A Dog Friendly Day at Bamburgh Castle – Here’s How It Went
With Henry and Bandit in tow, we set off to visit Bamburgh Castle to see how dog-friendly it is.
- August 6, 2026
We’d heard dogs were welcome in the grounds and outdoor café but not inside the castle itself, so we wanted to find out if it was still worth visiting with two very eager golden retrievers.
Spoiler: It was.
It’s just one of several places we explored while visiting, you can see more of the best things we did in Bamburgh with the dogs here.
From the grand entrance to the castle’s outdoor spaces, here’s what we found.
Quick note: if you’re spending a couple of days exploring the village, many visitors base themselves in dog-friendly self-catering cottages in Bamburgh, which are within easy walking distance of the castle grounds.
Watch Our Dog-Friendly Day at Bamburgh Castle
We captured the whole experience on video – from walking up through the imposing entrance gates to letting the dogs roam the grassy gun terraces with castle views all around.
The video gives you a full look at what to expect, where you can go with dogs, and how it feels spending a couple of hours here with four paws in the mix.
Key Info for Visiting Bamburgh Castle with Dogs
- Parking: £5 per car (arrive early)
- Entry Cost: £37 (dogs go free)
- Dog-Friendly Areas: Grounds, Tack Room Takeaway, Victorian Stables
- No Dogs Allowed: Castle interior, museum
- Dog-Sitting Service: Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays (May–Sept, £5 for 30 mins)
- Nearby Food Spots: Middle Inn, Potted Lobster, Lord Crewe
- Best Walks: Bamburgh Beach, coastal path to Seahouses
Starting the Day – Parking & Letting the Dogs Run
We stayed at the super dog friendly Victoria Hotel just minutes up the road and didn’t have far to go.
We arrived at Bamburgh Castle’s car park, which costs £5 per car.
It’s right next to the castle, but we’d expect this would fill up fast in peak season.
There’s another car park on Links Road right below the castle that I’d expect to be an overflow parking spot during a busy day.
That allows overnight parking for motorhomes if you’re staying longer.
Before heading inside, we took Henry and Bandit over to the sand dunes for a run.
This was unexpected and perfect.
There was plenty of space for them to burn off some energy, chase each other, and roll in the sand.
We recommend stopping at the dunes first if you’re bringing a dog.
Once you’re inside the castle grounds, they’ll need to stay on the lead, so this is the best chance for a proper run.
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Exploring the Castle Grounds
Are dogs allowed inside Bamburgh Castle?
Yes and no.
Dogs can’t go inside the castle building or museum, but they are welcome in:
- The castle grounds (nine acres of space)
- The Victorian Stables
- The Tack Room Takeaway (dog-friendly outdoor seating)
The castle is enormous, and there’s plenty to see without going indoors.
The grounds have fantastic views over the Northumberland coast, and there are lots of benches, perfect green lawns and picnic spots if you want to sit for a while.
We visited on a weekday in February, and dogs were everywhere.
The staff were brilliant; they mentioned that dogs are in and out daily with guests to the castle.
This was unsurprising to us.
We reckon 50% of everyone we saw during our stay had a dog, although not many had two to contend with like us!
Dog Friendly Food Options at the Castle
If you’re planning to eat at the castle, here’s what you need to know:
The Tack Room Takeaway
Dogs are welcome. They serve hot drinks, cakes, and even dog-friendly ice cream.
This is literally like a kiosk takeaway cafe:
You order and then leave.
The staff were friendly, and there were plenty of outdoor seating areas for dogs.
The Victorian Stables
Dogs are welcome. If the weather isn’t great, there’s a covered area.
We grabbed a coffee and a slice of cake from the Tack Room and tried the stables while Henry and Bandit enjoyed some dog ice cream.
The Clock Tower Tea Room
No dogs are allowed inside.
But one part of your party could go and buy things to take away, maybe eat outside; I am not sure; we never tried, but here is the menu, which looks much larger than the tack room.
What If You Want to Go Inside the Castle?
Since dogs aren’t allowed indoors, you might wonder: Do we skip the castle interior?
Not necessarily.
Bamburgh Castle offers a dog-sitting service run by Northumberland Dog Rescue on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays (May to September).
For a small donation (£5 for 30 minutes, £10 for an hour), fully insured volunteers will watch your dog while you look inside.
Gair, who works at the castle, told us this is really popular. Some days, they get loads of dogs, and other days, not so many.
If you visit outside those dates, Patterson’s Cottage Kennels (just off the A1) offers doggy daycare in the morning or afternoon, with all proceeds going to charity.
I went in for 15 minutes while Liane stayed outside with Henry and Bandit.
I wanted to see The Last Kingdom exhibition, which displays costumes and props from the Netflix series.
It’s included in the general admission ticket, so if you’re a fan, it’s worth a quick look while your dog waits outside.
The Last Kingdom Window – What You Can and Can't See
If you love The Last Kingdom like us, you’ll probably know about the famous window from the final scene.
We asked Andy, a staff member, and he pointed it out. It’s on Philippa Tower, the third window up, with an arch around it.
I thought I’d found it!
Here’s the catch: you can’t access it on the tour. It’s part of an area reserved for weddings and private events, so you won’t see it up close unless you’re getting married at Bamburgh Castle.
That said, you can spot it from the car park before entering.
A Walk to Bamburgh Beach
After the castle, we walked straight to Bamburgh Beach, it’s dog-friendly all year round.
The dunes led to the shore, and the dogs went straight into the water. If you’re bringing your dog here, bring a towel.
Henry and Bandit were soaked within minutes.
We spent half an hour burning some energy off the dogs.
They met lots of other pups to play with, and there was a massive area of sandy beach to play ball and have some fun. If your dog still has energy left after that, there are also some great dog-friendly coastal walks from Bamburgh that are easy to add on from the beach.
It’s really picturesque, so we took some lovely shots of the dogs playing with the castle in the background.
Lunch or Dinner Near the Castle
Feeling peckish after all the fresh air, we walked into Bamburgh for lunch.
It is literally a ten-minute walk off the beach opposite the castle. It is a quaint street with a choice of eateries.
We chose a pub lunch at The Middle Inn, which welcomed us with the dogs.
They have a chalkboard outside advertising that they are dog friendly and have two water bowls filled for your dogs.
The Lord Crewe pub is also on the same street. It offers an extensive menu and is pet-friendly. It was busy when we passed.
Final Thoughts: Is Bamburgh Castle Dog Friendly?
100% yes.
Even though dogs can’t go inside the castle, they are very welcoming and there’s plenty to see and do:
- Nine acres of castle grounds to explore
- Dog-friendly cafés & picnic spots
- A vast, dog-friendly beach right under the castle walls
- A dog-sitting service if you want to go inside (on Certain days)
It’s also very peaceful, even in February, it wasn’t crowded or noisy. It is one reason late winter can be a great time to visit Bamburgh with dogs.
If you’re in Northumberland with a dog, Bamburgh Castle is worth a visit.
Would we do it again?
Definitely.
Next time, we’ll bring a picnic and spend the day at the beach.
If you’re planning a visit, we’d love to hear how your dog enjoyed it! 