Nearest History & Heritage Northumberland
Our History and Heritage category brings all Coast Radar’s Northumberland listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of historic or heritage based activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a Northumberland day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the historic and heritage links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next Northumberland activity.
- Bamburgh Castle is a Norman castle situated on the Northumbrian coast at Bamburgh. The castle is a grade I listed building and was once the Royal Seat of the Kings of Northumbria. Now it is a family home. With its location on a rocky plateau overlooking the sea, Bamburgh has witnessed much turbulent history over the centuries. Owned by the Armstrong family since the late 19th century, the castle is open to the public and has also been used as a film location many times.
- A trail through time with information boards. Reconstruction of local archaeological finds including a henge, Mesolithic hut and a Dark-Age house. A guide about Maelmin is available from the information point in the village.
- Aydon Castle, 13th-century English manor house, Aydon Castle stands in a secluded woodland setting.
- Longframlington Gardens, arboretum, nursery, plant centre and coffee shop.
- Northumberland Wildlife Trust nature reserve within an old open cast mine. Number of hides, including wheelchair access to some.
- Etal Castle, built in the mid-14th century on the strategic River Till ford as defence against Scottish raiders.
- Wallington, mansion with fine interiors and collections, set in an extensive garden, parkland and Northumberland moorland, the ‘Border Reiver’ territory.
- Paxton House is an 18th century country house in Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland. Described as one of the finest examples of neo-Palladian architecture in Scotland, Paxton House was built between 1758 and 1763 by John Adam for Patrick Home. Paxton houses one of the foremost collections of Chippendale furniture as well as other valuable antiques and paintings. Visitors today can tour the house in all its splendour. The gardens are also well worth a visit, as the onsite gift shop and restaurant. Open from March to November.
- Harbottle Castle was built in the 12th century. It was a typical Norman motte and bailey castle built of earth and timber. In the 13th century, a stone castle replaced the earlier building. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt many times in the wars with Scotland between the 12th and 16th centuries. Most of the stone from the castle was reused to make later buildings, but the layout of the castle can still be seen from the form of the earthworks that survive. Some good walks to Drake’s Stone and a hilltop lake.
- Lindisfarne Priory (AD635) was one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England and is still a place of pilgrimage today. Walk across the causeway and explore the atmospheric ruins, and visit the museum.
- Chantries, small chapels for travellers were common in medieval England. This Chantry at Morpeth is one of the few to survive and now houses a pipes museum, craft studio and tourist information point.
- Berwick Bridge is a grade I listed 17th century stone bridge which spans the River Tweed at Berwick upon Tweed in Northumberland. Also known as Old Bridge, four previous bridges have stood on the same site with the oldest dating back to 1199. The bridge is 355 metres long by 5 metres wide, with 15 arches. Today, the bridge is one-way from east to west. The main road traffic either crosses the river at the concrete Royal Tweed Bridge or uses the Berwick bypass.
