Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Kingdom of Northumbria
Overview
Available languages
9 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Explore the scenic coastal route between Edinburgh and the ancient kingdom of Northumbria. Visit Alnwick Castle, see Holy Island, taste some Mead brewed by monks and explore the magnificent poison gardens at Alnwick.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 4 years old.
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark.
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour's departure time.
Due to tide times on the following dates this tour will not be visiting Holy Island: 26th September, 25th October, 26th October
Customers do not need to pre-book admission tickets to optional extras. These can be purchased during the tour from the driver-guide and are not included in the price of the tour.
Our coaches do not have restrooms. However, frequent comfort breaks are included at stops with restrooms.
Please note: from 3rd December 2024 our Edinburgh tours will depart from NCP Castle Terrace, EH1 2EW.
What To Expect
Lindisfarne Priory
Spend time wandering through the ruins of its Priory where the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels were produced, sample some of the world-famous Lindisfarne 'Mead' brewed by Monks on the island, and enjoy the tranquillity for which the island is renowned Due to tide times on the following dates this tour will not be visiting Holy Island: 16th May, 31st May, 14th June, 15th June, 30th June, 14th July, 28th August, 26th September, 25th October, 26th October
Alnwick Castle
We continue south on to the bustling market town of Alnwick, whose greatest building is the medieval Alnwick Castle*. Enjoy time in the town centre or remain at the castle complex where there is something for everyone. Home of the Percy Family for over 700 years, Alnwick Castle is considered one of the finest castles in England and proudly known as “The Windsor of the North”. Visitors can step into the unexpected in the spectacular Alnwick Garden, with its wonderful Grand Cascade and Poison Gardens. It's grounds were also used in the Harry Potter films.
Options
Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & The Kingdom of Northumbria from Edinburgh
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Live commentary on board
Knowledgeable driver-guide
Food and drinks
Attraction Tickets
Gratuities
Restroom on board
WiFi on board
Entrance to Lindisfarne Castle
Entrance to Alnwick Castle
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
506 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Alnwick
T5769NJdianaf,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Neil did a great job, he is wonderful, funny, and very helpful. I love the tour especially in Alnwick Castle because we have enough time to go around and we didn’t feel rushed. And the other stops were amazing! Thank you Neil!
Holy Island and Alnwick/Northumerland and Borders
D360SMbonniem,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a wonderful time on this trip. Our guide, Neil, was really informative and funny.
Edinburgh - Lochmond / Kalpies & Sterling Castle and Mhor Bread At Calendar
Rajan2303,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were with the family and our lovely guide Adam from Timberbush, amazing person - definitely smart and funny and made sure we all enjoyed the trip and learnt more about Edinburgh- keep it up Adam and Thanks
Great sights ,Castle was exceptional with a good group discount
539joannet,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyed trip very much Karis was a great guide and very informed on the history of Northumbria and Scotland
Fantastic tour and tour guide
Meander49705231915,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Karis from Timberbush did the tour today and she was excellent. Karis is friendly and approachable and very helpful to me who is an older woman with mobility issues. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Great tour
silc784,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Karis has been fantastc!! She Always has some anectode to tell..thank you very much!!
Excellent Tour with a Fantastic Guide
K8955UJingew,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful time on the Holy Island, Northumbria and Alnwick Castle tour. The itinerary was well organized, and all the locations were beautiful and fascinating to visit. A special mention goes to our guide, Jane, who was absolutely fantastic. She was very funny, engaging, and explained everything perfectly throughout the day. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and sense of humor made the tour even more enjoyable and helped bring the history and stories of the region to life. Overall, this was an excellent excursion that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. A memorable day from start to finish!
The visits were very nice...
Thomas C,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The visits were very nice and we had enough time at each stop so we didn’t feel rushed. Very historic and worthwhile visits.
Great bus tour.
capucined543,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My sister and I came to take a tour outside of Edinburgh. Andrew was amazing; he energized us throughout the journey with anecdotes and little games about the landscape! We had a great time! The stops are well planned so that you do not feel like you are just on a bus! The day was superb! Thanks again, Andrew!!
One of our favorite days in 🏴
Rebecca T,May 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fun day! This was a great tour, with fascinating stops. Our guide did a great job of teaching us along the way, and recommending things to see/do at each of our stops. Highly recommend - this is a great way to get down to the Borders. Holy Island and Alnwick Castle were both very cool. We didn’t realize right away that the castle and Alnwick gardens are technically two separate, gated experiences. If you are interested in gardens (and POISON gardens), get your ticket at the castle entrance, then go all the way PAST the castle grounds to enter the garden. We were not able to get a ticket for the Poison Garden tour, but the guides were so lovely, they made space for us on their tour. Truly one of the highlights of our day.
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Operated by Timberbush Tours