As Bamburgh Castle remains temporarily closed due to Tier 3 restrictions, we have made the decision to postpone our Christmas Kingdom events until 2021 but rest assured we have exciting plans in place for a festive extravaganza like no other here at Bamburgh Castle.

Our magnificent staterooms and nine acres of grounds will re-open as soon as Government restrictions permit us to do so.

Of course the magic of Christmas can never be cancelled and Father Christmas himself is still meeting children across the world with special ClausTime live streaming video calls which are unique to Bamburgh Castle. We will shortly be announcing new dates and times for bookings to be made, up until 23rd December.

Bamburgh Castle owner, Francis Watson Armstrong said: “While it is hugely disappointing not to be able to open the castle right now, we are looking forward to the time when we can open our gates once again, so everyone can enjoy the magic Bamburgh Castle gives at Christmas time and beyond.

“We are naturally saddened to postpone the majority of the events we had planned for people, our Christmas Kingdom will be an annual celebration and we have a magnificent Christmas lined up for people to enjoy in 2021. Meanwhile, we are ever hopeful restrictions will be eased soon so that we can welcome people back to Bamburgh securely in the near future.

“We would like to thank everyone who has sent us messages and cards of support and well-wishes during what continues to be such a difficult time for everyone around the world. It really does mean so much to us all to receive these and we are looking forward to the day when we can open and share our wonderful castle with you again.”

In the meantime, the village Grove is twinkling with beautiful Christmas lights and a nativity scene created by volunteers from Bamburgh Christmas Lights Committee. The committee  spends many hours throughout the year working hard to create this dazzling display which brings joy to residents and visitors alike over the Christmas period and beyond.

We would like to thank them for their hard work in making Bamburgh village look so enchanting.

 At a time when we could all do with a hearty sprinkling of seasonal cheer, Bamburgh Castle has launched its first-ever Christmas Kingdom celebration.

Inspired by the castle’s magical past as Bebbanburg where Nordic folklore and legends ebb and flow with real life and history, Bamburgh Castle’s Christmas Kingdom is designed to lift the spirits and delight at England’s finest coastal fortress in Northumberland.

Running until 3 January 2020, in response to the pandemic this year’s Christmas Kingdom is a mix of virtual and in situ, socially distanced festive experiences at the 1400-year-old castle, which was the inspiration for Bernard Cornwell’s epic historical Last Kingdom book and television series.

Until the castle’s gates reopen, Father Christmas has shared his secret spell that makes reindeer fly with Bamburgh Castle’s owners, so children anywhere can enjoy an enchanting and fully personalised ClausTime virtual experience. Live streamed directly by pre-booked, one-to-one Zoom sessions with Father Christmas, ClausTime calls come directly from the castle’s magnificent King’s Hall.

Once the castle reopens, pre-booked Meet Father Christmas Experiences are set to take place in Santa Claus’ fairytale-like, Covid-secure grotto, magicked inside the Victorian Stables. This wonderful personalised experience includes a special keepsake box to treasure, with a Bamburgh Castle collector’s coin, scroll and a bag of sustainable reindeer moss.

Castle visitors will be able to stroll through staterooms adorned in Christmas glory and meet some very special seasonal visitors, for grazing contentedly in the castle’s West Ward will be a herd of Norse reindeer. Taking in the views of the very sea their ancestors once travelled over with the Vikings back in the 8^th and 9th centuries, the reindeer will be resting their legs ahead of their biggest night of the year. Visitors will be able to feed the reindeer with bags of sustainable Scandinavian moss –  a favourite treat of theirs to munch on.

Reindeer guides will be on the hoof to help castle visitors learn more about these incredible creatures which have been semi-domesticated over thousands of years by man. Learn how reindeer have evolved to survive in some of the harshest climates on earth and find out more about their almost sixth sense like connection with mankind.

Bamburgh Castle events coordinator Karen Larkin said: “I think we’re all in need of some heart-warming Christmas cheer right now, so it is extra fitting that the castle’s first-ever Christmas Kingdom begins this weekend with our ClausTime virtual Father Christmas experiences.

