Lindisfarne Castle
A castle (that’s not a castle), on an island (that’s not an island).
Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH
Opening times for 4 December 2023
Asset Opening time Castle Closed Garden Open all day Shop Closed Last entry to the castle is 1 hour before the closing time.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £9.40 £8.50 Child £4.70 £4.25 Family £23.40 £21.25 1 adult, 3 children £14.10 £12.75 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Shop
In the village
Dogs
In the grounds, on short leads.
Toilet
One toilet at the castle.
Plant shop
At the shop in the village.
One toilet at the castle. Access to castle by foot up steep cobbled ramp and steps – sturdy footwear recommended. Some dark spaces inside the castle.
Drop-off point
Pull in place before the gate into the castle field.
Seating available
Window seats on the Long Gallery
Induction loop
Steps/uneven terrain
Uneven cobbled ramps and steep steps.
Narrow corridors
By road
5 miles east of A1 across a tidal causeway, please check safe crossing times before visiting by going to https://holyislandcrossingtimes.northumberland.gov.uk To get here there is only one road and that is covered twice a day by the North Sea. About three miles of road can be covered by the tide but coming by car is still the easiest and most common way of visiting.
Parking: in the interests of village residents please use main island car park, 1 mile (signposted before village). Pay and display car park with card and pay by phone options (not National Trust). Disabled/Blue badge car park/Coach park signposted in village.
On foot
from Holy Island village, about 1 mile. Many visitors will attempt the Pilgrims Way, the ancient route across the sands marked by wooden posts. If you intend on walking this route and haven’t done so before, please contact someone at the castle or the Island Heritage Centre. Always check the safe crossing times https://holyislandcrossingtimes.northumberland.gov.uk We are part of " Good Journey" and offer a 10% discount on admission or a free guidebook for supporters travelling car- free.
By train
Berwick-upon-Tweed 10 miles from causeway. Buses and taxis available at the station.
We are part of " Good Journey" and offer a 10% discount on admission or a free guidebook for supporters travelling car - free
Find out more about exploring car-freeBy bus
Travelsure run their H1 service to the island which connects to the 418 bus at Belford. This bus is not a regular service so please check the Travelsure website for specific trips.
The X15 and X18 run a regular service from Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed to Beal, not far from Holy Island causeway
From Beal there are local and seasonal buses to Holy Island – timetables depend on tides, so check directly with the operators.We are part of " Good Journey" and offer a 10% discount on admission or a free guidebook for supporters travelling car - free.
By bicycle
NCN1. Coast and Castles cycle route
We are part of " Good Journey" and offer a 10% discount on admission or a free guidebook for supporters travelling car- free.
Find out more about exploring car-free There are cycle racks next to the gate into the castle field.Car free
Travel the green way and help us preserve this amazing place.
Enjoy 10% off admission or a free guidebook when you arrive car-free, showing a bus/train ticket, or bike
There’s a direct bus from Berwick-upon-Tweed – but the timetable varies with the tides!
Walking across to the island offers a real pilgrimage experience and helps keep the island special by reducing traffic – check the tide times first.
Find out more about exploring car-freeHoly Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH
Planning your visit
The Holy Island Causeway
Safe crossing times for the Holy Island Causeway. The castle is occasionally open while the causeway is closed, so please check these times before you travel.
Visiting Lindisfarne Castle with your dog
Your dog is welcome to join you on the many walking routes on Holy Island and the land around Lindisfarne Castle, a one pawprint rated place. Find out what to be aware of and the facilities available.
Highlights
Castle
Edwardian holiday home, converted by Sir Edwin Lutyens into a private holiday home for Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine.
Gertrude Jekyll walled garden
Small walled summer flowering garden, deigned by Gertrude Jekyll in 1911. The garden is a riot of colour and fragrance in the summer months from the abundant planting of roses (among them, of course, Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’), sweet peas, cornflowers, chrysanthemums, fuchsias, larkspurs and lavender ‘Munstead’.
