Above and beyond the town's fab castle, there's much to admire around these historic streets. The Alnwick Garden (20 minutes' walk) is likely to appeal to green-fingered sorts – fountains, water sculptures, bamboo labyrinths, rose gardens and a grove of poisonous plants can all be found here. The town is also home to Barter Books (10 minutes' walk), one of Britain's largest second-hand bookshops where bibliophiles can browse the titles in a converted Victorian station. The Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (15 minutes' drive) will be a prime pick for cyclists, who are pretty sure to appreciate the many miles of quiet lanes and off-road bike trails around Alnmouth (15 minutes). Windier spots like Bamburgh (30 minutes), meanwhile, are also nearby for those partial to board sports. Off-shore jaunts to the scenic Farne Islands can be sorted in Seahouses (25 minutes). You may well want to book yourself onto one of Billy Shiel's Boat Trips – this family-run business has been taking folks out to see the Farnes for over a hundred years, so they'll have plenty of seafaring stories to tell during the crossing.