Staycationers can catch the town’s firework display while enjoying a memorable break in the ‘perfect base for exploring Northumberland’
Bonfire Night is just around the corner – and there are spectacular firework displays planned across the North East for the occasion. If you’ve been thinking of taking an autumnal weekend break to Northumberland before the mania of Christmas hits, this could spell the perfect opportunity to do so.
One Northumberland town hosting its own display once again this year is Alnwick, where the Alnwick Round Table Fireworks 2025 will go off with a bang on Saturday, November 8 in a new venue at Alnwick Town Juniors Football Club. The club bar will be open and there will be food trucks on the grounds to fill your belly and stay warm as the skies light up, promising a fun-filled night for everyone with tickets available to buy on the gate.
Alnwick is one of the most popular destinations in Northumberland thanks to its wealth of world-famous attractions – and we’ve found somewhere to stay that’s in the perfect spot to see the fireworks. Nightfold Cottage is a converted barn retreat for two right on the rural edge of the town, a five-minute drive or 25-minute walk away from the display grounds.
Available to book on holidaycottages.co.uk the weekend of the Bonfire Night bonanza, this stone cottage is full of character with its vaulted ceiling, skylight windows and wooden stairs leading up to a mezzanine floor. However, potential guests should note that only bookings of seven nights or more starting on a Saturday are accepted at this property, priced at £603 to arrive on November 8 and start your holiday off with a literal bang.
While there’s plenty to do in Alnwick and surrounding Northumberland to fill a seven-night stay, those seeking a shorter getaway suited to larger families or friend groups can check out Teàrlach House over on Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has room for up to five people and is also just a few minutes away from the fireworks. It’s available to book on the weekend of the display for £684 for two nights.
We have a dedicated newsletter for What’s On news and reviews. It’s free and you can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest updates on food, drink, entertainment and events in and around the North East.
But it’s worth bearing in mind that when it comes to holidays cottages like these, there’s typically not much – if any – price difference between a short stay and a longer stay, so booking additional nights often means getting more of your money’s worth. Alternatively, those who prefer to rest their heads in a hotel can choose between several options in Alnwick.
Two of the closest options are The Hog’s Head Inn and The Oaks Hotel, both of which are available on the weekend of November 8 for £145 and £130 for a twin room respectively. Of course, you could also just take a day trip to Alnwick to catch the fireworks – it’s just a 45-minute drive away from Newcastle city centre or around 90 minutes by train.
Back at Nightfold Cottage, guests who have stayed here over the summer praised this property as the “perfect base for exploring Northumberland”, with one reviewer saying it was “definitely one of the best places” they had stayed in while others praised it as a “cosy and comfortable” retreat.
One visitor fed back: “We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this beautiful cottage. Everything that you could think of was provided. The bed was really comfortable and the welcome pack was so thoughtful. Lots of little touches made the difference for us – from the parking disc to all the literature about the area. Alnwick is close by but it still feels as if you are in the countryside. Just a beautiful place to be for a week of touring around this wonderful part of England.”
Alnwick is best known for its legendary Alnwick Castle, which plays host to events and activities throughout its opening months from medieval falconry demonstrations to jester shows and outdoor cinema screenings, although anyone planning a trip should note that it closes for the winter on October 23 and does not re-open until the end of March. But there’s plenty more to do in the market town.
Visitors also flock to The Alnwick Garden, home to a treehouse restaurant, cascading fountains, and famous Poison Garden filled with a selection of the world’s deadliest plants, as well as the giant play village of Lilidorei which is sure to make the visit memorable for little ones and is particularly magical at Christmas.
The castle and gardens are just the start of Alnwick’s must-see highlights – another place for history lovers to add to their itinerary is Bailiffgate Museum, which delves into 10,000 years of history all about Alnwick and the surrounding area. Meanwhile, another beloved spot is Barter Books, a second-hand bookshop set within a former train station that has been ranked among the most beautiful in the world.
