Northumberland is a historic county in North East England known for its castles, Roman heritage, rugged coastline, and rich cultural links with Scotland, offering diverse landscapes and accessible transport options.
Cragside is a Victorian Tudor Revival country house in Northumberland, renowned as the first house powered by hydroelectricity. It features innovative hydraulic technology, distinctive historic interiors, and extensive gardens with woodland and rhododendrons. Visitors can explore both the house's indoor heritage and the surrounding outdoor grounds and estate.
Kelso Abbey is a historic ruined abbey in Kelso, Scottish Borders, dating from the 12th century, featuring impressive Romanesque architecture and significant medieval history. The site is open to the public with free entry and includes notable ruins such as the west tower and crossings, set near the confluence of the Rivers Tweed and Teviot.
Gibside is a historic Georgian country estate in Tyne and Wear featuring landscaped parkland, architectural ruins, and restored buildings such as the Palladian chapel and Banqueting House. Visitors can explore both outdoor grounds and significant indoor heritage structures.
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
A sociable guided health walk around Gibside, with opportunities to enjoy the views and spot wildlife. The route is adapted to the group and may cover up to five miles.
Milecastle 49 (Harrows Scar) is a Roman fortification on Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria, featuring remains of stone defensive walls and associated turrets. It offers outdoor exploration of an ancient Roman frontier site managed by English Heritage.
Seaton Delaval Hall is a Grade I listed English Baroque country house in Northumberland, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1718. Visitors can explore its historic architecture, fire-damaged central block, extensive 18th-century gardens, and estate features like a stone mausoleum and orangery. The venue is owned and maintained by the National Trust and offers both indoor and outdoor experiences.
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Historian Rory Fraser discusses the life and character of architect John Vanbrugh, drawing on his research into Vanbrugh’s time in India. The approximately 45-minute talk is followed by a Q&A.
Aydon Castle is a fortified manor house near Corbridge, Northumberland, dating back to 1296. It features historical medieval architecture and offers a mix of indoor historical exhibits and outdoor grounds. The site is managed by English Heritage and open to the public as a historic attraction.
Condercum is a Roman fort site on Hadrian's Wall in Newcastle upon Tyne with visible remains including a causeway and temple, reflecting ancient military and religious life.
Derwentcote Steel Furnace is an early 18th-century cementation furnace near Newcastle upon Tyne, preserved as a Grade I listed industrial monument and scheduled site, showcasing historic steel production methods.
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
Join walk leaders for a relaxed, approximately one-mile stroll along Gibside Avenue. The walk takes place every Tuesday and is described as a gentle health walk.
Dere Street is a historic Roman road running from York, England, through Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, extending to the Antonine Wall in Scotland. Visitors can explore its ancient route, which includes visible remains, archaeological sites, and connections to Roman forts and later medieval usage. The route is primarily an outdoor experience along historic and rural landscapes.
Brinkburn Priory is a historic former Augustinian monastery dating from the 12th century, featuring a largely medieval church restored in the 19th century and a manor house built on the site of other monastic buildings. Visitors can explore the notable architectural blend of Norman and Gothic styles both indoors and outdoors within the scenic riverside setting in Northumberland.
Housesteads Roman Fort, located on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England, is a remarkably well-preserved Roman fort dating back to around 124 AD. Visitors can explore both extensive outdoor ruins and an indoor site museum showcasing Roman artefacts, providing insight into over 300 years of Roman military history in Britain.
Etal Castle is a medieval ruined castle in Northumberland, England, featuring a residential tower, gatehouse, and curtain walls. It played a role in the Anglo-Scottish Wars and is now managed by English Heritage and open to the public as a historic ruin.
The Farne Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Northumberland, England, known for their rich wildlife including seabird colonies and grey seals, historic monastic sites and lighthouses, and popular diving shipwrecks. Managed by the National Trust, the islands offer a remarkable natural and historical outdoor experience.