“We wanted to make sure these would be absolutely fantastic and magical in every way. Strangely enough, by making these fully personalised events virtual they’ve become even more enthralling and wondrous for little ones and their families who receive a special keepsake box, as if by magic, in time for their meeting with Father Christmas.

“It also means we’re able to reach out further afield and to offer an experience for children who perhaps are vulnerable and shielding and their families. It makes it more inclusive and magical for everyone which is what Christmas spirit is all about.

“We have had bookings come in from right across the UK and even some overseas bookings, which has taken a little bit of wiggling around to make sure we are all on the right time zone – but Father Christmas is used to traveling through time, so it hasn’t been an issue! It’s been quite incredible. People have told us there isn’t anything like this happening around them.

“While we can’t wait to be able to open our gates once again for people to enjoy our Christmas Kingdom celebration, it’s a real joy to be able to sprinkle some Christmas feels from Bamburgh and bring the magic of the castle into people’s homes so they can escape the everyday.”

Once reopened, Bamburgh Castle will be open daily from 10am to 4pm with last admission at 3pm. Pre-booked tickets, which include a 5% discount are available from www.bamburghcastle.com priced £11.16 adults / £5.46 children. Under-fives receive free admission.

• Personalised ‘Meet Father Christmas’ ClausTimevirtual experiences 
  Saturday November 21^st & Sunday November 22^nd
  Friday November 27^th, Saturday November 28^th & Sunday November 29^th

Watch their little faces light up in amazement and joy as Father Christmas himself calls live from Bamburgh Castle, wherever you may be! Bamburgh Castle’s ClausTime experiences include a completely personalised, 15-minute live stream with Father Christmas from his grotto inside Bamburgh Castle. And yes, he is the very Father Christmas in their photographs and his beard is real, he says to tell you all! A personalised gift box is posted in advance to coincide with booked experience, containing a beautiful collector’s Bamburgh Castle coin minted by the castle’s Anglo Saxon monier and other delightful keepsakes. Once you’ve booked a Father Christmas experience, the castle’s specially trained research elves will be in touch, to guarantee an absolutely unforgettable and unique experience.

• The Christmas Kingdom 
  Daily from the castle’s reopening, from 10am until 4pm (last admission 3pm) until 3 January 2021.

Experience the added sparkle that bedazzles Bamburgh Castle at Christmas time where imagination and the magic of the season meet.  Stroll our staterooms adorned in Christmas glory, while NEW for 2020 are our Norse visitors – the reindeer. Where better place for Father Christmas’ famous four-legged team to rest their legs ahead of their biggest night of the year, than at magnificent Bamburgh Castle?

• Father Christmas Experiences 
  Friday December 4^th– Wednesday December 23^rd Pre-booking essential

Where better to meet Father Christmas himself than inside Bamburgh Castle for the most wonderful experience, creating memories your little ones – and those young at heart – will never, ever forget. Step inside our enchanting, Covid-secure yuletide grotto magicked inside the castle’s Victorian stables and meet Father Christmas himself. This wonderful interactive experience includes a special keepsake box to treasure, including a Bamburgh Castle collector’s coin and a bag of special moss to feed to our resident reindeer.

Inspired by Bamburgh Castle’s magical past where Nordic folklore and legends ebb and flow with real life and history, welcome to The Christmas Kingdom at England’s finest coastal fortress, Bamburgh Castle.

Running from November 21 until January 3^rd until our enchanted gates draw open in December when you can visit in person, Father Christmas has shared with us only, his secret spell that makes reindeer fly, so children anywhere can enjoy our incredible Bamburgh Castle ClausTime virtual experience directly from our castle to your home.

Personalised ‘Meet Father Christmas’ ClausTime virtual experiences
Saturday November 21^st & Sunday November 22^nd
Friday November 27^th, Saturday November 28^th & Sunday November 29^th
£14.95 including one-to-one, personalised experience with keepsake gift box BOOK HERE

Watch their little faces light up in amazement and joy as Father Christmas himself calls live from Bamburgh Castle, wherever you may be!

Our ClausTime experiences include a completely personalised, 15-minute live stream with Father Christmas from his grotto right here in Bamburgh Castle. And yes, he is the very Father Christmas in our photographs and his beard is real, he says to tell you all!

