Alnwick Castle

Just remember that the "l" and the "w" are silent and you'll be okay. I think it must be French. Anyhow, I had resisted going into Alnwick back in 2013--I'm not fond of these proprietary castles with their many side-bar undertakings--but this time Vicki insisted. And this time we found a camping site at the Alnwick Rugby Football Club, very similar to the one back in Kenilworth, except Alnwick caters to campers specifically, also footballers, and we were very definitely not alone. The pub at Alnwick RFC was somewhat larger and more festive than the one at Kenilworth, with longer hours and wider selection. FWIW. (Come to think of it I have yet to see a rugby football club site without a pub; there must be some connection). Anyhow, we were in town to see the castle, home of the Dukes of Northumberland since way back when, and Hotspur (Henry Percy), and Harry Potter, and other things.

But first, walking from the football club to the castle, you come upon something else
of note

Barter Books, occupying the old Alnwick train station; pretty famous UK bookstore

True to its heritage, the train runs during opening hours

Don't laugh: this is where the last "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was found,
and from which a billion pound industry has sprouted; rumor is they're working
on a new one: "Keep Calm and Make Britain Great Again" 

Backside of Alnwick Castle

Which you get to see if you backtrack from this ancient town gate, evidently
not designed for RVs

Among other interesting landmarks

Anyhow, here we are back at Alnwick Castle

The ticket-taker cracked up when I asked her where we could buy the mouse-ears

Archery practice, I think

So we did the grand tour of the main hall--impressive in many
ways, including some museum quality art--but, alas, thankfully,
no pix were allowed, so we have nothing to show here...except
that we then went on one of the movie tours...Alnwick figured
in a couple of the Potter movies, and that, frankly, is why
most people are here

Broomstick riding, training and practice; what would Freud say?

The figures are 14th century, like the castle

In my next life I want to be one of these; OK, some would say I have already
fulfilled this wish, despite the lack of appropriate costume

Hotspur, Henry Percy, member of the Northumberland clan, great soldier of his
age, from Scotland to France to Ireland, until he went again his king, Henry IV;
things went quickly downhill from there (read your Shakespeare); as a traitorous-
type personne, he doesn't get many monuments

Hagrid's house (seriously)

Alnwick Garden; maybe next time