Smailholm Tower is a 15th-century peel tower in the Scottish Borders, now a museum displaying the history of the region and the stories of Sir Walter Scott through detailed model figures. Visitors can explore the four-storey tower house, its historic architecture, and enjoy panoramic views from its dramatic hilltop position.
Pike Hill Signal Tower is an archaeological site featuring the remains of a Roman signal tower incorporated into Hadrian's Wall, offering visitors insight into Roman military frontier defenses in Cumbria.
Greenknowe Tower is a roofless 16th-century tower house ruin in the Scottish Borders, noted for its well-preserved stonework and architectural features, set on a natural mound with historical defensive marshland surroundings.
Bessie Surtees House is a group of historic 16th and 17th century merchant houses in Newcastle upon Tyne, featuring Jacobean architecture, exhibitions on their history, and serving as the North East regional office of Historic England. The houses are Grade I listed and open to the public during special events.
Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England, is a historically rich market town known for its vibrant arts and cultural scene including the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. It features a walkable town centre, excellent rail and public transport connections, and notable landmarks such as the Angel of the North and Gateshead Millennium Bridge.
Leahill Turret is a Roman lookout tower ruin located on Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria, offering historical and archaeological interest as part of the famed Roman frontier structure with accessible outdoor exploration.
Cherryburn is an 18th-century historic cottage and museum in Northumberland, birthplace of wood engraver Thomas Bewick, featuring period furnishings, original artworks, and printing demonstrations.
Penshaw Monument is a Grade I listed Greek-style Doric temple folly on Penshaw Hill near Sunderland, England. It commemorates the Earl of Durham and features 18 columns, a spiral staircase leading to a parapeted walkway, and expansive views. Owned by the National Trust, it is a prominent North East England landmark with guided tours, cultural significance, and nighttime floodlighting.
Washington is a historic new town in Tyne and Wear, England, known for its ancestral links to George Washington and a variety of cultural, industrial, and natural attractions.
Jedburgh Abbey is a historic ruined Augustinian abbey founded in the 12th century, located in Jedburgh, Scottish Borders. Visitors can explore extensive abbey ruins showcasing Norman and early English architecture, part of a popular regional walking route.
Washington Old Hall is a historic 12th-century manor house in Washington, Tyne and Wear, England, notable as the ancestral home of George Washington's family. Preserved and managed by the National Trust, it offers an indoor historical experience focused on England's medieval and early modern heritage.
Lindisfarne Castle is a historic 16th-century castle on Holy Island in Northumberland, featuring architectural renovations by Edwin Lutyens and a renowned garden by Gertrude Jekyll. Visitors can explore both the fortified interiors and the scenic outdoor island setting, rich in history and coastal views.
Edlingham Castle is a Grade I listed medieval fortified manor house ruin in Northumberland, managed by English Heritage, notable for its solar tower and historical significance in border warfare. Visitors can explore the ruins and learn from on-site interpretation and nearby historic church leaflets.
Berwick Barracks in Berwick-upon-Tweed is a former 18th-century military installation now maintained by English Heritage, featuring a museum on British infantry history and King's Own Scottish Borderers heritage within historic Grade I listed buildings.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a historic border town in Northumberland, England, known for its unique heritage as a former contested territory between England and Scotland, with notable medieval town walls, a market town atmosphere, and a vibrant cultural identity blending English and Scottish influences.
Birdoswald Roman Fort is a well-preserved Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria, offering a combination of outdoor archaeological remains and indoor exhibitions at the visitor centre explaining Roman military history and life.
Berwick town walls are historic defensive structures surrounding Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, featuring both medieval and Elizabethan fortifications. They represent some of the best-preserved post-medieval town defences in Britain, including notable bastions and gates, offering an outdoor historical exploration experience.
Planetrees is a preserved 35m section of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland showcasing Roman military architecture with both Broad and Narrow Wall construction, accessible via Hadrian's Wall National Trail.