A personalised gift box will be posted in advance to coincide with your experience, containing a beautiful collector’s Bamburgh Castle coin minted by our own Anglo Saxon monier and other delightful keepsakes.

Once you’ve booked a Father Christmas experience, our specially trained research elves will be in touch, to guarantee an absolutely unforgettable and unique experience.

The Christmas Kingdom
Daily from the castle’s reopening, from 10am until 4pm (last admission 3pm)
Included in your admission ticket price.

Experience the added sparkle that bedazzles Bamburgh Castle at Christmas time where imagination and the magic of the season meet. Stroll our staterooms adorned in Christmas glory, while NEW for 2020 are our Norse visitors – the reindeer.

Where better place for Father Christmas’ famous four-legged team to rest their legs ahead of their biggest night of the year, than at magnificent Bamburgh Castle?

Grazing contentedly in our West Ward while taking in the views of the very sea their ancestors once travelled over with the Vikings themselves, learn more about these incredible creatures from our resident reindeer guides. Domesticated over thousands of years by man, discover how reindeer have evolved to survive in some of the harshest climates on earth and find out more about their almost sixth-sense like connection with mankind.

Father Christmas Experiences
Friday December 4^th – Wednesday December 23^rd
Pre-booking essential BOOK HERE
£14.95 including one-to-one, personalised experience with keepsake gift box in addition to regular admission ticket.

Where better to meet Father Christmas himself than inside Bamburgh Castle for the most wonderful experience, creating memories your little ones – and those young at heart – will never, ever forget.

Step inside our enchanting, Covid-secure yuletide grotto magicked inside the castle’s Victorian stables and meet Father Christmas himself. This wonderful interactive while Covid-secure experience includes a special keepsake box to treasure, including a Bamburgh Castle collector’s coin and a bag of special moss to feed to our resident reindeer.

Father Christmas took part in his very first Zoom training session today at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland to save the magic of Christmas for hundreds of children after a second national lockdown meant Christmas festivities there faced cancellation.

With some of the castle’s first-ever Christmas Kingdom experience scuppered by a second national lockdown, the polar visitor blew in to save the day, taking part in Zoom training at the coastal castle so children will still be able to enjoy the magic of Christmas with incredible virtual one-to-one meetings with Father Christmas in his enchanting workshop at the castle, from their own homes.

Bamburgh Castle Christmas coordinator Karen Larkin said: “We were due to start the castle’s first ever personalised Father Christmas experiences with children from November 21.

“With the nation about to go into lockdown again, we thought we’d have no option but to cancel some of our Christmas experiences, leaving boys and girls disappointed. But Father Christmas has saved the day, coming to Bamburgh today to get to grips with technology so he will still be able to connect with children around the world from the castle walls.

“Bizarrely, I think it will make the experience even more unique and using technology will allow us to reach out Bamburgh Castle’s magic to even more people including those who may be shielding,  so we can still share some Christmas joy and help lift people’s spirits in these difficult times.”

She added: “Father Christmas loves Bamburgh so much he even came here for his summer holidays where he signed special festive contracts with boys and girls who have promised to be good so they can meet him at his special Northumberland workshop in the castle’s Victorian stables. He didn’t want to let anyone down, which is why he has bravely embraced technology to make sure Christmas can go ahead.”

As well as a virtual personalised meeting with Father Christmas, children will magically receive a special gilded Bamburgh coin and a bag of reindeer moss to feed Santa’s reindeer who will be visiting over Christmas once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The Castle will reopen its doors following the lifting of lockdown restrictions from December 2^nd, when children can book traditional Father Christmas experiences in person – social distanced of course. Father Christmas will be joined by a herd of reindeer who will help to nibble down the castle’s ancient lawns in the run up to Christmas Day.

For more information about virtual Father Christmas experiences please email karen@bamburghcastle.com

If you fancy staying in Bamburgh Castle’s 1,400-year-old walls and taking in the incredible sea views in a holiday apartment that also happens to overlook one of England’s most famous village cricket pitches, then you’re in luck.

