Terry and Sooz's Travels: September 7, 2023 - Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Yesterday before leaving Alnwick we stopped by Alnwick Castle. Baron of Alnwick, erected the first parts of the castle in about 1096. There is an incredible collection of painting, drawings, sculptures and furniture throughout the area of the castle we were able to visit. It is now the home of Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland and his family. In 2016, the castle received over 600,000 visitors per year when combined with adjacent attraction the Alnwick Garden.

We began our travels south, scheduled to leave the UK September 15 and drive south to Arles, France to meet Sheila, a friend from Gainesville.

Alnwick Castle has been used as a setting in many films and television series.

Films

1954 Prince Valiant
1964 Becket
1971 Mary, Queen of Scots
1979 Unidentified Flying Oddball
1982 Ivanhoe
1990 or 1991 The Timekeeper
1991 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
1998 Monk Dawson
1998 Elizabeth
2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2011 Your Highness
2017 Transformers: The Last Knight

Television

1977 Count Dracula
1983 The Black Adder
1984–1986 Robin of Sherwood
1995 Antiques Roadshow
1995 The Fast Show
2005 The Virgin Queen
2009 Dickinson's Real Deal
2011 Red or Black?
2012 Flog It!
2012 The Hollow Crown
2014/2015 Downton Abbey

The main entrance to Alnwick Castle

Bill, our tour guide, knows the history of the castle and British history like the back of his hand.

Some Harry Potter fans learning how to ride brooms

Outside the castle walls looking north towards Scotland

This is the fortified main structure, or The Keep, of the castle

This arch dates back to 1100s when the Normans were living at the castle

The main well of the castle

We weren't supposed to take pictures in The Keep, where Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland and his family live during the winter but I forgot and was chastised for it.