Berwick-upon-Tweed is the northernmost town in England and has therefore been a strategically important settlement since the Kingdom of Northumbria in the 7th-10th centuries. As such, the town has plenty of tourist attractions for you to see on your next day trip:
Because of its locality at the border of England and Scotland, Berwick-upon-Tweed has changed national possession multiple times over the centuries, the last of which was in the early 1480s and has remained an English town ever since, despite this, or perhaps because of it, the town has a trans-Anglo-Scot identity – a truly British town.
The market town is literally surrounded in history with the town centre fortified by medieval town walls, first built under Kind Edward I and extended and redeveloped under Queen Elizabeth I.
The ruins of Berwick Castle, built in the 13th-century sit just outside the town walls and are situated close to the river Tweed, making it the perfect hiking spot on a sunny day. Other historic landmarks around Berwick-upon-Tweed include Berwick Bridge, which links the south bank of the river Tweed with the north bank, dating back to 1611, the 18th-century Berwick Barracks and the 19th-century Royal Border Bridge, featuring 28 arches. With its east-coat locality, the town also benefits from various beaches.
Another notable attraction is the L.S. Lowry trail which meanders through Berwick showing particular parts of the town once painted by the celebrated artist, who visited on a number of occasions throughout his life with his sketchpad or easel in tow.
Berwick-upon-Tweed is the perfect size to tour in a day, though there are many quaint bed and breakfasts in the area if you would like to take advantage of the beautiful east coast views while you’re visiting. The Scottish capital of Edinburgh is just an hour train ride away, while Newcastle International Airport is an hour car drive away. Various areas of interest are nearby too including Northumberland National Park where you can visit Hadrian’s Wall built by the Romans in 122 AD. Find out more about the town and plan your visit using Berwick-upon-Tweed’s tourist information website here.
Take a look at other Pretty Places in England by viewing previous posts with the ‘Pretty Places‘ tag, including Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, Whalley in Lancashire and Shrewsbury in Shropshire. More idyllic towns and villages will be added to the series over the coming months.
images: scene therapy, wikicommons, L.S Lowry