The Best Things To Do In Bamburgh, Northumberland

Home to one of the best beaches in the UK with a towering castle unlike nowhere else in Europe, it’s no surprise that so many people fall in love with Bamburgh. Whether you’re planning a summer holiday to Northumberland or simply looking for a unique day trip, this is my guide to the best things to do in Bamburgh.

I’ll start immediately by declaring my undying and everlasting love for Bamburgh. I honestly think it’s one of the most beautiful villages in the whole of the UK and, whilst you’re spoilt for choice up here in Northumberland, there’s nothing that quite matches the charm of the village, the drama of the castle-dominated skyline and the wildness of its long golden beach and dunes. There’s a reason why Bamburgh has been voted the best seaside town in the UK for 2026 and the third best ‘one of a kind’ beach in the world – I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to find out exactly why for yourself.

I’ve visited Bamburgh now for around 10 years or so, as a couple, with friends, with our little puppy and now repeatedly as a family of four. Each and every time I’m blown away; the UK isn’t meant to look like this. The village is tiny but you’ll find incredible places to eat with some of the freshest seafood around, historic pubs, stone cottages, walled gardens and ancient churches – that’s before you look up to the imposing 1,400 year old castle and reach the pristine beach. This corner of Northumberland will always feel special to me, not only because Emma and I got married a short drive away, but because it absolutely defies the idiom ‘it’s grim up north’. Maybe I shouldn’t talk about Bamburgh and Northumberland too much as it still feels like a little secret haven and I, and almost all other visitors, want it to stay that way.

So, whether you’re visiting Northumberland for the first time or returning to this spectacular coastal village, there are plenty of things to do in Bamburgh and the surrounding areas to keep you, your family and the pooch, if you have one, busy. This is my guide to Bamburgh including all of the best things to do, some nice places to eat and drink, a little bit of practical information and, as is expected, some stunning photography.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN BAMBURGH

VISIT BAMBURGH CASTLE

Let’s start with the most obvious shall we? Bamburgh Castle is the star attraction of this tiny village and is what makes this place so special. No matter from which direction you approach Bamburgh, this imposing fortress makes itself known and can be seen for miles around; something pretty important when the primary role was to defend this corner of the kingdom from invasions. The castle has been destroyed many times over during its lengthy 1,400 year history and it wasn’t until the late 1800’s when William Armstrong purchased the castle and a huge restoration project began.

Nowadays, Bamburgh Castle is far more inviting. It’s home to the Armstrong family who thankfully have opened up the castle to the public with daily tours during which you can explore the State Rooms and the King’s Hall as well as many other rooms within the castle (around 14 plus all of the grounds). After the popular Netflix series, The Last Kingdom, which centred on Bebbanburg during the Anglo-Saxon period and Viking invasions, the castle now offer very special tours based around the series, including showcasing outfits and props used, as well as one focusing on the real Uhtred of Bebbanburg. It really doesn’t matter whether you’re into history or not, this castle is so special that everyone who visits should book a tour.

We visited during the spectacular 12 Days of Christmas event – the castle was decorated by theatrical designer Charlotte Lloyd-Webber to create something completely unique. It was a treat to pass through each room or little corner to see the different themes and, let me tell you, the Christmas Tree in the King’s Hall was just unbelievable.

Even if you don’t have time to explore inside Bamburgh Castle, there’s no escaping its presence here in Bamburgh. There’s the cricket pitch situated on the Castle Green from where Bamburgh Castle Cricket Club play regularly and it must be the most scenic cricket pitch in the whole world. In the village, wandering down between pubs or grabbing an ice cream in the summer heat, the castle is just there. On the beach, building replica castles made out of sand or paddling in the sea, the castle is there. There are so many different angles from which you can admire this beautiful castle and I promise you won’t be able to stop taking photos of it. My favourite viewpoints are from the north, along the Wynding, looking back towards the castle, from the south atop the sand dunes and absolutely from the air – one of my favourite reasons for getting back into drone photography.

