Alnwick

Magic happens every time a film crew rocks up to this ancient market town. Harry Potter made Alnwick Castle world-famous, but locals have known for centuries that this place has serious pulling power. The mighty fortress dominates the skyline, its battlements and towers looking exactly like a castle should - no Disney prettiness here, just proper medieval muscle.

Walking the cobbled streets feels like stepping back through the centuries. The market square still hosts traders twice weekly, just as it has since 1464. Beyond the tourist coaches, you'll find a working Northumberland town where butchers know their customers by name and the pubs pour proper pints.

Alnwick Garden deserves its reputation as one of Britain's most ambitious modern gardens. The Poison Garden alone is worth the entrance fee - where else can you legally get close to plants that could kill you? The Grand Cascade provides Instagram moments, but it's the sheer ambition of transforming a derelict site into something this spectacular that impresses most.

Countryside stretches in every direction once you leave town. The River Aln meanders through farmland towards the coast, while Hulne Park offers woodland walks within the castle grounds. Drive ten minutes and you'll hit the Northumberland Coast, with Alnmouth's pastel-coloured houses clustered around the river mouth.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A1 delivers you practically to the castle gates, while the East Coast Main Line stops at Alnmouth station. From Newcastle, it's barely an hour's drive through increasingly dramatic landscape. Staying at a nearby park makes perfect sense when you're exploring both the town's attractions and the stunning coastline beyond.