Bamburgh Castle

Over het museum

Bamburgh Castle stands on a basalt outcrop above the North Sea. Its recorded story begins in the 6th century, when the kings of Northumbria made the rock their royal seat, and the site was fought over by Vikings and rival kingdoms. After the Norman conquest the Crown built a great keep here, which is still the heart of the castle, and Bamburgh became an important border garrison and a royal residence for several medieval kings.

In 1464, during the Wars of the Roses, the castle was battered by cannon fire and became the first in England to fall to gunpowder artillery. In 1610 James I gave it to Claudius Forster, and it was soon a near ruin. Through the Forster heiress and her husband Lord Crewe, a charitable trust took over the estate in the 18th century. The trustees repaired parts of it for use as a school, a surgery and one of the first coastguard stations.

In 1894 the industrialist William Armstrong bought the semi-derelict castle and began a costly restoration, completed after his death by his great-nephew. It remains a private home of the Armstrong family. Visitors see the state rooms, which hold the Armstrong collection of art, ceramics and arms, the keep, the dungeon and the Armstrong and Aviation Museum.

Hoogtepunten

• King's Hall and the state rooms
• Norman keep and dungeon
• Armstrong collection of art, ceramics and objets d'art
• Armstrong and Aviation Museum
• Battlements with views over the sea and the Farne Islands

Vaste collectie

• State Rooms – Rooms restored for William Armstrong, including the King's Hall, filled with his collection of art, ceramics and objets d'art.
• Armstrong and Aviation Museum – A museum in the west ward of the castle, covering the Armstrong industrial story and aviation artefacts.

Beheerder

Armstrong family (Bamburgh Castle Estate)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices apply until 8 November 2026. From 14 November the adult ticket costs £21, the child ticket £10.50, the accessibility adult ticket £15.50 and the family ticket £61.50. A carer aged 18 or over enters free with an accessibility ticket. There are no concession, military or similar discounts. Members of the Historic Houses Association (HHA) are welcome. The castle is not part of the National Trust or English Heritage. Card and contactless payment only. An annual pass is available.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The first five state rooms, including the King's Hall, can be reached by wheelchair via a ramp. Beyond the King's Hall there are many steps and narrow passages, and wheelchairs, walking aids and crutches are not allowed there; a film and audio-visual presentation shows the remaining rooms. A free shuttle buggy runs from the car park up the hill to the castle. A wheelchair can be borrowed at the ticket office, which has a hearing loop and a low counter. There are two accessible toilets in the grounds, one with a baby changing unit. The shop and the Clock Tower Café are not reachable by wheelchair, but the Tack Room takeaway in the stable yard is. Touch tours for visitors with visual impairments can be booked in advance. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the State Rooms, the Clock Tower Café and the Armstrong and Aviation Museum.

Kinderen & gezin

• Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
• Verschoonruimte

Pushchairs are not allowed in the State Rooms; baby carriers can be borrowed. A baby changing unit is in the accessible toilet in the stable block. Children under 5 enter free.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Bamburgh is 78 miles from Edinburgh and 51 miles from Newcastle. A free shuttle buggy takes visitors from the on-site car park to the castle, but cannot pick up in the village or the council car park.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

Clock Tower Café and Tack Room takeaway serve hot and cold food, with outdoor seating. The gift shop is below ground level. The site is cashless, so card payment only.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Weddings of all sizes, from small ceremonies to large celebrations, with elopement packages. Self-catering holiday accommodation is also offered on the estate.

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