Hogwarts

There are 2 things which seem to almost dominate the town of Alnwick, one of which is Alnwick Castle and Gardens. So today I head off to nose around the castle. The home of the Duke of Northumberland it is as you'd imagine a castle to be - and again going around the State Rooms I couldn't but help notice the various Canaletto and Titian paintings - no Athena posters of 'girl scratching her bum playing tennis' here.

Recently the castle has taken on a new form of fame as it was used for the exterior location shots of Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, and at one point I did hear a guide point out the location of the Quidditch match. Wonder what previous Dukes would have made of Pottermania and their home's small part in it?

The other big thing in Alnwick is the excellent Barter Books - a large second hand bookshop in what was the old railway station. A simply superb place in which I spent a very pleasant couple of hours - and several £££s - last evening. An absolute gem.