20 Attractions to Explore Near Preston Tower, Northumberland

Dunstanburgh Castle stands on a remote headland in Northumberland. The castle was built at a time when relations between King Edward II and his most powerful baron, Earl Thomas of Lancaster, had become openly hostile. Lancaster began the fortress in 1313, and the latest archaeological research indicates that he built it on a far grander scale than was originally recognised, perhaps more as a symbol of his opposition to the king than as a military stronghold.

The RNLI Grace Darling Museum tells the incredible story of this fearless young woman who became a reluctant celebrity. Explore Grace's upbringing and life in the lighthouse, the events of the rescue that propelled her into the limelight and her status as a national heroine. During your visit you'll discover personal items of the Darling family, including the famous boat that Grace and her father used during the rescue.

Bamburgh Castle is a castle on the northeast coast of England, by the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland. It is a Grade I listed building. The site was originally the location of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the kingdom of Bernicia from its foundation in c. 420 to 547. After passing between the Britons and the Anglo-Saxons three times, the fort came under Anglo-Saxon control in 590.

Bamburgh Beach is a Sandy beach located near Alnwick in Northumberland. It is the perfect place to go for a walk after a visit to the village of Bamburgh. walk along the beach in a northerly direction brings the visitor to Stags Rocks, so named because of the white stag painted on the rocks. There are some interesting rock pools in this area of the beach and a small lighthouse - the most northerly of its kind in mainland England.

Hulne Priory was founded in 1240 by Carmelite monks, making it perhaps the first Carmelite priory in England. The priory is situated in Hulne Park, a walled park covering several thousand acres which belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is close to Alnwick Castle. Originally a hunting park, and still used by the Duke for shooting, it now contains woods, moors, stretches of open grassland and Alnwick's home farm.

Howick Hall Gardens & Arboretum is the ancestral seat of the Earls Grey since 1319. Discover the history of the 2nd Earl, after whom the famous tea is named, wander through the beautiful gardens created by the 5th Earl Grey and his family or for the more energetic explore the arboretum a united nations of shrubs and trees covering over 65 acres. Take a rest from exploring in the Earl Grey Tea House for a bite to eat and a cup of Earl Grey Tea.

Budle Bay is a 1 mile wide bay on the North Sea in Northumberland. It is one of the best bird watching locations in Britain. The vast mud flats exposed at low tide form part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and this rich feeding ground is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The whole area is part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and is very popular with birdwatchers, particularly in the winter when thousands of wildfowl and waders spend their winter on the bay's mud fl

Hulne Park is a large country park to the north-west of Alnwick, and part of the Duke of Northumberland's estates. It covers about 3,000 acres around the River Aln with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown in the 19th century. The Park consists of estate forestry, farm and sawmills. In the midst of Hulne Park there is a Priory, Brizlee Tower built in 1781 and Alnwick Abbey. One of the iconic attractions in this area and gives people a peaceout from thebusy life.

Bailiffgate is an award-winning people's museum, where fascinating stories of the past are told about Alnwick and District. Its Gallery hosts an inspiring programme of art, textile and history-based exhibitions. Established in 2002, it is located in a Grade 2 listed former church in the medieval market town of Alnwick and is a People’s Museum that celebrates and preserves local heritage.

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the country and has been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, for over 700 years. The Castle’s rich history is brimming with drama, intrigue and extraordinary people; from a gunpowder plotter and visionary collectors, to decadent hosts and medieval England’s most celebrated knight: Harry Hotspur. t is a Grade I listed building[1] and as of 2012 received over 800,000 visitors per year when combined with adjacent attracti

The Alnwick Garden is one of the world’s most ambitious new gardens. The Garden is a space designed to be enjoyed by all your senses, with a collection of over 4,000 plant varieties to discover, thousands of seasonal blooms and countless opportunities to get wet and play in The Garden’s water sculptures. Visitors are strictly prohibited from smelling, touching, or tasting any plants, although some people still occasionally faint from inhaling toxic fumes while walking in the garden.

The Alnwick Garden is one of north England's most beautiful attractions, where acres of colorful plants invite visitors to wander through rows of fragrant roses, manicured topiaries and cascading fountains. But within Alnwick's boundaries, kept behind black iron gates, is a place where visitors are explicitly told not to stop and smell the flowers: the Poison Garden, home to 100 infamous killers.

Chillingham Castle is a 13th century, Grade 1 Star-listed stronghold in Northumberland, famed for action and battles. See Chillingham's alarming dungeons as well as active restoration in the Great Halls and State Rooms which are gradually brought back to life with tapestries, arms and armour. A large enclosed park in the castle grounds is home to the Chillingham cattle, a rare breed, consisting of about 90 head of white cattle.

The Longstone Lighthouse is situated on Longstone Rock, one of the Outer Staple Islands. It was built by Trinity House in 1826 on the Longstone Rock for the welfare of shipping off the Northumberland coast. The lighthouse is best known for the 1838 wreck of the Forfarshire and the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, in rescuing survivors.

St Cuthbert’s Cave, nestled away in the remote countryside of Belford, oozes mystery due to its spiritual past.It is said that the ancient monks of Lindisfarne laid St Cuthbert’s body to rest here in AD875, the reputable saint who possessed the power of spiritual healing. The woodlands and cave are the property of the National Trust. The cave is formed of overhanging rock, sufficiently large to provide shelter for a small group.

Alnmouth has a fine beach that is split into three distinct sections within Alnmouth Bay.The main beach and the one used by most visitors stretches from the north side of the mouth of the River Aln, alongside the village and golf course to Marden Rocks. It is very popular with tourists and locals all year round.

Lindisfarne Castle was built in the mid-1500s, on top of a volcanic plug known as Beblowe Crag, using stones robbed borrowed from Lindisfarne Priory. It was occupied by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War and it was seized and briefly held by two Jacobites in 1715. In the early twentieth century it was transformed into a stylish residence by the owner of Country life magazine.

Lindisfarne Priory, the original home to the Lindisfarne Gospels, was one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. Founded by St Aidan in AD635, the site owes its fame to St Cuthbert, the greatest of Northumbrian holy men, who lived and died there. Stroll around the Monastic buildings which formed the living quarters of the monks, the remote setting adds to the unique atmosphere of the Priory.

Holy Island is situated off the Northumberland coast in the north east of England, just a few miles south of the border with Scotland. The island is linked to the mainland by a causeway which twice a day is covered by the tide. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD; it was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England,

Edlingham Castle is a small castle ruin, having Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building status, in the care of English Heritage. It has been described as "...one of the most interesting in the county", by Nikolaus Pevsner, the architectural historian. Edlingham itself is little more than a hamlet with a church alongside the castle.