Prudhoe Castle is a ruined medieval castle on the south bank of the River Tyne in Northumberland, featuring historic stone structures including a 12th-century gatehouse, keep, and a 14th-century barbican, reflecting its Norman origins and historical significance under the Umfraville and Percy families. Open to the public under English Heritage care, it offers outdoor exploration of its ruins and grounds.
Prudhoe is a historic town in Northumberland featuring the well-preserved Prudhoe Castle, scenic river views along the Tyne, chalk hill landscapes, and a vibrant local culture with museums and recreational parks for walking and cycling.
Wallington Hall is a Grade I listed Palladian country house with rococo interiors and historic murals set in 100 acres of parkland and gardens in Northumberland, featuring wildlife reintroductions and cultural heritage exhibits.
Belsay Castle is a 14th-century medieval pele tower with attached manor house ruins, situated in Northumberland and managed by English Heritage, offering visitors a mix of historic architecture and garden party history.
16 Oct (next Friday)
Join a guided tour and talk in Wallington House to learn how women who lived or spent time there influenced its history and appearance.
George Stephenson's Birthplace is an 18th-century stone cottage in Wylam, Northumberland, showcasing the home of the rail pioneer and featuring exhibits about early steam locomotives. It is a historic house museum owned by the National Trust, though currently not open to the public.
Milecastle 48 is a Roman milecastle on Hadrian's Wall near Gilsland in Cumbria, featuring well-preserved stone stairs and two associated turrets, offering an outdoor historical experience managed by English Heritage.
Warkworth Castle is a ruined medieval motte and bailey castle in Northumberland, England, featuring a distinctive 14th-century keep and extensive curtain walls. Visitors can explore the outdoor medieval ruins including the gatehouse, towers, great hall, and remains of an unfinished collegiate church.
Dryburgh Abbey is the historic ruins of a Premonstratensian monastery in the Scottish Borders, notable for its scenic riverside location, significant medieval history, and being the burial place of Sir Walter Scott and Earl Haig. The site forms part of the Borders Abbeys Way walking route.
Corbridge Roman Site is an ancient Roman fort and town situated near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England, featuring partially exposed ruins and a visitor museum managed by English Heritage, showcasing a strategic military and civilian settlement at the junction of major Roman roads.
Dunstanburgh Castle is a historic 14th-century ruined medieval castle located on the Northumberland coast. Visitors can explore extensive castle ruins including the prominent Great Gatehouse, set within a designed medieval landscape with artificial lakes and coastal views. The site also features WWII defensive structures and is part of a protected natural area, owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage.
Warkworth Hermitage is a historic 14th-century chapel and priest's house carved into a sandstone cliff on the River Coquet bank, featuring religious carvings and accessible by ferry from Warkworth Castle, managed by English Heritage.
Finchale Priory is a historic Benedictine monastery ruin located by the River Wear near Durham, featuring extensive medieval remains and a hermitage site, managed by English Heritage for public visits.
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
Join a guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens to explore Durham’s history, from its Anglo-Saxon origins onwards. The approximately two-mile route visits the city centre before returning to the gardens.
Milecastle 45 is the site of a Roman milecastle on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England. Visitors can explore the visible earthwork remains and two associated turrets accessible via the Hadrian's Wall Path, situated atop Walltown Crags in a scenic outdoor setting.
Norham Castle is a historic ruined castle in Northumberland, England, situated overlooking the River Tweed. It is known for its role in the Anglo-Scottish wars, medieval fortifications, and its scenic location. The castle is maintained by English Heritage and open to visitors.
The Northumberland Coast National Landscape is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty featuring 40 miles of varied coastal scenery including beaches, dunes, cliffs, historic castles, and nature reserves along the northeast England coast.
Cilurnum (Chesters Roman Fort) is a well-preserved Roman cavalry fort on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, featuring extensive ruins of the fort, baths, and a museum showcasing Roman finds, offering both indoor and outdoor historical exploration.
Hadrian's Wall is a historic Roman defensive fortification running across northern England, featuring ruins of forts, milecastles, and turrets. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site notable for cultural and historical significance, with a popular walking trail following its route.