Bamburgh Castle
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Bamburgh Castle is a coastal fortress beside Bamburgh village in Northumberland, on England’s northeast coast, atop a volcanic dolerite crag.
Menu & prices
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What's on here
Gory Stories - Halloween at Bamburgh Castle
Until 31 Oct
Allstar Choir - Halloween at Bamburgh Castle
Saturday, 12:30
Tails & Tales - Indoor Sculpture Trail
Until 1 Nov
'The Last Kingdom' TV Props and Costume Display
Until 1 Nov
Crafts for kids - Halloween at Bamburgh Castle
Until 1 Nov
A Christmas Carousel - Christmas Installation 2026
14 Nov – 3 Jan 2027
Father Christmas Experience 2026
28 Nov – 23 Dec19.95 GBP
Spices, Salves & Seasonal Scents – A Historical Winter Wellness…
Saturday, 11:00
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Why go
- Nine acres of rocky plateau rise above the Northumberland coast.
- Bebbanburg is Uhtred’s home in Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories.
- The Armstrong family still lives in the castle and preserves its contents.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 17:00Show all
Monday10:00 – 17:00
Tuesday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00
Don't miss
- Great Kitchen, King’s Hall, Captain’s Lodging and ArmouryExplore these named castle rooms.
- KeepThe castle’s central stronghold remains its heart today.
- Armstrong collectionSee Armstrong’s collection of artwork, ceramics and objets d’art.Inside the castle
Know before you go
- The castle is closed on 13 November.
Legends and hidden details
- The ballad The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh, written around 1270, features the castle.
- Thomas Malory linked the castle with Joyous Gard, the legendary home of Sir Lancelot.
- According to the Historia Brittonum, Æthelfrith gave the castle to his wife Bebba; her name may have inspired Bamburgh.
Tips for your visit
- Book castle tickets through the castle website.
- At St Aidan’s Church, view the reinterred Bowl Hole remains through a small gate, without entering the crypt.
Interesting facts2
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Films shot here include Elizabeth and Transformers: The Last Knight.
Bamburgh Castle - Wikipedia -
After the Siege of Acre, Richard I appointed Sir John Forster the castle’s first governor.
Bamburgh Castle - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Bamburgh CastleReliron
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Bamburgh Castle Great Hall - The Last Kingdom - Bebbanburg Exhibition…Waltham Wayfarers
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Bamburgh Castle, UK - one of the most inhabited castle in the country.DroneWanderer
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The Last Kingdom Real place : Bamburgh CastleBritain Traveller
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Bamburgh Castle. On the trail of Utred! ⚔️ Northumberland, England.Faces of the Forgotten
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Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland EnglandVisit Places
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Bamburgh Castle: The Fortress That Ruled a KingdomAncient Age and Mysteries
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Uhtred, son of Uhtred's birthright. Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland.wanderingRJT
History
Under Dr John Sharp, the castle served as a pharmacy, surgery, hospital and free school. Excavations at the Bowl Hole uncovered remains of 120 people from the seventh and eighth centuries, with origins spanning Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and North Africa.
- 5th centuryA Brittonic fort called Din Guarie occupied the site.
- 547Ida of Bernicia captured the citadel and made it his seat.
- 993Vikings destroyed the original fortifications.
- 1095William II unsuccessfully besieged the castle during a revolt backed by Robert de Mowbray. After de Mowbray was captured, his wife surrendered when the king threatened to blind him.
- 1164The keep, probably built by Henry II, was complete.
Show all
- 1346David II was held prisoner at the castle after the Scots lost the Battle of Neville’s Cross.
- 1464After a nine-month siege, it became the first British castle captured by gunfire.
- 18th centuryThe castle was converted into a residence.
- 1786Dr John Sharp established a coastguard station and launched Bamburgh’s first lifeboat.
- 1894–1905William Armstrong bought the castle and began restoration in 1894. His great-nephew completed the work after Armstrong’s death.
- 1960sArchaeologist Brian Hope-Taylor’s excavations uncovered the Bamburgh Beast plaque and Bamburgh Sword.
- 1996The Bamburgh Research Project began archaeological and historical research at the castle and nearby.
- 2016The remains from the Bowl Hole were moved to the crypt of St Aidan’s Church.
Photo spots
- Castle ridgeViews along the coast toward Seahouses and Lindisfarne.Castle ridge
How to get there
- ParkingPaid parking is available at the castle; you can also walk from free parking sites.
Sources: Bamburgh Castle - Wikipedia · Seahouses - Wikivoyage (see) · Homepage - Bamburgh Castle · Homepage - Bamburgh Castle · The Castle - Bamburgh Castle · Bamburgh Castle - Wikipedia · Château de Bamburgh - Wikipedia · Bamburgh Castle: booking (its own site) · Bamburgh Castle: menu (its own site) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Where
Bamburgh Castle Bamburgh, Bamburgh
- Website
- bamburghcastle.com/
- Phone
- +441668214208
Questions and answers
Does Bamburgh Castle offer holiday accommodation?
Yes. The castle has self-catering holiday accommodation.
Can you hold a wedding at Bamburgh Castle?
Yes. The castle hosts weddings and events.
Who owns Bamburgh Castle?
The Armstrong family owns the castle and still lives there.
Why is Bamburgh Castle called Bamburgh?
A story in the Historia Brittonum says Æthelfrith gave the castle to his wife Bebba. Her name may have inspired Bamburgh.
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