CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST
Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Newcastle
Newcastle Castle is the obvious start, right on the Quayside with the Norman keep and Black Gate to explore for £8.95 on an annual-pass ticket. Head out towards Rowlands Gill and Gibside gives you National Trust gardens and walks with a cafe and picnic area alongside the seasonal farm. Closer to the coast, Tynemouth Priory and Castle sits on the headland with sea views and its own picnic spot, and Prudhoe Castle's grounds are free to wander, with steep steps up to the gatehouse chapel and a Regency mansion tucked inside the walls. For free days out, Hylton Castle in Sunderland and Aydon Castle out at Corbridge both cost nothing, though Aydon's climb to the battlements and Hylton's spiral stair to the rooftop gallery are worth knowing about before you go. Durham Castle is guided tour only, so plan around the times. For something further afield, Auckland Palace is a longer trip out to Bishop Auckland but covers a thousand years of history, with tickets for ages 5 to 15. Brinkburn Priory near Morpeth needs booking ahead.
18 places 6 free to visit
from £13.50Auckland Palace
Bishop Auckland · ages 5-15
A thousand years of history in one bishop's palace, from a private chapel the size of a church to Old Master paintings and a Faith Museum.
Accessible toiletCaféGift shopParking+2 more
FreeAydon Castle
Corbridge
A well-preserved medieval manor house where you can climb to the battlements and picnic in a walled orchard afterwards.
Picnic area
FreeBeaurepaire Priory (Ruins)
Durham · ages 0+
Free wander round medieval manor house ruins, with the odd tour and hands-on gardening session thrown in.
Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Newcastle upon Tyne
Rocky quarry ravines to scramble round, a medieval castle to explore and a Wild Man Play Area, set in 30 acres of grounds.
Gift shopGroup bookingsFood on sitePushchair friendly+2 more
from £45Blackfriars Restaurant
Newcastle upon Tyne
A medieval friary building in Newcastle where you can eat a proper lunch, take a history tour, or book a children's cookery party.
Birthday partiesGroup bookingsParty roomsRestaurant
FreeBrinkburn Priory and Manor House
Morpeth
Free ruined priory and manor grounds to explore, though you do need to book your visit ahead.
Blue badge parkingBooking requiredFree parkingWheelchair accessible
Bywell Castle
Stocksfield
A guided tour round Bywell Hall's art and furniture collection, with a fifteenth-century tower to gawp at on the way.
from £10Chipchase Castle
Hexham
A 13th century castle and gardens that only opens its doors for a handful of weeks each summer.
Cash only
Durham Castle
Durham
A working Norman castle you can only see by guided tour, with the grounds and history to explore around it.
Elsdon Castle
Newcastle upon Tyne
A steep short climb up to a Norman motte and bailey mound, with the earthworks themselves the whole point of the visit.
Gibside National Trust Farm Estate
Rowlands Gill
NT estate near Rowlands Gill with gardens, walks and seasonal farm - Soft Play N.
CaféParkingToiletsBaby change+2 more
FreeHylton Castle
Sunderland
A free medieval gatehouse and grounds to explore, with a rooftop viewing gallery you climb a spiral stair to reach.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredCafé+3 more
from £8.95Newcastle Castle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Norman keep and Black Gate above the Quayside - annual-pass tickets, Soft Play N.
ToiletsCaféGift shopWheelchair accessible
FreePrudhoe Castle
Prudhoe
Free grounds to explore around a towering keep, with steep steps up to a gatehouse chapel and a Regency mansion inside the walls.
Toilets
Rothley Castle
Morpeth
A folly tower on a crag you can climb for a 360 degree view over open countryside, with a short walk in from free roadside parking.
FreeStephenson Steam Railway
North Shields · ages 4+
A heritage steam train ride, a railway museum, and a meet with the world's third-oldest working locomotive.
Booking requiredFree parking
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear
English Heritage priory ruins on Tynemouth headland - sea views, Soft Play N.
ToiletsPicnic areaParking
from £9Warkworth Castle
Warkworth
A cross-shaped keep to explore with five guided trails and an audio tour, plus a hidden hermitage down the river.
Gift shopGroup bookingsFood on siteParking+1 more
Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in Newcastle
Are any of them free?
Yes, Aydon Castle, Beaurepaire Priory (Ruins), Brinkburn Priory and Manor House, Hylton Castle and 2 more are free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £8.95 at Newcastle Castle. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Which ones are indoor?
Auckland Palace, Blackfriars Restaurant, Hylton Castle and Newcastle Castle are indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Bishop Auckland, Corbridge, Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Morpeth and 8 more. Every place we list is in or around Newcastle, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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