Day trip

From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

4.5  / 5544 reviews
Activity provider:Timberbush Tours
photo-gallery
photo-collagephoto-collagephoto-collagephoto-collage
Add to wishlist
Day trip

From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

Activity provider:Timberbush Tours
4.5  / 5544 reviews
Likely to sell out

From US$ 66.87 per person

Likely to sell out
Eco-certified
This activity, attraction, or activity provider has been certified eco-friendly by a third-party agency. GetYourGuide works with organizations from all over the world to bring you tours and activities that support sustainable practices.

Take a scenic, coastal route into the Kingdom of Northumbria; visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and explore the medieval market town of Alnwick's stunning castle and gardens.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 9 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Driver
English

Experience

Highlights
  • Visit the beautiful Alnwick Castle, known as the "Windsor of the North".
  • Sample the famous 'Lindisfarne Mead', brewed by the monks on Holy Island.
  • Experience the Grand Cascada at Alnwick Gardens and their poison gardens!
Full description

Join a day trip from Edinburgh to the medieval kingdom of Northumbria in North-East England. Visit Lindisfarne, once the most important center of religious learning in the British Isles. Explore the market town of Alnwick and its castle where scenes from Harry Potter and Downton Abbey were filmed.

Meet your guide, hop on a bus, and make your way to your first stop, Holy Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway that leads into the quaint island village of Lindisfarne. Soak in stunning views of Lindisfarne Castle dating back to 1550.

Spend time wandering through the ruins of its Priory where the Lindisfarne Gospels were produced. Sample some of the world-famous Lindisfarne ‘mead’ brewed by monks on the island, and enjoy the tranquility for which the island is renowned. Continue south passing Bamburgh, the ancient capital of Northumbria, then on to the bustling market town of Alnwick, whose greatest building is the medieval Alnwick Castle. Enjoy time in the town center or visit the castle complex which was home to the Percy Family for over 700 years.

If you decide to visit the castle, step into the unexpected in the Alnwick Garden with its Grand Cascade fountain and Poison Gardens. The castle grounds were also used in the TV series Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films. In the mid-afternoon, begin the drive north to cross the River Tweed and back into Scotland at the historic border town of Coldstream. If time permits, stop at Flodden Field, the scene of the infamous battle of 1513, which ended in victory for the English and the death of James IV, King of Scots.

Includes
  • Transportation in an air-conditioned bus
  • Driver-guide
  • Live commentary
  • Meals and drinks
  • Entry to attractions
Not suitable for
  • Children under 4 years
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

You can find the Edinburgh departure and return point outside the green Ensign Ewart pub, at 521-523 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2PE. There is currently a shortage of taxis and private hire cabs in Edinburgh, which may make it harder to get to the departure point if you're thinking of using a taxi. It is strongly recommended that you allow for more time to reach the departure point in the morning and look into public transport options as a backup.

Open in Google Maps ⟶
Important information

What to bring

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)

Know before you go

  • The tour routing and availability are subject to the tidal timetable at Lindisfarne. This occasionally results in the tour having to run in reverse
  • Due to tide times on the following dates, this tour will not visit Holy Island: May 16, May 31, June 14, June 15, June 30, July 14, August 28, September 26, October 25, and October 26
  • Unfortunately, children under 4 years old are not permitted on this tour
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated provided the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark the bus

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 544 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.6/5
  • Transportation
    4.5/5
  • Service
    4.6/5
  • Organization
    4.6/5

Filter

By star rating

Sort by:

We had Paul B. as our guide. Very funny and friendly. I loved the fact that he talked all the way while driving about Scotland, history, language, traditions, gallic language and so on. Very rich in knowledge. I loved the Holy Island but the Alnwick castle was pretty boring so I would have preferred to spend more time on the Island than at Alnwick. Overall a nice experience.

Read more

September 2, 2023

M
Madalina – NorwayVerified booking

Helpful?

Jamie provided a very smooth journey. Ross was humourous and information. Both the Holy Island and Alnwick Castle were great visits, however it seems there was not enough time to appreciate the sights in the both locations and we had to rush through. The castle and town is a great place to hang out place for the family for a day.

August 30, 2023

C
Clara – SingaporeVerified booking

Helpful?

We really enjoyed our trip. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable. We would have preferred an extra hour on Holy Island and an hour less at Alnwick Castle though, as the queue was quite long and we didn’t feel we had enough time to enjoy Lindisfarne Priory. Other than that, it was marvellous.

August 23, 2023

C
Cate – United KingdomVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 12659

Top Attractions in North East England

Things to Do in North East England

Cities in North East England

Top destinations

Popular on GetYourGuide

Popular Attractions