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Alnwick Castle and the Scottish Borders - 1 day tour
Alnwick Castle and the Scottish Borders Tour
One day tour
On this magical tour, travel through the picturesque Scottish Border Country to visit Melrose Abbey. Cross into England to visit Alnwick Castle, the second-largest inhabited castle in England. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll recognise the castle as Hogwarts in the first two movies. Back in Scotland, enjoy beautiful views of the Bass Rock when you explore the pretty town of North Berwick.
Melrose Abbey - discover the history behind one of Scotland’s largest abbeys
Alnwick Castle - explore one of Britain’s most iconic castles, home to the Percy family for over 700 years
Harry Potter - try broomstick training at the real Hogwarts!
Alnwick - walk the cobbled streets of this ancient market town
Berwick-upon-Tweed - travel through the walled border town on the River Tweed
North Berwick - Enjoy free time by the scenic harbour or browse the shops in this attractive seaside town
Movie locations - Downton Abbey, Harry Potter and Blackadder
Full Tour Itinerary
We travel out of bustling Edinburgh and make our way through the rolling Moorfoot Hills to the charming town of Melrose, where we will enjoy a photo-stop at the ancient Melrose Abbey.
Dating from the 12th Century, the Abbey was attacked and ransacked by English troops on many occasions. Our famous King, Robert the Bruce, had the Abbey rebuilt, and it is said that he loved it so much his heart was buried here.
During our visit to Melrose Abbey, look out for the gargoyle of a pig playing the bagpipes!!
The pleasant market town of Kelso sits at the confluence of the Rivers, Tweed and Teviot. The centre of the town is an impressive cobbled square surrounded by Georgian buildings.
Shortly we will cross from Scotland into England and enter the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria.
Impressive Alnwick Castle is our next treat. After Windsor Castle, it is the second-largest inhabited castle in England and has been occupied for over 700 years. During our time here, you can explore the impressive Staterooms or stroll through the extensive gardens.
If you are a fan of the Harry Potter movies, then Alnwick is sure to be familiar to you as it was here that Harry and his classmates had their first flights using broomsticks.
Our journey back to Edinburgh will take us through the ancient Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, then back into Scotland once more.
There are lovely coastal views to savour as we make our way towards North Berwick, our last stop of the day, then onwards through the farming country of East Lothian to journey's end in Edinburgh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Day Tour?
Travelling on a Signature one-day tour is a great way to discover the best of Scotland from your city centre base of Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
During your day of discovery we’ll introduce you to many aspects of our country: spectacular scenery, history, folklore, nature and much, much more.
Luxury travel is provided by air-conditioned mini or midi coaches and each tour is led by an experienced driver/guide who will provide a live commentary in English.
There are stops planned at the key sights as well as for meals and comfort breaks.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
To give you complete choice admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour. The tour itinerary has been carefully designed to provide sufficient time for you to visit these attractions:
If you click on the links above they will provide you with more information on each attraction including current admission prices. In some cases a special discount is offered to tour passengers, your driver/guide will provide details if this applies.
Please note that credit/debit cards are not always accepted so it is recommended that you carry sufficient cash with you should you want to make a visit.
This tour will visit England, do I need a passport?
Scotland and England are part of the United Kingdom so there are no Border formalities and you’ll not need a passport.
Can you give me advice on tipping?
It is customary to acknowledge excellent service by offering a tip.
We are often asked for guidance on the matter. It's such a difficult question to answer; however, we offer these suggestions as being a fair amount.
If your tour was operated by a driver/guide £7.00 per person per day.
If your tour was operated by a separate driver & guide £5.00 per person per day to each staff member.
Please bear in mind that these amounts are purely discretionary and it is customary to present tips on an individual basis at the end of the tour.
Where does my tour depart from and return to?
Our tours depart from a central location in Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile/High Street which is easily reached by public transport.
Full information on the departure time and place of your tour will be shown on your tour confirmation.
Inclusions
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From 1 Parliament Square
Royal Mile/High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Check-in: 08:45 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discounts apply to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 3 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 3 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 48 hours notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 00178
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 08 Sep 2022
Awesome tour, great intro to Scottish history. The views are amazing, the castle and the scenic highlands were great to look at. Enough time on the stops to check out the shops and get some snacks. Bring water and clothing for different elements!
Neha from Lethbridge, CA
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Rating: (4 /5) 15 Sep 2019
The time management of the tour guide was good. We are a small group of people and we are able to visit all the spots and also an additional stop at a beautiful beach. The vehicle is very comfortable.
Regina from Hong Kong, HK
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Rating: (5 /5) 24 Sep 2017
Our one day tour was to Alnwick Castle, Rosemont and North Berwick Harbour. Jamie was our tour guide and he was fantastic. He was so knowledgeable, funny and an excellent driver. He covered just about everything and we enjoyed his humor. Jamie couldn't do enough for you making sure everyone was comfortable. We could have spent another hour at the Alnwick Castle. Just not enough time to see the castle, the gardens, have lunch and check the town out. Rosemont was charming with the Abby and gardens. We loved going to North Berwick Harbour, a hidden gem. Nice driving along the coastline. Just lovely. Would definitely definitely recommend this tour. A negative would be that the seats in the van were very small and very uncomfortable. Other than that, the tour was fabulous. Thanks Jamie for a wonderful day!!!!' You're an awesome tour guide!!!!
victor/olena from Florida,
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