What is Alnwick Castle?
Alnwick Castle is a medieval castle in Northumberland, northeast England, famous as a filming location for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. It has been the home of the Percy family, Dukes of Northumberland, for over 700 years.
The castle was built after the Norman Conquest and has been owned by the Percy family since 1309. It is the second-largest inhabited castle in England, after Windsor Castle.
Inside, the State Rooms are decorated in a lavish Italian Renaissance style, with paintings by artists such as Titian and Canaletto.
Harry Potter and more
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the castle's grounds were used for the scene where Harry learns to fly a broomstick. Visitors can take broomstick training lessons.
The castle also appeared in Downton Abbey and other films and television series.
Next to the castle is the Alnwick Garden, which includes the Poison Garden, filled with toxic plants, and one of the world's largest treehouses. The castle is open to visitors in the spring and summer.
It sits beside the River Aln in a historic market town.