Bamburgh Castle’s owners  have restored a former medieval bell tower into Northumberland’s most unique self-catering holiday apartment – The Clock Tower.  There, guests can savour the ultimate experience of staying within the castle’s walls while taking in its showstopper views.

Now available to book, The Clock Tower looks out across the stunning Northumberland coastline to the east and the Cheviot Hills in the west. And thanks to its elevated position 150 feet above the coast on a volcanic plinth, guests have the added perk of grandstand seats above the village cricket pitch, where play takes place on the castle’s Green below.

The Clock Tower links the castle’s restored medieval curtain wall to a vast 13^th century tower and turret on which the 125-year old William Potts clock is set.

Legendary figures and royals who have stayed at Bamburgh Castle include the Anglo-Saxon kings of the real Last Kingdom era, along with a succession of monarchs from Henry I through to Queen Mary in the 20^th century.

Stake your own claim to Bamburgh Castle – albeit on a temporary basis – by staying in The Clock Tower, which is available to rent through Crabtree & Crabtree who specialise in sought-after holiday accommodation in the North of England and South of Scotland.

The Clock Tower has an en suite master bedroom, while a second double and single bedroom are spread across different floors. An open plan living, dining and kitchen area has dual aspect views of the sea towards Holy Island and the Cheviot Hills.

While Bamburgh Castle’s 14 staterooms and grounds are open to the public on each day, come closing time, guests staying in the Clock Tower, along with the castle’s residents, get to enjoy the grounds and terraces of this Northumberland jewel exclusively to themselves.

Bamburgh Castle owner Francis Watson Armstrong said: “The Clock Tower embraces all the glorious quirky character and charm a castle tower should have in bags. The sumptuous colours and furnishings give it a contemporary feel without losing the extraordinary atmosphere Bamburgh Castle has.

“Quite apart from the unique experience of staying in one of the largest inhabited castles in the country, I can’t think of anywhere else in the world where you can watch the dolphins leaping out of the sea below, while the sun sets beyond the Cheviot Hills. During the cricket season you can settle back and watch play unfold on the marvellous cricket pitch below that has become famous the world over.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming guests to what is a magical place to stay.”

Find out more or book your stay in Bamburgh Castle’s The Clock Tower. 

A chance excavation by archaeologists winding up a summer dig at Bamburgh Castle has unearthed a rare roundhouse which could change the course of history at England’s finest castle.

Volunteers at The Bamburgh Research Project were finishing their annual field project at the castle, when a last-minute decision to excavate a further few inches of soil revealed the foundations of a ‘substantial’ roundhouse, around 12m in diameter.

The position of the rubble foundations in the archaeological layers leads the excavators to believe the original structure could be over 2000 years old and date back to Roman occupation of Britain, holding vital clues between the transition from the Roman period to Anglo Saxon England.

Graeme Young is director of The Bamburgh Research Project. He said: “It’s a remarkable find and one of the most important archaeological discoveries to be made here at Bamburgh Castle since excavations began in the 1960s. It was sheer chance that we decided to dig that little bit further in the final days of digging here at the castle, otherwise we would have missed it.

“There’s a good chance that the foundations date back to the Romano British period when Britain was under Roman occupation. Bamburgh would more than likely have been within a military zone north of Hadrian’s Wall, where client chieftains were paid off by the Romans to keep the peace and control the natives.”

Once the royal capital of Northumbria, the largest and most powerful kingdom in the British Isles in the 7^th century and home to the Anglo Saxon kings, Bamburgh’s earliest recorded history began in AD 547, when the first timbers of a fortified wooden stockade were laid.

But there are gaps in history about who lived at this famous coastal site before the Anglo Saxon kings, which The Bamburgh Research Project is excited this new discovery could help reveal.

Said Graeme: “While we have a good understanding about Anglo Saxon life at the ruling capital of Bamburgh, there are many theories surrounding the Roman period up to the life of the early medieval kings. Everyone expects continuity, and this discovery has the potential to give us fascinating evidence and flesh on the very bare skeleton about the continual occupation of Bamburgh, where generation after generation have lived for thousands of years.”

