The Fabulous Alnwick Gardens
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Port
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$150
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
An area with a turbulent history of Viking raids and the lawless Border Reivers, Northumberland boasts an exciting story and a landscape peppered with castles, coast and cobblestone villages.
Depart the port of Tyne, heading north to the pretty town of Alnwick, whose cobblestone marketplace and main street complement a warren of narrow alleyways and streets dating back to medieval times. The town is dominated by Alnwick Castle, residence of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family has lived here since the early 1300s.
Discover the serene beauty the stunning of Alnwick Gardens, complete with dancing fountains and enchanting mazes and displays. Today's gardens are located on the site of gardens originally built in the 1750s by Capability Brown for the Duke of Northumberland. The gardens had fallen into significant disrepair in the early 20th century, but the present Duchess had the vision to create a beautiful public space accessible to everyone -- a garden for contemplation, fun, inspiration and education.
Follow your guide on a tour of most of the garden's major areas -- the Rose Garden, the Ornamental Garden, the Bamboo Labyrinth, the Poison Garden and the Serpent Garden. You will also see the magnificent Grand Cascade, the largest water feature in the UK, and the fabulous Tree House -- one of the largest in the world.
Enjoy some free time to explore the garden some more before returning to the ship.
Please note: Alnwick Gardens has a special scooter and wheelchair route available.