Discover Berwick-upon-Tweed's history
This border town in Northumberland has changed hands between England and Scotland more times than almost anywhere else in Britain. Berwick's dominant Elizabethan Town Walls, the old prison cells inside Berwick Town Hall, and the ruins of Berwick castle and ramparts still carry the marks of that turbulent past, alongside the town's winding, cobbled streets.
The River Tweed runs through the town's centre, spanned by three bridges that have witnessed years of conflict as control repeatedly changed hands. Climb aboard The Border Rose with Berwick Boat Trips to sail beneath the Royal Border Bridge and out towards the river mouth, where seals and dolphins are often spotted. Skipper David and the crew bring the town's historical sites in Northumberland to life with anecdotes rooted in Northumberland's fishing heritage and its salmon-fishing tradition.
The Farne Islands are a must-visit while you're in the area, home to a colony of grey seals and the famous Farne Island puffins, part of the county's rich Northumberland wildlife. Whether you're planning family days out in Northumberland over a bank holiday or looking to stay in Northumberland for longer over the summer holidays, Berwick makes a brilliant base for birdwatching.
Roam the riverbanks for some of the best views in the county, or take advantage of the town's spot along the Northumberland coast and wander Berwick beach, or head to the golden sands of Cocklawburn beach for some rock pooling with the children. When the weather turns, duck into one of Berwick's cafés and tearooms, and when you're ready for dinner, try the seafood Nothumberland is known for, or one of the pubs lining the town's cobbled streets. The town has also reached television audiences through several Vera filming locations, part of the wider trend for filming in Northumberland.
Step into Berwick's complex past with a walk through Northumberland's history: see the atmospheric jail cells at Berwick Town Hall, where 18th-century graffiti still lines the walls, get a sense of a soldier's life at Berwick Barracks, and take a walk along the Elizabethan Town Walls, a favourite for anyone drawn to Halloween in Northumberland and its eerier tales. The walls overlook the ruins of Berwick's medieval castle, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river as the northernmost of Northumberland's castles.
