To join the exciting English Castles & Harry Potter Locations from Edinburgh, make your way to 190 High Street, Edinburgh EH11RW. To get there by car follow the signs to the Old Town and Cathedral. The nearest stops for the Lothian Buses are at South Bridge, George IV Bridge, and Princes Street.
During the tour you will be accompanied by a Spanish speaking driver cum guide. Leaving Edinburgh you will drive south through the Scottish Borders and cross into England. The first stop will be Berwick-upon-Tweed – the northern-most town in England, 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the Scottish border.
Founded as an Anglo-Saxon settlement during the time of the kingdom of Northumbria, Berwick was for centuries the focus of border wars between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. The last time it changed hands was when England retook it in 1482. Berwick remains a traditional market town and is famous for its medieval ramparts.
From Berwick your tour continues to splendid Bamburgh Castle, the former royal seat of the kings of Northumbria. This mighty castle perches on a rocky plateau 150 feet (45 m) above sea level beside a white sandy beach. Scenes from many famous movies such as “Huntingtower” (1927), “Ivanhoe” (1952), “El Cid” (1961) “Becket” (1964), “Mary Queen of Scots” (1972 and “Elizabeth” (1998) were shot here.
Bamburgh is surrounded by a host of legends and myths. The medieval fortress is thought by many to be the original site of Sir Lancelot's castle, Joyous Garde. (Entrance to Bamburgh is not included in your tour price but can be purchased on site.)
Next stop is magnificent Alnwick Castle, home of the Dukes of Northumberland. Alnwick is the second largest inhabited castle in England, after Windsor, and has been lived in by the Percy family for more than 700 years. The grim forbidding exterior, typical of a border fortress, contrasts with the opulence of the interiors. Alnwick has featured in a host of films and TV series including eight Harry Potter movies.
Entrance to the Castle is not included in your tour price but can be purchased on site. Within the Castle walls are fabulous treasures. Alnwick boasts one of the finest art collections in England as well an assemblage of exquisite china including two Meissen dinner services.
The beautiful grounds of Alnwick Castle are home to the famous “Treehouse Restaurant”, one of the world’s most unusual restaurants. It sits high up in the treetops, with a roaring log fire in the centre of the room and trees growing through the floor.
After Alnwick you return to Edinburgh via back roads that give you the opportunity to enjoy the landscape of the Lowlands. On the way, you will make a last stop in the picturesque town of Coldstream on the banks of the River Tweed.
At the end of a wonderful day out, you will be dropped back at the starting point.