Alnwick Castle and Gardens

This past saturday we travelled to the town of Alnwick (pronounced Annick). We toured and had tickets to view the grounds of the Castle and Gardens there. The Castle has a 700 year old history of the Percy family, which had a whole lot of Dukes and the like. The castle was very well preserved, and if I remember correctly, was never actually attacked during battle like it was prepared to. The grounds were beautiful. The grass was bright green and they built a restaurant and gift shop there as well. People even have weddings there, which they were preparing for that day. The castle is also the site for the filming of many movies...such as one of my personal favorites - Harry Potter! I didn't get to go on the Magical Tour on Saturday, but two other girls and I went back on Sunday so we could find out information about the filming of the movies. They only filmed some of the scenes from the first and second films there though. The most famous one that everyone asks about is the quidditch flying lesson in the first film. Other scenes include Hagrid's Hut and forbidden forest, flying car scenes, library and hogwarts express scenes, Charms lesson, and the Quidditch pitch. They also filmed other movies like Robin Hood and Elizabeth there, however Harry Potter is the most famous and interesting attraction of the films.

After the tour on Saturday (the historical tour), we went to the Alnwick Gardens, which is right behind the castle a little ways. The gardens were beautiful! There must be so much work and care put into them, because they are so meticulous and well-designed. There were a few differnet sections as well. There was the main gardens behind the water fountain and stream, the Rose Garden, with hundreds of different types of roses, the bamboo maze which is made out of completely bamboo, the poison garden, and an area with metal water structures, and also a Cherry Tree Orchard. They have to have a staff of dozens of gardeners, otherwise they would not be able to sustain these gardens. They were so colorful and nicely designed.

After we left the town of Alnwick, we went to the Warkwork Castle, which also owned by the Percy family (same as the Alnwick Castle). That family actually owns (or did) lots of land in the area called Northumbrai, UK. They technically only have to live in each castle for one night a year to still own them, and they actually live there for a few months during the winter season and the spring into summer season they open to the public. The Warkwork Castle was actually used during battle, and looks like ruins. As some people call it, more 'authentic.' It was pretty neat to walk around and see the ruins and all the areas that were used in battles.

We returned to Newcastle early that evening and it was the beginning of Freshers Week, or Welcome week we would call it in the US. We went to the beach themed party in the student union and it was pretty fun, not too bad. Tomorrow is the Angel of the North Trip and the Quayside Trip, and then at night the event called Pandamonium as well has one of my flatmates birthdays. Another busy day, and on top of it, I have to figure out my classes. Well, more later! xoxo