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Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been home to the Duke of Northumberland's family, the Percys, through 700 years of drama, intrigue, tragedy and romance. Nicknamed 'The Windsor of the North', it has a turbulent past just waiting to be discovered. Alnwick Castle's unique history features kingmakers, rebels, a gunpowder-plotter and passionate collectors, as well as Harry Hotspur, the most famous of all Percys.

A castle has been recorded on this site for an incredible 1000 years. Situated in Northumberland near the volatile border between England and Scotland, Alnwick Castle was built by the then Baron of Alnwick, Yves de Vescy, in the classic Norman motte and bailey style, to defend the town against attacks from marauding Scots. When the 1st Lord Percy of Alnwick purchased the castle in the early 1300s, he upgraded all its defensive features, turning it into an impenetrable fortress. You can still see parts of this extensive renovation today, as the Abbot’s Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable’s Tower have all survived as reminders of the castle’s gruesome past.

In more recent years, Alnwick Castle and the surrounding parkland of Hulne Park offer a dramatic and unspoilt setting for filmmakers. Most famously, Alnwick Castle has featured as 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' in the first two Harry Potter movies: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

The Castle is used as a backdrop for the interior and exterior of Hogwarts as J.K. Rowling wanted ‘Hogwarts’ visualised “as a huge, rambling, scary looking castle with a jumble of towers and battlements”.

Scenes filmed at Alnwick Castle include the flying lesson on broomsticks in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and the crash landing of the flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

As a result, Alnwick Castle is therefore a great day out for all Potter fans, young or old, hosting a variety of Potter themed activities, from Broomstick Training to magic shows featuring Hagrid and Dumbledore.

As the broomstick training has proven to be very popular with young wizards and witches timed tickets are now issued (tickets are included in the cost of admission to the castle).

Alnwick Castle closes for the winter season so check dates and times of opening here.