Alnwick Castle prepares for invasion of visitors with indoor reopening allowed

While the grounds surrounding the castle and outdoor activities re-started last month, visitors will now be able to see the magnificent State Rooms.

Marketing manager Olivia Telfer said: “Alnwick Castle’s mighty walls have held back hostile, murderous attacks in the past, but few threats have forced its doors to be closed for as long as Covid-19.

"Being able to welcome people into the house and State Rooms again is really great news and it is, by far, the most significant stage of our phased re-opening.”

“It’s like a siege has been lifted,” says State Rooms manager Daniel Watkins. “We have an outstanding collection of paintings and period furniture, which has been off limits for most of the last year. It is going to be special having people here to see inside the castle again.”

“For us, the biggest frustration has been the long delay of a special exhibition which should have opened in 2020. Now, at last Lions of the North can be seen. It’s going to be hugely popular with our first guests because it has unique artefacts which have never been seen before.”

“It’s been strange having no visitors inside the castle, but the interior brings its 950-year history alive, and we have missed sharing it.”

Visitors will be able to book a time slot for the State Rooms when they first arrive at the entrance.

Admission tickets must be booked in advance at https://www.alnwickcastle.com/

The dramatic events of the pandemic are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on your support through buying our newspaper. If you can, please pick up a copy of the newspaper when you are at the shops. Thank you.