Headland walks and Victorian Limekilns
Listen to the sounds of the seals' "singing" and maybe spot them swimming just offshore on a walk around the castle headland. Take in views of the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle on this short circular walk ( ideal for smaller legs). Explore inside the Victorian limekilns as you pass; They are some of the best preserved examples of kilns in the UK ( and a great spot for a game of hide and seek).
Contemporary art
Inside the castle, experience the immersive, thought provoking contemporary sound installation by artist Paul Rooney " Song; After nature". A haunting cello composition that takes inspiration from the calls of the island’s resident grey seals, along with the cries of gulls, waves crashing on the shore and wind blowing across the open expanses to warn of a looming climate catastrophe and a future where nature only exists as a ghost.
Things to see and do
Family-friendly things to do at Lindisfarne Castle
Discover what family-friendly activities are on offer during October half term at Lindisfarne Castle in Northumberland, from bird and seal spotting to flying a kite and skimming stones in the sea.
Things to see and do in the garden
The garden is a peaceful spot throughout the year, find out what there is to see at this time of year.
Things to do in Lindisfarne Castle
From the Kitchen and cosy Dining Room to the views from the Upper Battery, explore inside Lindisfarne Castle to imagine how residents lived in centuries past.
Paul Rooney returns to Lindisfarne Castle with Song (After Nature)
Paul Rooney's immersive sound piece "Song: After Nature" is back for second year. Key items of the castles collection have been brought back to weave a tale of excess and unsustainability.
Things to do outdoors at Lindisfarne Castle
From Gertrude Jekyll's Garden to fascinating boat sheds and lime kilns offering a window into Holy Island's industrial past, there's plenty to explore around Lindisfarne Castle.
Contemporary art at Lindisfarne Castle with Liz Gre
Coming soon..... Introducing contemporary artist and composer Liz Gre, whose sound and sculptural piece " Embodied Cacophony" will be in-situ at Lindisfarne Castle in 2024.
Top trails
Lindisfarne Castle walk
Enjoy a short walk around Lindisfarne Castle, taking in the 19th-century lime kilns, castle headland and the walled garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll. Includes options for more accessible routes.
Shopping
Shopping at Lindisfarne Castle
Discover the wide range of products available in National Trust shop in the village on Holy Island, from gifts and homeware to plants and gardening tools.
Places to stay
St Oswald's Cottage
A Grade II listed cottage on Holy Island, designed by Lutyens, reached by crossing a tidal causeway.
Glen House
Half a mile away from Lindisfarne Castle, this simple little hideaway is perfect for seal watching.
Lookout Cottage
A former lookout, this simple but snug cottage is next to a HM Coastguard radio room.
Rockside Cottage
A former fisherman’s cottage next to a cosy pub with sea views and a bright, contemporary living space.
Risemoor
Close to the sands of Embleton Bay, this coastal cottage is a great spot for wildlife watching.
About Lindisfarne Castle
Travel across the causeway to Holy Island and discover this magical place. One of the most iconic landmarks in the UK, Lindisfarne Castle was converted by famed architect Sir Edwin Lutyens into a private holiday home for Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine.
Outside, discover the summer-flowering garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll, the unexpected grandeur of the 19th-century industrial lime kilns, shoreline walks and a National Trust shop in the village.
For 2022 and 2023, a new soundscape installation by artist Paul Rooney blends the past with the future, with nature at its core.
Before visiting the island, please check the tide timetable to see safe crossing times for the Holy Island causeway.
History
History of Lindisfarne Castle
Discover the history of Lindisfarne Castle and its surrounds, from the area’s industrial past and curious boat sheds to the castle’s renovation and its dedicated caretakers.
Art and collections
Lindisfarne Castle's objects and collections
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Lindisfarne Castle on the National Trust Collections website.
Support us
Garden volunteering at Lindisfarne Castle
Gordon and Helen have been volunteering twice a week at the Gertrude Jekyll garden at Lindisfarne Castle for several years now. Find out what they have to say about the experience.