Britain is surrounded by spectacular coastline and amazing historic sites – and one little village in the very north of England offers both. Bamburgh is one of the northernmost villages is England, just a stone’s throw from the Scottish border.
The tiny village – which has a population of just 414 according to the 2011 Census – boasts a beautiful sandy beach, overlooked by a spectacular 11th century castle. Car hire website holidaycars.com listed the village among the 20 best coastal spots in the UK, hailing its “far-stretching flat soft beach, historic Bamburgh Castle, and grass-covered dunes”. The site added: “In low tide, you can walk across the seabed to the 11th-century castle, which engulfs a basalt rock.”
“It’s a scenic and tranquil town, but there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Take to the wild waters of the North Sea and explore the nearby Farne Islands and Longstone Lighthouse by boat.
“Look out for wildlife, too – colonies of Atlantic seals call this area home, as well as occasional pods of dolphins.”
The incredible castle, originally the site of a Celtic fort, dominates the area, and can be seen for miles around. Sitting atop a black crag of volcanic rock, it was built by the Normans.
Falling into disrepair in the 17th century, it was restored during the 1700s and 1800s, before being bought by Victorian industrialist William, who completed its restoration. It still belongs to the Armstrong family today.
The castle is open to the public, offering spectacular views across the North Sea from its battlements.
You might recognise it from both the big and small screen, as it’s been used as a location in multiple films and TV programmes, including 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mark Wahlberg, the historical Netflix drama The Last Kingdom, and 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, in which it doubled as a Nazi fortress.
The beautiful beach, overlooked by the castle, is another highlight, with users on thebeachguide.co.uk branding it “the best beach in the British Isles”. It was awarded a Blue Flag in 2005.
The village itself is within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
According to visitnorthumberland.com: “As the royal capital of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, spell-binding Bamburgh holds a history worth discovering.
“All the while, awe-inspiring Bamburgh Castle will be your backdrop, and you can wander down the main street, past Bamburgh’s cafes and towards the village’s landmark red phone box for an especially staggering and scenic view.
“Dominant and dramatic on its rocky plateau, Bamburgh Castle’s imposing presence along Northumberland’s coast makes for a magical walk along the beach.”
The village may be small, but it’s not short of places to visit, including a museum dedicated to Victorian heroine Grace Darling, a lighthouse keeper who in 1838 helped rescue nine people from a deadly shipwreck.
Bamburgh Ossuary, located in a crypt below St Aidan’s Church, is the final resting place of the bones of people from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Bamburgh is located around 50 miles from Newcastle, and 75 miles from Edinburgh. The nearest airport is Newcastle, around 39 miles away.
There are regular bus services. The closest train station is Chathill, around 4.5 miles away, although it is served by only two services per day. Most travellers will need to alight at Berwick or Alnmouth and catch a bus the rest of the way.