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WANDER, PLAY & RELAX ON BAMBURGH BEACH

It’s hard to believe how nice Bamburgh Beach is. I honestly don’t think there’s a better beach in the North of England and I’m sure will give many of those in Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire a good run for their money. Bright white, soft sand that stretches for miles either way with the grand Bamburgh Castle above, this is a beach that is great for long walks, beach games, sunbathing and swimming. The tide here goes out so so far with a very gentle slope (great for beach cricket) and, when it does come in, it’s pretty safe to be splashing in the waves. Just note, dogs are allowed on the beach and it’s often a free for all – we’ve done a few winter walks with the dog as there’s no-one really around which is much nicer for all involved!

EXPLORE THE BAMBURGH WALLED GARDEN

This is probably the most surprising addition to Bamburgh in recent times; the space within the 400 year old Bamburgh Walled Garden has been transformed into a beautiful adventure playground, sensory garden and café for the whole family. The playground was really good and kept our kids entertained for a good hour or so and I loved the coastal theme with sand and the planting throughout. We’ll talk about the café later on but its focus on Northumbrian produce makes it really stand out.

For those that need to know these important things, there’s a Changing Places toilet really cementing this beautiful place as a safe and accessible space for everyone. If you’ve got children, or even just want a lovely coffee, cake in a charming garden, visiting Bamburgh Walled Garden is one of the best things to do in Bamburgh.

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RNLI GRACE DARLING MUSEUM

We all know that the RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, are absolute heroes for their lifesaving acts day in and day out across the country but here in Bamburgh is a special little museum dedicated to Grace Darling. Now, like me, you might not necessarily have heard of Grace Darling but let me tell you, in brief, about what a hero she was.

In 1838, Grace Darling, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper on the Farne Islands, spotted a ship (the SS Forfarshire) on the rocks and could see that there were survivors. Her and her father took a row boat in exceptionally bad weather to save as many people as they could – there were nine survivors thanks to their bravery. Once news had circulated across the country, Grace shot to fame and received a Silver Medal from the RNLI along with plenty of donations amounting to in excess of £65,000 in today’s money. Sadly, only 4 year later, Grace passed away at the age of 26. She is buried in Bamburgh at St Aidan’s Church.

The museum is well worth a visit to learn more about the heroic acts that night and Grace’s life and is free to enter.

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BAMBURGH VILLAGE

Bamburgh Village is only really one main street with a row of shops, restaurants and pubs along one side (we’ll come on to that next I promise), the walled garden, museum and church on the other and so I can’t imagine that you’ll be doing much else within the village itself. However, I’d highly recommend spending sometime relaxing on the lawn underneath Bamburgh Castle – there’s a good playground for the kids, a coffee van and, if it’s the season, you might be lucky enough to catch a game of cricket. This has got to be one of the best cricket pitches in the world, certainly one of the most unique (and I’ve been to the MCG on Boxing Day…). If you don’t like cricket, there’s croquet too though so perhaps that’s not quite as exciting.

EAT & DRINK IN BAMBURGH

I don’t think that Bamburgh itself would be offended if I said that there weren’t a huge range of places to eat and drink here but, for such a small village, I’m not sure what else you would expect. There’s more one pub and a great range of cafés for brunch, afternoon tea and flat whites, restaurants serving modern cuisine and fresh seafood and classic ice cream parlours – what else do you really need? Apart from one on the list below, everything else can be found along and around the village green so you can hop from pub to pub and café to café and restaurant to restaurant from morning to night.

The Potted Lobster

Opened since 2015, The Potted Lobster is a relaxed, dog-friendly, bistro focusing on super fresh and local seafood run by Head Chef Richard Sim. The food here has always been exceptionally good so much so that it was listed in the Michelin Guide from 2018 to 2021 and recommended by the Hairy Bikers who raved about their fish and chips.

We visited a few years ago now specifically for our first time trying lobster. I’m not necessarily a big seafood fan so it shouldn’t be that much of a shock that I never thought to order lobster at any other point in my life but where better to order it than here. We opted for half a lobster (you can also order a whole one) poached and served cold with garlic mayonnaise – divine. There are two other ways of ordering your lobster, both grilled but one with Thermidor sauce and one with garlic and parsley butter. In this day and age, it’s really important to know that the lobsters are sustainably sourced from local harbours. The a la carte menu is practically perfect, not extensive but plenty of choice; lager & lemon battered haddock (also incredible), local Lindisfarne oysters, king prawn linguine, seafood platter for two as well as sirloin of Northumberland beef, slow roast belly of pork and twice cooked shoulder of lamb. Pricing is on the expensive side, though everywhere in Bamburgh and the surrounding villages seems to be these days, but you’re getting extremely high quality food from a chef who has been at the top of his game for two decades.

