Warkworth Castle

Be king or queen for the day in this mighty Northumberland fortress crowning the hilltop above the River Coquet. Enjoy a day out and see how the powerful Dukes of Northumberland, the Percy family lived. Explore the floors and rooms in the magnificent cross-shaped keep which was once home to 'Harry Hotspur', immortalised as a rebel lord by Shakespeare, and bane of Scottish raiders. See spectacular river and coastal views from the castle walls.

View the awe-inspiring keep as you wander around the nearly intact circuit of towered walls at this spectacular medieval castle. Striking new sculptures have been installed in the castle grounds to create a series of interactive trails which reveal the lives of people who lived in or near the castle in the early 15th century.

The great tower or keep is almost complete, though it was built by the first Earl of Northumberland over 600 years ago. Warkworth was besieged by the Scots in 1327 and played a key role in the long-running war between England and Scotland.

Look out for the lion badge carved throughout the castle as you explore. This was the badge of the powerful Percy family who wielded almost kingly power in the north. They owned Warkworth and nearby Alnwick Castle, where their descendants still live today.

T: +44 01665 711423
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W: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/warkworth-castle-and-hermitage