A 'charming' Northumberland town was included in a list of the 300 best places to live in the UK.
Muddy Stilettos has published its annual Top 300 Best Places to Live guide, with readers voting for their favourite cities, towns and villages across the UK.
The list was broken down by county, with each area featuring a top 10 and a ‘best of the rest’ list, offering local insight into what makes these places stand out.
Alnwick, Northumberland, featured in the 'best of the rest' list, described as 'the rising gem in the North'.
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"Dubbed the “Windsor of the North” due to its iconic and rather glam castle at its historic centre, Alnwick is a charming medieval market town in the heart of Northumberland," Muddy Stilettos said.
"Surrounded by Northumberland National Park, the largest Dark Sky Park in the UK with its own hill-top observatory, and edged by award-winning beaches, Alnwick is the top spot for those who love a bit of history, the great outdoors and star-gazing – what’s not to love?"
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Muddy Stilettos added the town's got 'magical charm that's hard to resist', with 'eclectic bookshops, cosy pubs with crackling fires down little alleys, and a calendar full of local events'.
"The castle and its gardens give Alnwick a fairy tale magic but it’s probably the friendly community that puts it on the map as ‘happiest’ and ‘coolest’ place to live in a bevy of recent UK surveys."
Eat
"Alnwick’s food scene is all about quality food with gorgeous backdrops. Start your day with a coffee and a good read at Barter Books’ Station Buffet—this unique café is housed in a former Victorian railway station. A bit of a literary legend as the second-largest second-hand bookshop in the UK, it’s a must-visit for lovers of books and homemade cakes."
Other recommendations included Sweet Solstice, a magical bakery and café owned by a pastry chef who bakes cakes for the castle, or The Dirty Bottles, a “cursed” pub with ancient bottles in its window - local legend claims if you touch them, you drop down dead.
The Adam and Eve Pub has great cocktails, or for a special treat, visit The Sonnet, a fine dining experience with a 14-course tasting menu.
Shop
"Don’t miss Barter Books, not just a second-hand bookstore, an experience – think roaring coal fires, comfy armchairs, a miniature train chugging overhead and the chance to buy and swap books too. Bring in your pre-loved novels, and you can trade them for credit to spend on new (to you) literary treasures. For fashion and homeware, try Marilyn & Melrose and Ruby Tuesday.
"For something unique, try The Beehive, a vintage shop regularly featured on BBC’s Antiques Road Trip, selling furniture and accessories you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss the amazing vinyl collection at the back," Muddy Stilettos said.
To read more about what Muddy Stilettos said, go to https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/best-of-the-rest/alnwick-northumberland/
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