England’s most northerly (and least populated) county, Northumberland, is a glorious place to visit and live. And Northumberland’s coastline is nothing short of magical. You’ll find beautiful villages, the most dramatic of beaches, and incredible history. It’s been a hard place to live over the centuries – we’ve battled our northern (and eastern) neighbours quite a lot through the years. But there is something starkly beautiful about how Northumberland’s seaside villages have developed. Buildings and village design here always have a function, and many of our prettiest villages seem to be despite sometimes brutal weather from the North Sea. Here are 8 of Northumberland’s prettiest seaside villages.
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The UK Government has a classification system that tells us what a town is, and what’s a village. Villages are small communities of less than 7,500 people, and we also have some sizable towns in Northumberland. Blyth (where my family and I lived until I was 11) is the largest (according to 2021 figures). Hexham (which I wrote about here) is the 7th largest, while Alnwick rocks in at number ten on the list.
The Prettiest Seaside Northumberland Villages
But that’s not what we’re here to talk about today. Today, it’s the turn of the villages, but not just any villages, we’re looking at the prettiest seaside villages in Northumberland. Ready?
1. Bamburgh
Bamburgh might just take your breath away. Its iconic castle stands tall above the most glorious beach in the entire world and has miles of dunes. It could be argued that it’s picture postcard perfect, with its cricket pitch in the shadow of the castle. It has a 19th century heroine buried in the local churchyard and a few pubs dispensing local ales and sage advice.
It’s certainly one of the most popular seaside Northumberland villages. Bamburgh’s castle is the largest inhabited castle in the country, and its lighthouse is the most northerly land-based lighthouse in England.
My guide to what to do in Bamburgh is here
The best places to stay in Bamburgh are detailed here.
- Best for couples: Quarry Mews Cottage
- Best for families: Beach House Bamburgh
- Best for a one night stay: The Sunningdale Hotel
The top thing to do in Bamburgh? You’ll want to visit the castle, and I’ve covered that here.
2. Holy Island (Lindisfarne)
We’re moving from one magical place to another. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is only accessible at low tide via a causeway. Virtually all the visitors here come for the day and leave before the tide traps them. I prefer to think of it the other way round. They’re all trapped on the mainland, and then you’ll get to experience the true magic of Holy Island.
The island is home to the eye-wateringly photogenic ruins of Lindisfarne Priory, the stunning Gertrude Jeykll gardens located in the gardens of the once private home that is Lindisfarne Castle, and, of course also, the mead of St Aidan’s Winery. It’s windswept, quiet, and like nowhere else I’ve ever been.
My guide to what to do on Holy Island is here
The best places to stay on Holy Island are detailed here.
- Best for couples: Manor House Hotel
- Best for families: St Coomb’s Farmhouse
- Best for a one night stay: Manor House Hotel
The top thing to do on Holy Island? Definitely visit Lindisfarne Castle, and my guide is here.
3. Craster
For a small village, Craster is amazingly well catered for. Back in the day (well, around the early 1900s, Craster’s harbour was teeming with fishing boats, supplying the smokehouses with herring that was smoked to become the incredible Moorish smoked kippers (I wrote about them here). There’s one smokehouse left in Craster, the original L Robson’s and Son’s, and if that’s not enough to convince you to visit, I suppose I should continue.
Just 1.3 miles from Craster, along the coast, through the fields where hardy sheep graze, is Dunstanburgh Castle, my favourite of all the Northumberland Castles (despite having to be rescued from there by the Coastguard when I broke my wrist in 2018). Dunstanburgh is a ruin. But it’s a beautiful ruin. Magical. Fairytale-like and you can almost imagine the feuding from centuries ago as you walk around the walls. I mean castle. Don’t walk on the walls. Please don’t walk on the walls.
My guide to what to do in Craster is here
The best places to stay in Craster are detailed here.
- Best for couples: Plumtree Cottage, Craster
- Best for families: Craster Tower Coach House
- Best for a one night stay: The Cottage Inn, Craster
The top thing to do in Craster? Do not miss Dunstanburgh Castle, and my guide is here. (ah ok, eat the kippers too)
4. Alnmouth
We spent summers here when I was a child, when we lived in Blyth. We stayed in a B&B, spent days on the beach here, and rode a white pony that belonged to I don’t remember who. You might have guessed it from the name, but if not, then the village sits where the River Aln joins the North Sea.
There are a surprising number of pubs here. Some gorgeous places to stay and a lot of birdlife on the estuary. Wander the beach, walk part of the coast path, and play golf at the village club – it’s England’s oldest nine-hole links course! Or just find a quiet spot and a good book (my guide to Northumberland books is here). Alnmouth is what summer holidays used to be like.
My guide to what to do in Alnmouth is here
The best places to stay in Alnmouth are detailed here.
- Best for couples: The Summer House
- Best for families: Riverside, Alnmouth
- Best for a one night stay: The Red Lion, Alnmouth
The top thing to do in Alnmouth? Walk part of the coast path to Warkworth – it’s a delight. You can walk one way and catch the bus back “home”
5. Warkworth
Ok, so you’ve got me. Warkworth isn’t quite on the coast, but it’s pretty darned close (and if you do the walk to/from Alnmouth, you can follow the River Coquet down to the North Sea and, well, then you’ll see that it’s just about at the seaside. Warkworth is completely dominated by the immense castle, with several amazingly intact towers.
