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 Northumberland and Newcastle Hotels
One of our favourite counties, vast, beautiful and relatively little visited, Northumberland feels far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There are miles of empty golden sandy beaches, stunning countryside set amongst two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the rugged Northumberland National Park, as well as more castles than anywhere else in England, the birthplace of English Christianity on the Holy Island of Lindisfare, Hadrian's Wall, Alnwick Garden and pretty towns and villages. What''s missing, frankly, are great places to stay. There's a dirth, considering the expanse of the county. We have scoured Northumberland, inspecting numerous establishments and discarding most as ordinary. These, rest assured, are the ones that stood out. We include Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the list. The hotels are listed by price category, and their order bears no reflection on our preference.
 Reviews by Fiona Duncan |
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| Luxury: Golf and spa resort hotel with a human touch |
| Location: MATFEN; 18 miles NW of Newcastle city centre, and close to Hadrian’s Wall |
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| If it’s golf, a wedding, beauty treatments or a leisure centre that you’re after, look no further than Matfen Hall, the Victorian Gothic country house of Lord and Lady Blackett, who now run it as a busy resort hotel and conference centre. Stay in cheerful modern rooms in the new wing or large traditional ones in the main house, with glorious views of the park, now subtly transformed into a golf course. Friendly staff. We prefer Matfen to Slaley Hall. |
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| Luxury: Grand house with a contemporary style in a leafy city setting |
| Location: JESMOND; close to city centre, overlooking wooded Jesmond Dene |
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| Forbidding on the outside, arresting inside, Jesmond Dene House has class and character, spoiling bedrooms and very good food. Fresh, light interiors are set against the fine, rich features of the house, designed for entertaining by Andrew Noble, a partner in the Victorian era in the legendary shipping and armaments firm of Lord Armstrong. The hotel is the creation of the region’s leading chef and restaurateur, Terry Laybourne who ensures fine dining overlooking the leafy garden and the wooded valley of Jesmond Dene beyond. |
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| Mid Price: Luxurious, spoiling country retreat only a few miles from reality |
| Location: ESHOTT; 9 miles south of Alnwick, just off A1 |
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| Elegant and sophisticated, 17th century Eshott Hall has all the charm and comfort of a family home. Surrounded by rolling lawns, rare trees, a Victorian fernery and 500 acres of grounds that are home to red squirrels, it makes the perfect country retreat. Public rooms are chic, and bedrooms enchanting, with superb beds and fine views. Guests can choose to eat together in the dining room (convivial atmosphere) or separately, from a superb set menu featuring home grown and local produce. A gem. |
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| Mid Price: Wonderful converted inn near the River Tweed |
| Location: CORNHILL-ON-TWEED; just south of the border |
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| Formally a coaching inn, this hotel blends country and contemporary perfectly. Its renowned bar, log fires and homely library, create a warm welcome. Inviting, luxurious bedrooms own comfy beds and great bathrooms; some with views of the Tweed. Appetizing menus, using local ingredients, are offered in the brasserie or dining room. The last hotel before crossing the Border, with the coast and Cheviots no distance away and the River Tweed in view, it’s a hugely popular country retreat; especially if you enjoy casting a line or two…A real treat. |
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| Inexpensive: Simple, modern restaurant-with-rooms in the heart of Northumberland |
| Location: ALNWICK; in town centre |
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| Popular for weekend breaks, this fresh, contemporary address is found close to the centre of Alnwick and makes the best place to stay in town. Chef-patron John Blackmore has returned to his roots to serve his finest dishes in his home town; take your pick between bar, bistro and a la carte dining room. Bedrooms are small and simple, each decorated in tranquil shades with contemporary artwork. All are en-suite; again small but adequate. Fine for a stopover, and a place with buzz. |
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| Inexpensive: Historic coaching inn at the heart of pretty Corbridge |
| Location: CORBRIDGE; in the centre of town; further rooms in house across road |
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| A coaching inn since 1726, the Angel has charming white and blue painted exterior, with a pavement terrace for sitting in the sun with a pint, and a lively contemporary interior for drinks, snacks and meals, with a large, more formal restaurant behind. Rooms are both upstairs and (preferable) across the road in a handsome, recently converted house, the Angel Ratcliffe, where they are light and bright, with views over the pretty garden and River Tyne. A useful address. Don’t miss Re, a great gift shop tucked away nearby. |
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