Bamburgh hotels

Hotels in Bamburgh

Best known for its magnificent castle, Bamburgh is in the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and overlooks one of the most photogenic beaches of the North Sea. This village lies in the rural, unspoilt county of Northumberland, which has been the site of numerous Anglo-Scottish battles over the centuries.

The castle

A Grade I listed building, Bamburgh Castle was originally a pre-Saxon citadel but was eventually rebuilt during the Norman period, when many castles were built or redesigned across England. In later years, the building was the home of the affluent Forster family, although it fell into dilapidation before it was carefully restored in the Victorian period.

Because of its outstanding natural scenery and coastal views, Bamburgh Castle has been featured in a number of films over the years, including the British-American films Macbeth (1971) and Robin Hood (2010) starring Oscar-winning actors Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe. Today, Bamburgh Castle, which is still the home of the Armstrong family, is a popular visitor attraction.

St Aidan's Church

St Aidan's Church was originally a wooden building in the 7th century, although it was rebuilt after the Norman Conquest and now features one of the oldest chancels of any church in England. The Grade I listed landmark marks the centre of the village, and is close to a good range of Bamburgh hotels and restaurants such as the Lord Crewe Hotel and the Mizen Head Hotel restaurant.

The local scenery

Adjacent to the village is the vast wilderness known as Bamburgh Dunes, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and was once home to an Anglo-Saxon burial ground. The dunes overlook a spectacular golden sandy beach, where you can enjoy more fine views of the formidable castle in the distance.

Other places to visit in Northumberland

Although largely in ruins, Dunstanburgh Castle is another striking medieval landmark just a short drive from the village. If you have enough time, consider taking a ferry to the Farne Islands, which are home to a substantial colony of grey seals and which were inhabited by monks by the early Middle Ages.

Another impressive castle and Grade I listed landmark in Northumberland is Alnwick Castle, which was built near the turn of the 12th century and has been featured in the highly successful period drama Downton Abbey. Other attractions worth visiting nearby include the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, 16th-century Lindisfarne Castle, and the charismatic Saxon market town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, four kilometres from the Scottish border.