Alnwick Castle and the Border Country
One day tour
This amazing tour celebrates history on a grand scale with a visit Alnwick Castle, the home to the Duke of Northumberland's family, the Percys, for over 700 years. As a backdrop to Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films you’ll experience some movie magic too!
Price range: £39-£44
East Lothian - enjoy the gentle rolling hills and sweeping coastal views
Berwick-upon-Tweed - investigate this fascinating walled border town
Alnwick Castle - discover the exquisite interiors, unrivalled art collections and sprawling gardens
Alnwick - instead of visiting the castle spend time exploring the cobbled streets of this pleasant market town
Kelso - explore the ruined abbey that dates from 1128
River Tweed - see this magnificent river that flows through the Scottish Borders
Movie locations - Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Greystoke, the legend of Tarzan
Full Tour Itinerary
We leave Edinburgh behind and make our way through the rolling countryside of East Lothian. Enjoy amazing coastal views before we seamlessly cross the Border into England and drive to the picturesque town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. This thriving town has had a turbulent past having been captured no less than 13 times by the Scots and the English.
Our first stop is the beautiful coastal town of Bamburgh. This attractive village is dominated by its beautiful 5th Century Castle, once the seat of the Kings of Northumbria. During our time in the village why not seek out the story of Grace Darling, a famed heroine who rescued five people from a wrecked steamer. She is buried in nearby St Aidan’s Churchyard.
Later we travel to the main event, Alnwick Castle, the backdrop of Hogwarts School in the popular Harry Potter movies. There is so much for us to discover here. Admire the lavishly decorated rooms and beautiful architecture, explore the magnificent gardens or enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea in Europe’s largest treehouse! Spend time in the appealing market town of Alnwick, before crossing the River Tweed once more and returning back into Scotland.
The last stop of the day is in Coldstream a historic town that gave its name to the Coldstream Guards who often provide the guard at Buckingham Palace and other Royal residences. Our journey back to Edinburgh will take us through the Southern Uplands and the Lammermuir Hills.
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. Please note that tours to some destinations, particularly to Loch Ness, can be faster paced so the number and duration of stops may be limited.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
To give you maximum flexibility the cost of admission fees and other optional extras are not included in the tour price. This gives you complete freedom to choose as the mood takes you. On this tour the optional extras are: ( ) Please note these prices are given for guidance only and may be subject to change without notice. The age limit for child discounts can vary. Credit/debit cards are not always accepted so you should plan to have sufficient cash with you should you wish to purchase any of these optional extras.
This tour will visit England, do I need a passport?
Scotland and England are part of the United Kingdom so there are no Border formalities and you’ll not need a passport.
Do you offer a hotel pick-up service?
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 .
Can I book seats on the coach?
The seating on the coach is not allocated so you are free to sit in any vacant seat. We recommend that groups arrive at the boarding point together so that you can be seated in the same part of the coach.
Inclusions
- Transport by luxury air-conditioned mini/midicoach
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature unless stated above
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From 60 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1TB
Check-in: 07:45 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 17:30 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 5 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 5 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQ's
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HET 02867
