Holy Island, Alnwick Castle and the Northumberland Coast
Enjoy a scenic coastal drive to visit ancient Lindisfarne and mighty Alnwick Castle, star of the Harry Potter movies and Downton Abbey
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle and the Northumberland Coast - 1 day tour
About this Tour
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle and the Northumberland Coast
One day tour
Enjoy a scenic coastal tour into the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria in England’s North East. Stop to visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, once a centre of religious teaching. Travel on to Alnwick to explore the medieval market and stunning castle which featured in the Harry Potter movies. Return to Edinburgh via Coldstream.
East Lothian - enjoy the rolling farmlands, quaint villages and coastal views
Lindisfarne - drive across the tidal causeway to visit the ancient priory and castle, home to a wealth of history
Alnwick - visit this bustling medieval market town to stroll along the cobbled streets and browse the eclectic range of shops
Alnwick Castle - discover this impressive castle, home to the Percy family and the location for Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter movies
Flodden Field - see the site of the largest battle ever fought between the Scottish and English armies
Coldstream - cross the bridge that’s half in Scotland and half in England
Movie locations - Doors Open, Solomon Kane and Harry Potter
Full Tour Itinerary
From Edinburgh, we travel through the gentle farmlands of East Lothian towards the historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
We cross the border into England and make our way along the Northumbria coast to the Holy Island, our first stop. Linked to the mainland by a causeway, the picturesque village of Lindisfarne provides amazing views of Lindisfarne Castle, which dates from 1550. Take time to explore the ruins of the Priory, where the exquisite Lindisfarne Gospels were created.
During your time here, why not try a taste of the celebrated Lindisfarne Mead, which is brewed here by the Monks who live on this tranquil island.
Our tour continues southwards to the busy market town of Alnwick. Here you can either visit Alnwick Castle or spend time in the town. There is much to do in Alnwick. Explore the local museum, which brings the fascinating history of Northumbria to life. Wander the twisting cobbled streets and explore the many locally owned shops, including one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Britain!
Mighty Alnwick Castle has been the seat of the Percy Family for more than 700 years. It’s one of Britain’s most celebrated castles and is affectionately known as “The Windsor of the North”! Explore the outstanding gardens which include one of the largest treehouses in the World, exquisite water sculptures and the fascinating Poison Garden.
The castle has starred in many TV programmes and movies, including Blackadder, Downton Abbey and, of course, the Harry Potter films.
On our way through the English border country, we’ll pass historic Flodden Field, the site of a momentous battle in 1513 between the Scottish and English Armies. England was victorious, and amongst the many casualties that day was King James IV of Scotland, who was killed during the battle.
At Coldstream, we cross the meandering River Tweed and return to Scotland. From here we travel through the Lammermuir Hills and back to Edinburgh.
Details
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Live commentary in English.
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
What's NOT Included
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure Information
Outside NCP Car Park
Castle Terrace
Edinburgh EH1 2EW
Check-in: 08:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 18:15 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 4 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 4 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 48 hours notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
TB 02922
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From £56.00
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle and the Northumberland Coast
Enjoy a scenic coastal drive to visit ancient Lindisfarne and mighty Alnwick Castle, star of the Harry Potter movies and Downton Abbey
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland and England from your city centre base.
During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more.
Luxury travel is provided by air-conditioned mini or midi coaches and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English.
There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
The tour fare includes transportation by luxury mini or midicoach and the services of a professional driver/guide. Admission to the attractions featured on this tour is optional so you can choose to visit or not depending on your interests. The tour itinerary will allow time for you to enjoy visits to:
Alnwick Castle and Gardens
Lindisfarne Priory
The links above will give you more information on these attractions as well as current prices. On some tours discounted prices are available to tour passengers - your driver/guide will provide more information if this applies. Not all attractions accept payment by credit or debit card so you should carry sufficient cash should you be planning a visit.
How many people will be in the group?
The group size is normally between 16 and 33 passengers, however at times of peak demand larger coaches may be used.
Do you offer a hotel pick-up service on this tour?
We know that you will want to start your tour straight away rather than spending valuable time travelling around hotels.
By offering a single centrally located departure point we can get you to Scotland’s best scenery as quickly as possible .
I’ve missed my tour because I was late, can I get a refund?
We’re sorry but refunds or credits won’t be issued if you miss your tour because you are not at the departure point on time.
In fairness to all our passengers coaches will not wait if you are late.
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 12 Sep 2025
A great day trip and guide and Alnick Castle and grounds fantastic
Chris from Dartmouth, GB
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Rating: (4 /5) 12 Sep 2025
We liked the tour, but it was very fast paced! It was nice to get a sampler of the 3 sites on the itinerary, however we decided we would need to take individual trips to each place in order to take in everything. Lindisfarne was our favorite part! We visited the abbey and saw a team of archeologists digging up some graves! So cool!
Erin from Mount Vernon, US
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Rating: (5 /5) 30 Aug 2025
The time allowed on Holy Island, while short, was very interesting and our guide (Shug) gave us a lot of additional information to make it come to life.
Gareth from Ajax, CA
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