Alnwick Castle

After leaving Herding Hill Farm on Wednesday morning, we travelled up to Alnwick Castle. It is the home of Duke and Duchess of Northumberland so during winter months the Castle is closed and the family lives there. During summer months they reside elsewhere. So the Castle consists of a stately home surrounded by a medieval fort.
After having an outside tour of the Castle, we got introduced to our task which was to review 2 educational activities that they provide for kids, and suggesting improvements.
I don’t think anyone realised that the activities were going to be outside - the weather was freezing (it felt like the coldest day so far) and it didn’t stop raining all day. But the activities were interesting - first there was a storytelling of the life of Harry Hotspur, which included an actor playing Harry and dressing in costume.
Then we got the chance to design/build a Fantasy Fortress and make decisions on its features, ensuring that it contained castle defences. By the end of this activity, no one could feel their toes so it was nice to get back inside and get lunch from the cafe.
Alnwick Castle has been used as a filming location multiple times - our Tour Guide was listing them. Most notably it is known for Harry Potter, and also Downton Abbey. However, it has also been used in Elizabeth (with Cate Blanchett), Blackadder and ‘Hollow Crown: War of the Roses’ the Henry VI episode. The Tour Guide said that he was an extra when they shot scenes for this - the scene they were shooting was the burning of Joan of Arc on the stake.
We got to walk around the rooms of the Castle, and the rooms used by the Duke and Duchess and their family, so there were family photographs on display.
Then there was a section on Downton Abbey with a video which showed behind the scenes footage of them filming the Christmas Special episode (most of it was filmed in the Dining Room).