrimage; architecture lovers admire the Victorian restoration; and the views are special.
The first glimpse of Bamburgh Castle as you approach — this massive fortress suddenly appearing above the village — has the wow factor. That sense of awe doesn’t diminish as you explore.