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The Lord Crewe

Another great restaurant in Bamburgh is The Lord Crewe which also offers seven boutique rooms and an apartment meaning this is not only one of the best places to eat in Bamburgh but also one of the best places to stay in Bamburgh too. The dining offering here is spectacular thanks to a strong team of chefs led by the former Head Chef of the Crab & Lobster restaurant down in North Yorkshire. The menu focuses on fresh and locally sourced ingredients, often changing with the seasons, but you can expect local oysters, Alnwick beer battered cod, lobster, steamed mussels as well as fillet steak, duck breast and more. Again, the price reflects the quality on offer and it absolutely won’t let you down.

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The Hut at Bamburgh

This little wooden hut on the edge of the sand dunes that run parallel to Bamburgh beach is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit for a number of years and, finally in 2026, I made it happen. A few years ago, The Hut never seemed to be opened during the advertised opening hours but I’m pleased to say I found no such issues and only found extremely good, proper, coffee and freshly made, locally sourced, food.

All food is cooked to order so expect a short wait, probably longer during busier times, but the bacon sandwiches we ordered were delicious so I can only imagine how good the sausage buttys are and, if you’re into it, the kippers. In terms of pricing, it’s a little high (eg £4 for a Flat White is standard these days but you can pay that in central London) but you can enjoy incredible views across to the beach and the quality again is, I would say, worth it for a treat.

The Copper Kettle Tea Rooms

For something a little more quintessentially English, the Copper Kettle Tea Rooms is a lovely little place offering cream teas and scones, cakes and traybake as well as all of your coffees and teas. There’s a very nice courtyard garden to the back which is an absolute sun trap when the weather’s playing ball.

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Bamburgh Walled Garden

I’m featuring Bamburgh Walled Garden twice in this guide – I must have been pleasantly surprised on our first visit! Alongside the extensive playground and gardens is a very nice café serving up very modern breakfasts, brunches, sandwiches and freshly made cakes. We only had cakes when we visited as we were saving ourselves for wood-fired pizzas at the campsite but all of the food looked really high quality and delicious. The coffee is also quite good here made better by the fact you can sit outside in peace whilst the kids entertain themselves nearby!

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VISIT SEAHOUSES

The next village along the Northumberland Coast down from Bamburgh is Seahouses; there’s a lot more going on here as it’s a working fishing port and daily boat trips out to the Farne Islands. There’s plenty of shops, pubs and, probably the biggest draw here in Seahouses, good quality fish and chip shops!

Wherever we’ve stayed near Bamburgh, and a tradition with friends as well, is to head into Seahouses for fresh fish and chips – we always sit overlooking the harbour eating these (obviously fending off seagulls…). Neptunes is one that our friends always go to but I really enjoyed Lewis’ last time! There’s also mini golf, amusements and gift shops to keep everyone entertained!

I wouldn’t necessarily say to base yourself in Seahouses but it’s always worth a quick trip into for something a little different and a little more lively – whether you want that or not.

TAKE A BOAT TRIP TO THE FARNE ISLANDS

This is something that has been on my bucket list for so long that I really need to get to soon! There are around 12-15 small islands just off the coast which are famed for being home to thousands of puffins and, along with some of the cutest little birds, you’ll also spot seals and maybe even orcas! There are over 200,000 birds here during the warmer months so, if you like bird watching, there are not many places better to spot so many different species.

Billy Shiel’s is probably the most popular and reputable company offering a range of trips out to the Farne Islands. Now re-opened, you’re able to land on the Inner Farne island between April and September to see puffins up close. There are 90 minute cruises to spot grey seals and seabirds running all year round (£22 as at the time of writing).

SPEND AN AFTERNOON IN BEADNELL

Beadnell is another of my favourite villages in Northumberland and, whilst it’s not big at all, there’s plenty of keep you occupied if you like country pubs, chilled beach cafés and stunning golden sand beaches. Interestingly, Beadnell Harbour is the only west facing harbour on the east coast of England offering protection from the North Sea so you can expect calm seas almost all year round.

