Getting to Alnwick
How to reach Alnwick by train, bus, car, or bicycle.
Nearest railway station
Alnwick has no railway station of its own: the town's station closed in 1968, and its building is now Barter Books. The nearest station is Alnmouth, signed Alnmouth for Alnwick, on the East Coast main line between London and Edinburgh, about 5km (3 miles) south-east of the Market Place in a straight line and about four miles by road, as the castle and the Bailiffgate Museum both put it. The Aln Valley Railway lists LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express trains there. From the station, walk out to the Alnmouth Station (Curly Lane) bus stop, about 110 metres from the station building, for the Arriva X20 in the daytime from Monday to Saturday or the X18 in the evenings and on Sundays; on the timetable read on 16 October 2026 both ran roughly hourly and took about 13 minutes to Alnwick bus station. A taxi is the other option, and the castle recommends booking one ahead. The Aln Valley Railway is a heritage line that runs from Lionheart, on the edge of Alnwick, towards Alnmouth but stops about a mile short, so it is not a way to reach the main line.
- Nearest station
- Alnmouth (ALM), signed Alnmouth for Alnwick; South View, Lesbury NE66 3QF; about 5km (3 miles) south-east of Alnwick in a straight line, about 4 miles by road
- Line
- East Coast main line, London King's Cross to Edinburgh
- Station facilities
- Ticket office, step-free access to all platforms, 76 parking spaces, toilets including a Changing Places toilet (National Rail station page)
- Bus from the station
- Alnmouth Station (Curly Lane) stop, about 110 metres from the station: Arriva X20 Monday to Saturday daytime, X18 evenings and Sundays, about 13 minutes to Alnwick bus station
- In Alnwick
- No station. Buses stop at the bus station, on Bondgate Without by the Playhouse and opposite Barter Books
Tips
- •On the timetable read on 16 October 2026 the last X20 left Alnmouth Station for Alnwick at 18.39 on weekdays; after that the X18 ran roughly hourly until late. Check Arriva or bustimes.org on the day.
- •The X20 does not run on Sundays; the X18 covers the station on Sundays.
- •Show your train or bus ticket at Alnwick Castle for 20% off admission.
- •The station ticket office opened 06.40 to 18.00 Monday to Saturday and 10.20 to 21.30 on Sundays when read on 16 October 2026.
Buses
Arriva's X15, X18 and X20 link Alnwick with Newcastle's Haymarket bus station, and the castle notes that the castle is a five-minute walk from Alnwick bus station. The X15 runs Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick; the X18 runs Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnwick, Seahouses and Berwick, calling at Alnmouth village and station; the X20 runs Newcastle, Ashington, Alnmouth Station and Alnwick. In town the buses use the bus station and stops on Bondgate Without by the Playhouse and opposite Barter Books, and the X18 and X20 also stop opposite the Infirmary. The Aln Valley Railway says the X15 stops at the entrance to the Lionheart Enterprise Park, a short walk from its station.
- X15
- Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnwick, Berwick (Arriva Northumbria)
- X18
- Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Seahouses, Berwick (Arriva Northumbria)
- X20
- Newcastle, Ashington, Alnmouth Station, Alnwick; no Sunday service on the timetable read on 16 October 2026 (Arriva Northumbria)
- Alnwick stops
- Bus station, Bondgate Without by the Playhouse, opposite Barter Books, Green Batt, Bailiffgate
Tips
- •From Newcastle all three routes leave from Haymarket bus station.
- •The Barter Books stop is the one for the bookshop and the Garden is a short walk from the Playhouse stop.
Useful Links
Driving and parking
Alnwick sits just off the A1. The castle and the garden share an official car park, which the castle says charges £3.75 for the day from 9am, card and contactless only. The garden asks sat-nav users to follow NE66 3RA for the right A1 exit and then the brown signs. The Bailiffgate Museum points to two-hour parking on the street outside and a large free all-day car park, postcode NE66 1DL, within walking distance of the museum, the castle, the garden and the shops. Parking at the Aln Valley Railway's Lionheart station is free.
- Route
- A1, then the Alnwick junctions
- Castle and garden car park
- £3.75 a day from 9am, card or contactless only (castle FAQ, read 16 October 2026)
- Free all-day car park
- Postcode NE66 1DL (Bailiffgate Museum's visit page)
- Garden sat nav
- Use NE66 3RA for the A1 exit, then follow the signs
Tips
- •The Bondgate Tower arch is narrow and takes traffic both ways; go slowly.
- •On Shrove Tuesday expect crowds around the castle and the Pastures from 2pm.
Cycling
National Cycle Route 1 passes near Alnmouth station, according to the Aln Valley Railway, which suggests riding up Bilton Bank from the station and turning right at Bilton Farm for Greenrigg Bridge, where a path and cycleway run beside the line towards Alnwick. Northumberland Estates' Lesbury Trail largely follows the old Aln Valley railway route and links Alnwick to the Sustrans cycleway. Bikes are not allowed in Hulne Park or inside the castle grounds.
- National route
- NCN 1 near Alnmouth station
- Into town
- Path and cycleway beside the Aln Valley Railway from Greenrigg Bridge
- Not allowed
- Hulne Park; Alnwick Castle grounds
Tips
- •Leave the bike outside the park: Hulne Park is walkers only.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Newcastle International AirportNCL
56 km away- Duration
- Allow at least an hour
- Cost
- Fuel and parking
The castle puts the airport about 35 miles away; journey time depends on traffic around Newcastle.
- Duration
- Allow 2 hours or more
- Cost
- Bus and Metro fares
Nexus says the Metro serves the airport; plan the change in Newcastle with a journey planner.
Operator: Arriva Northumbria and Nexus (Tyne and Wear Metro)
- Duration
- Use a journey planner; at least two changes
- Cost
- Rail and Metro fares
First take the X20 or X18 from Alnwick to Alnmouth Station.
Operator: East Coast main line operators and Nexus
Parking
Parking options in and around Alnwick. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden car park
£3.75 a day from 9am (castle FAQ, read 16 October 2026). The official car park for both attractions; card and contactless only.
Free all-day car park
Named by the Bailiffgate Museum as a large free all-day car park, postcode NE66 1DL, within walking distance of the museum, castle, garden and shops.
Bailiffgate street parking
Two hours. Two-hour street parking outside the Bailiffgate Museum, per the museum.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around United Kingdom.
Getting Around United Kingdom →