“Bamburgh is such an important archaeological site that goes back at least 3000 years to pre-Roman occupation. We know very little about the pre-historic period, there are no written records. We have the names of kings from the 7^th century but when you go back earlier to the transformation between the Romans to Anglo Saxon England it’s not well known at all. “This find is probably at the beginning of that phase which is very exciting and gives us a window that is effectively prehistoric to explore.”

He added:  “To find a roundhouse in the north with such a well-preserved sequence of floor surfaces is very rare, but what is exciting is that it may help us fill the missing jigsaw pieces of continuity in Bamburgh’s history, which is one of the most historically rich archaeological sites in the UK.”

Bamburgh Castle is privately owned and run by the Armstrong family who are funding further archaeological investigations for The Bamburgh Research Project to complete at the roundhouse site over the coming weeks including sampling, carbon testing and analysis of the data discovered.

Francis Watson Armstrong, owner of Bamburgh Castle said: “What an amazing find to have uncovered here at Bamburgh Castle. It is incredibly exciting that The Bamburgh Research Project have discovered such a vital connecting clue in Bamburgh’s past, that will, we hope, help reveal more about the astonishing and absolutely unique history here at Bamburgh.”

You can view The Bamburgh Research Project’s archaeology site including the roundhouse foundation in the castle’s West Ward alongside an Anglo Saxon re-enactment village. Pre-booked advance tickets are available here. 

Bamburgh Castle is to feature on one of the BBC’s most popular programmes, Countryfile.

Presenters Matt Baker and Anita Rani visited Bamburgh Castle and met with owner Francis Watson Armstrong and explored behind the scenes at the castle with members of the castle’s staff.

They spent two days filming in the castle and around the village for the programme which airs on Sunday August 16. Around the castle and grounds, Matt and Anita spoke to Graeme Young, director of archaeology scheme, The Bamburgh Research Project about ongoing excavations at the castle and representatives from from Coast Care whose volunteers help preserve the beach and dunes around the castle which forms The Bamburgh Castle an Cragside Estate.

Francis Watson Armstrong said: “It’s been great to welcome the Countryfile team back to Bamburgh. It’s a fantastic show and we’re looking forward to seeing the programme when it airs. Matt and Anita were such good fun to film with – they put everyone at ease. They made time to speak to visitors and locals and were incredibly engaging with everyone. They genuinely do love the castle and surrounding area which really shows. We’re all looking forward to seeing the programme when it airs and hope to welcome the Countryfile team back to Bamburgh in the future.”

Watch Bamburgh Castle on Countryfile on BBC One on Sunday August 16 at 19.00.

The wait was over for fans of iconic coastal fortress Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland which has opened its doors to visitors once again.

Village postman Vince Knox pushed open the castle’s 15-foot gates while a Northumbrian piper played and the castle, which was closed for over 100 days during the lockdown, welcomed visitors over its ramparts once again.

Castle owner Francis Watson Armstrong along with members of the Armstrong family lined up to clap visitors through the gatehouse.

Said Francis: “It was an extraordinary moment and very emotional. I almost burst into tears. Not only do we depend on people visiting the castle to help us preserve the building and its contents for future generations of people to enjoy, visitors bring the castle to life. It has been wonderful seeing the castle living and breathing once again. It’s a day that will go down in Bamburgh’s history books.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support and for visiting Bamburgh Castle. It’s tremendous to be open again.”

Bamburgh Castle has reopened as a Covid-Secure attraction and is VisitEngland and VisitBritain ‘We’re Good To Go’ quality assured, the industry standard that shows a tourism organisation has completed Covid-19 reopening risk assessments and has measures in place to look after visitors and staff.

Will Douglas is Bamburgh Castle’s visitor services manager. He said: “The beauty of Bamburgh is that it is such a vast site covering nine acres with plenty of open spaces which makes it easier for people to social distance.

“External health and safety consultants have been working alongside us to make sure we have systems in place that allow people to visit us with confidence while still enjoying what really is one of the finest castles in Britain.

“These include a preferred one-way route, social distancing markers, being a cash-free site and bringing in additional WCs. We’ve opened with restricted visitor numbers with pre bookable advance tickets. While we’re still taking in walk in admissions on the day, we’re monitoring these closely.”