The beach is huge, vast, and unspoiled. Walk through the quiet streets of the village, don’t miss visiting the castle, walk over the fortified footbridge, and then take a boat ride up the River Coquet to visit the Warkworth Hermitage; it’s like a different world.
My guide to what to do in Warkworth is here
The best places to stay in Warkworth are detailed here.
- Best for couples: The Byre, Warkworth
- Best for families: Water’s Edge, Warkworth
- Best for a one night stay: Warkworth House Hotel
The top thing to do in Warkworth? Visit the Warkworth Hermitage – English Heritage members get in for free (it’s a handy membership to have around here! – so join now!)
6. Beadnell
Beadnell Beach and the glorious Beadnell Bay comes, for me, a close second behind Bamburgh for the world’s best beaches. Beadnell is a huge surprise. You might think that there are a lot of cars in the car parks or quite a few holiday homes around here. But get on that beach, and you’ll wonder where everyone has gone. It is one of the best places to find your own bit of quiet. Beadnell is also popular with watersports enthusiasts, as its horseshoe-shaped bay is ideal for paddleboarding, sailing, kayaking, or just having a bit of a paddle.
Beadnell is also steeped in history, with its 18th-century lime kilns by the harbour, a 13th-century village chapel, and the remains of a medieval tower house in which the fabulous Craster Arms pub is now located. During summer months, you’ll find pairs of nesting arctic terns – they’re rare protected birds, and there are special viewing points where you can watch for them.
My guide to what to do in Beadnell is here
The best places to stay in Beadnell are detailed here.
- Best for couples: The Craster Arms Hotel
- Best for families: Rockview Beadnell
- Best for a one night stay: The Beadnell Towers Hotel
The top thing to do in Beadnell? Get involved with some watersports – start with either Active 4 Seasons or Northside Surf School
7. Seahouses
The tempo picks up a notch at Seahouses. It’s known as the “Gateway to the Farne Islands,” and this bustling village is the perfect spot for a boat trip to see puffins, seals, and even dolphins. There are seaside souvenirs galore, and another historic smokehouse for those herrings, aka smoked kippers.
Seahouses is a great place for surfing, for spending family time on the long sandy beaches here and the busy harbour means that you’ll be able to find a boat to take a trip along the coast.
My guide to what to do in Seahouses is here
The best places to stay in Seahouses are detailed here.
- Best for couples: Oar Cottage, Seahouses
- Best for families: Sound of the Sea
- Best for a one night stay: The Beach House Hotel
The top thing to do in Seahouses? Visit the Farne Islands. This is the gateway village, and the Farne Islands are truly spectacular!
8. Amble
Known as the “Friendliest Port,” and down the River Coquet from Warkworth Amble has a welcoming feel that makes you want to stay awhile. Amble has long been associated with the coal mining industry of the North East; it was used as a port to export the coal mined from nearby Radcliffe and Broomhill collieries. Each July, the village commemorates an association with the RMS Mauretania, once the world’s largest ship. On 3rd July 1935, as the ship sailed to the breakers yard in Rosyth, the ship telegraphed, “Thank you to the last and kindliest port.”
Quirky craft shops and food stalls at the harbour are great places to browse and buy local souvenirs. You can also take a boat trip to Coquet Island, it’s just a mile offshore and is a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) managed nature reserve – home to puffins, seals, and a fascinating history.
My guide to what to do in Amble is here
The best places to stay in Amble are detailed here.
- Best for couples: The Loft, Amble
- Best for families: Coastal Retreat
- Best for a one night stay: The Harbour Inn
The top thing to do in Amble? Visit Coquet Island on a Puffin Cruise from Amble Harbour
TRAVEL NORTHUMBERLAND ESSENTIALS
These are the resources and booking sites that we use when we’re exploring Northumberland.
BOOKS ABOUT NORTHUMBERLAND – Read about Northumberland in these incredible books
BOOK BUSES & TRAINS to and from Northumberland with Omio
RENT A CAR in Northumberland with Discover Cars
ACCOMMODATION IN NORTHUMBERLAND:
Book holiday cottages with Sykes Cottages & Holiday Cottages
Find a glorious Northumberland Hotel or B&B with Booking.com
Explore Northumberland’s Hostels with the YHA
JOIN ENGLISH HERITAGE and explore Northumberland’s Castles & More
WALK NORTHUMBERLAND with the Ordnance Survey App and maps
BOOK ATTRACTIONS & NORTHUMBERLAND TOURS
Use GetYourGuide for great Northumberland Attractions
Final Words on Northumberland’s 8 Prettiest Seaside Villages
Each of Northumberland’s seaside villages has its own character and charm. Whether you’re drawn to busy harbours, quiet beaches, or locations mired deep in history, there’s something for everyone along this spectacular coastline. The best part? There’s no wrong choice – every village offers its own slice of coastal magic. So, why not pack your bags and see them for yourself?
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