Northumberland, Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle at Christmas
Northumberland, Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle at Christmas
Northumberland, Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle at Christmas
5 Days
Visiting: Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle, Durham
Tour operator:
Tour code:
suknabc
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Experience the magic of Christmas in Northumberland with a delightful tour that takes you through the enchanting towns of Alnwick and Bamburgh. Begin your festive journey with a warm welcome of mulled wine and mince pies at the 3-star Station Hotel in Newcastle, your home for four nights. Explore the charming streets of Alnwick, perfect for Christmas shopping and cozy tea room visits, before heading to the spectacularly decorated Bamburgh Castle, where myths and legends come alive in a kaleidoscope of festive colors. Enjoy a leisurely day in Newcastle, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of the Christmas market, and discover the historic beauty of Durham with its UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle. This tour promises a blend of history, culture, and festive cheer, making it an unforgettable holiday experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then on to the Newcastle for four nights. We enjoy a mulled wine and a mince pie on arrival to get us into the spirit of the season.
Day 2 Alnwick And Bamburgh Castle
Location: Alnwick and Bamburgh Castle
After breakfast, we discover the highlights of Northumberland, first stopping at historic Alnwick. Though the famous Alnwick Castle is closed at this time of year, the town itself is a fascinating place. Wander the cobbled streets, visit the cosy tea rooms and independent shops, or, for book lovers, why not visit Barter Books, one of the largest second hand bookshops in the country? After exploring Alnwick for your Christmas shopping, you can visit one of the town’s snug cafés for a coffee or hot chocolate!
We then carry on to Bamburgh to visit its famous castle which boasts magnificent decorations at Christmas. Wander through the castle’s festive-themed rooms and take in dazzling displays of kaleidoscopic colours, foliage, and twinkling lights. The theme is inspired by Northumberland’s myths and legends! Journey through the castle’s staterooms, steeped in stories and folklore, and discover a world sprinkled full of fairy magic. You will also be able to view the Northumberland coastline from this stunning viewpoint!
We return back to the hotel in time for our Christmas dinner and a festive quiz in the lounge.
Day 3 Day At Leisure
Location: Day at Leisure
Today you have a day at leisure to explore Newcastle. With the hotel so centrally located, it is easy to explore the city. The Christmas market is centered from Grey's Monument and filters out through the streets around. Stalls will be selling a wide range of gifts, crafts and local foods. With an array of high street shops to enjoy too, it's the perfect chance to do some Christmas shopping and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Day 4 Durham
Location: Durham
After breakfast today we discover historic Durham, with its UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle. The city features a glorious mix of old and new, with ‘olde worlde’ cobbled streets, real ale taverns and tea rooms sitting alongside modern shops, museums and visitor attractions. It is particularly beautiful at this time of year with festive lights.
Day 5
We depart the hotel this morning full of festive cheer and return home.
What's Included
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Welcome Refreshments
Enjoy a mulled wine and a mince pie on arrival to get into the spirit of the season.
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Meals
Breakfast and dinner are included during the tour.
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Christmas Dinner and Festive Quiz
Return to the hotel in time for a Christmas dinner and a festive quiz in the lounge.
What's Not Included
The famous Alnwick Castle is closed at this time of year.
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Station Hotel in Newcastle.
Mode of Transport
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then on to Newcastle for four nights.
Check out our Q&As
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What can I expect upon arrival at the hotel in Newcastle?
Upon arrival at the hotel in Newcastle, you will be welcomed with a mulled wine and a mince pie to get into the spirit of the season.
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Is Alnwick Castle open during the tour?
No, Alnwick Castle is closed at this time of year, but the town of Alnwick itself is a fascinating place to explore.
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What special activities are available at Bamburgh Castle during the tour?
At Bamburgh Castle, you can enjoy its magnificent Christmas decorations, festive-themed rooms, and dazzling displays inspired by Northumberland's myths and legends.
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What can I do during the day at leisure in Newcastle?
During the day at leisure in Newcastle, you can explore the city, visit the Christmas market centered around Grey's Monument, and enjoy shopping at high street shops.
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What are some highlights of the visit to Durham?
In Durham, you can explore the UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle, wander the cobbled streets, and enjoy the festive lights that make the city particularly beautiful at this time of year.
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Do I have to do the excursions?
Certain excursions are included in the price of your holiday. If you choose not to go on an included excursion, for whatever reason, no refunds will be made.
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How much are the optional excursions?
This depends on which tour you book. Prices are given with the itinerary for the tour and sent out with Travel Documents 5 days before departure.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
If you are a British citizen and are going on a UK holiday, you are not required to have insurance. If you are a non-British citizen and are going on a UK holiday, you are required to have an insurance policy in place or return a signed indemnity form to us prior to travel. For all travellers on European tours, you must either have a travel insurance policy in place or return a signed insurance indemnity form to us prior to travel.
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Will there be a toilet on-board the coach?
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the interchange may not have on-board toilets.
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Can I pay for the optional excursions when I make my booking?
Optional excursions can be booked with your coach driver or Tour Manager and operate strictly subject to availability and demand. Some optional excursions are pre-bookable due to demand when making your reservation. The running order of included and optional excursions may be altered without prior notice.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, we do not. However, we only ever charge a supplement if a hotelier imposes this charge to us as a company. Single room supplements are a bone of contention within the travel industry and we would like to assure you that we proactively seek accommodation with low or no single room supplements for our guests.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You will receive a detailed itinerary alongside travel documents, and these will be sent 5 days prior to travel.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Shearings requires a minimum deposit of 75 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of shearings charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.