For something a little special, head to Beadnell Towers for a meal. Yes it’s expensive, everywhere in Northumberland seems to be these days, but the atmosphere is lovely, food really really good and it’s just a nice place to have a few drinks. The Craster Arms just along is also nice for food – we’ve eaten at both and preferred Beadnell Towers but they’re really good options for a lovely meal out.

The North Collective behind The Craster Arms also run The Landing which is the chilled beach café I just mentioned – think tipis, fairy lights, lime washed walls and coastal decor. Not quite beachfront but you can see the back of the sand dunes, just through the car park – it is however literally 60 seconds or so to the sandy beach. The Landing is as good for a few pints in the sun as it is for coffee and brunch or fresh seafood platters. There’s very convenient overnight parking for campers and motorhomes next door for just £20 which includes discount on purchases at The Landing.

I don’t need to say too much about the curved beach here at Beadnell as you don’t really get a bad beach up here in Northumberland. There’s plenty of room when the tide’s out to chill and play plus it’s also dog friendly for those long walks to tire out the pooches!

A DAY TRIP TO HOLY ISLAND

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is one of the most religious places in the whole of England, with its importance in the spread of Christianity in the north thanks to St Cuthbert and St Aidan, and one of the most peaceful places thanks to the fact that it is completely inaccessible other than twice a day when the tides retreat and reveal a causeway linking up with the mainland.

Once you’re this far north in Bamburgh, it would be foolish not to head just that little bit further towards the border with Scotland to visit the unique Holy Island. Lindisfarne Castle is iconic but the Priory is the where most visitors stop by first. Built over 1,400 years ago, this is where Cuthbert himself was a monk before becoming a bishop known as a seer and healer – it was only after his death however that he became a saint. There are some good walks to be had on Holy Island especially out to Emmanuel Head and its stark white obelisk, a Day Mark, built in the 1800’s to assist navigation along the English coast.

In terms of food and drink, the most famous local delicacies are Lindisfarne Oysters (in season during the months that end with an R) and Lindisfarne Mead. Mead can be taste-tested and purchased at Lindisfarne Mead’s home on the island. If you’re after proper, locally roasted coffee then Pilgrim’s Coffee House & Roastery is the place to be – there is nowhere better on the island.

A word of warning before we finish – any trip to the island must be carefully planned and you must review and keep an eye on the tide times as there are many, many people that get stuck in their vehicles when the tide comes rolling in. The safe crossing times are always provided on the official Northumberland website.

You can read my full guide to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne here.

Well that wraps up my complete guide to the best things to do in Bamburgh, Northumberland, which I hope has been worthwhile and helpful in planning your own trip to this beautiful corner of England. If you need any more information at all or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Where To Stay In Bamburgh

I would highly recommend spending more than just the day up here in Bamburgh to really appreciate this corner of England fully. When you spend a few nights here, you quickly get a sense of calm and, in some ways, the feeling of being remote, away from it all.

There’s a whole host of accommodation options in and around Bamburgh so you’ll easily be able to find something that suits your style of travel in terms of location, type of accommodation and, of course these days, budget. You’ve got charming bed and breakfasts and cottages right in the heart of Bamburgh, slightly bigger hotels down in Seahouses and plenty of campsites in the countryside for campervans, tents and caravans as well as those looking to stay in a holiday home.

We’ve stayed in a few different places over the years – in the campervan in nearby Budle Bay, in complete silence in a minimalist Scandi lodge (Trees at Tughall has closed but I believe there’s an intention for them to re-open in the future) and a few hotels further afield in Alnwick and Amble.

There are so many different places within Northumberland to base yourself but, for this guide at least, I’d recommend staying within Bamburgh itself so you can really appreciate it so your best options are smaller B&B’s or your own cottage / apartment. I’ve pulled together some options below that I’d personally stay in myself:

Lord Crewe Bamburgh
Keeper’s View
2 Bedroom Cottage – The Wynding
Charlton Cottage
Castle View by Coast & Country Stays

If you’re heading to Bamburgh specifically to camp, there’s a great site for the kids at Waren Caravan & Camping Park or if you’re completely self contained then Budle Farm Campsite might be the one for you – offering unrivalled views over the bay and Holy Island for just £15 a night.