There are 'mesmerising views' of medieval Alnwick Castle from the Duchy of Northumberland's new hotel, occupying the Georgian Commissioner's house and former school, with further rooms in a modern extension. Opened in summer 2025, the hotel ‘merits a Guide entry for its location alone’, just steps from the castle, say our inspectors. While some modern rooms have castle views, for character, you should choose a townhouse suite, they add. ‘We could see the castle from the large round copper bath in the bathroom; in the next-door room the views from the tub were even better.' The bedroom, 'large enough for a classroom of kids', was beautifully decorated with a blue velvet headboard, blue sofa and contemporary furniture. Extras included shortbread, bottled water, black-out curtains, an espresso machine and Jo Loves bath toiletries. At dinner, there were castle views from a couple of tables in a 'rather stark dining room', which lacked the large windows of the adjacent Garden Room (‘the architect may have missed a trick’). Although service was slow and puddings so-so, the food was otherwise ‘top-notch‘, including ‘perfectly cooked’ scallops in curry sauce with a prawn and onion bhaji, ‘a hearty burger, full of flavour’. It's early days yet; there are plans for a spa.