He added: “Naturally we are following Government guidelines carefully and the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and staff is our absolute priority at all times.

“But standing here today and being able to welcome people and our team back to Bamburgh Castle again after more than 100 days is fantastic.”

Bamburgh Castle has become one of the first tourist organisations in the country to achieve a new ‘ring of confidence’ industry standard to welcome back visitors safely.

The ‘We’re Good to go’ industry standard and supporting mark was launched by VisitEngland yesterday in partnership with the national tourist organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to give confidence to tourists as the sector prepares to reopen.

The standard recognises Bamburgh Castle is adhering to Government and public health guidance and has in place protocols including social distancing and cleanliness. It also shows that the castle has carried out Covid-19 risk assessments with processes in place to allow people to visit its grounds and staterooms safely when the castle reopens on Monday July 6^th.

William Watson Armstrong, whose family own Bamburgh Castle, said: “We welcome VisitEngland’s new industry standard which gives people the confidence to know they will be visiting an attraction that puts their safety – and that of our team – first, and that has a national ‘ring of confidence’ around it.

“Our health and safety team have been working closely with external specialists carrying out stringent risk assessments and installing new safety measures so people can enter our gates safely while still enjoying a unique visitor experience to England’s finest coastal castle.

“It is excellent to have this official affirmation from VisitEngland that the covid-secure measures we have introduced match national industry standards giving us and our visitors and staff peace of mind that we’re good to go here at Bamburgh Castle.”

VisitEngland director Patricia Yates said: “With millions of jobs and local economies across the country reliant on tourism it is essential that businesses can get up and running as soon as the respective Government advice allows to capture the peak British summer season.

“We want visitors to be able to enjoy their holidays and to support businesses to be confident they have the correct procedures in place. Our priority is to make sure tourism rebounds to once again become one of the most successful sectors of the UK economy and this ‘ring of confidence’ is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.”

Alongside the industry standard is a new public information campaign Know Before You Go launched by VisitEngland which sign-posts information to visitors as restrictions are lifted to check what is safe to do and when and to information about destinations and available services before travelling.

Find out more about planning your safe visit to Bamburgh Castle  here.

The team at Bamburgh Castle are in full swing getting England’s finest castle ready to welcome visitors again from Monday July 6th.

The castle – which covers a nine-acre site – is planning to open its grounds and staterooms following the government’s guidelines in response to COVID-19, which aim to permit visitor attractions to open in July as part of the phased easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Alongside this, the castle’s management team have completed rigorous health and safety planning with external specialists and are introducing a number of covid-secure measures to protect visitors and staff when the award-winning attraction re-opens.

Will Douglas is visitor services manager at Bamburgh Castle. He said: “We are excited to be welcoming visitors back to Bamburgh Castle again, however the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and our team is absolutely fundamental.

“Our team of safety experts have been working closely with external health and safety consultants and partners including destination management organisations like Visit England to ensure we reopen as a trusted, covid-secure attraction, where people can still enjoy a phenomenal visitor experience with confidence.

Bamburgh Castle owner Francis Watson Armstrong said: “Bamburgh Castle simply is a magnificent place to visit and truly is a national treasure that people are longing to visit once again.

“We are fortunate to have nine acres of some of Britain’s most spectacular open spaces for people to experience, along with views of our famous stretch of coastline that you just can’t observe from anywhere else. It will be amazing to see the castle and grounds come to life with people once again and we’re looking forward to opening our gates. It will be an emotional moment.

“The past few months have been harrowing for everyone. Our team has worked very hard in these difficult times to bring us to this point where we have peace of mind to open our doors once again.

“We will continue to monitor and follow government regulations at all times and update our plans should any changes arise, with the safety of the public and our staff being paramount.”

New safety measures introduced at Bamburgh Castle include restricted visitor numbers, becoming a cashless site, marked social distancing, a preferred route with signed walkways in the staterooms and grounds, enhanced cleaning programmes and hand sanitisation stations throughout the site. Takeaway refreshments will be available from the castle’s Clock Tower Tearooms.

For more information about Bamburgh Castle’s Covid-secure facilities and planning your visit click here.