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The Alnwick Garden
Adjacent to the castle, the present Duchess of Northumberland, Jane, has initiated the establishment of The Alnwick Garden, a formal garden set around a cascading fountain. It has a reported development cost for the whole of £42 million pounds (press release of 7 August 2003). The garden belongs to a charitable trust which is separate from the Northumberland Estates, but the Duke of Northumberland donated the 42-acre (17 ha) site and £9 million.
The first phase of development, opened in October 2001, involved the creation of the fountain and initial planting of the gardens. In 2004 a large 6,000 sq ft (560 m2) ‘tree house’ complex, including a cafe, was opened. It is deemed one of the largest tree houses in the world.
By that year it was the third most visited paid entry garden in the UK (after Kew Gardens and Wisley), with over half a million visitors. In February 2005, a poison garden, growing plants such as cannabis and opium poppy, was added. May 2006 saw the opening of a pavilion and visitor centre designed by Sir Michael Hopkins and Buro Happold which can hold up to 1,000 people. The pavilion and visitor’s centre feature a barrel-vaulted gridshell roof with foil cushions.
Alnwick Castle has two further parks. Immediately to the north of the castle is a relatively small park straddling the River Aln which was landscaped by Lancelot Brown (“Capability Brown”) and Thomas Call in the 18th century; it is known locally as The Pastures. Nearby is the much larger Hulne Park, which contains the remains of Hulne Priory.
Opening times
Winter opening – October to March: 10am – 4pm (last admissions 3.15pm)
Summer opening – April – September: 10am – 6pm (last admissions 5.15pm)
The Garden’s shop, restaurant and cafes are open during Garden opening hours. The Treehouse is also open for evening dining.
Accessibility
The Alnwick Garden is accessible to all with disabled access throughout, including to The Treehouse, the rope bridges and the walkways in the sky. Wheelchairs and scooters are available for hire by calling before visiting, and disabled parking spaces are provided at the main entrance.
Safety
It is easy for children to get wet when visiting, as running through the jets and splashing is great fun. A change of clothes is a good idea. However, please do not enter or allow your children to enter the Grand Cascade or any of the water pools, as it is very dangerous to do so.
By road
The Alnwick Garden is just off the A1 at Alnwick, and is well signposted. Buses connect Alnwick to the surrounding towns and Newcastle.
By rail
The main east coast line from London to Edinburgh stops at Alnmouth, which is 4 miles away. A taxi or bus can be taken from Alnmouth.
By air and sea
Newcastle International Airport and the Port of Tyne are 35 miles away.
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