Beautiful Villages in North East England
Historic little places in Northumberland and County Durham
See the Beautiful English Villages Index
Fox and Hounds, Cotherstone
Cotherstone, County Durham
Boasting some fine riverside walks, this rural Teesdale community is probably most famous for its unpasteurised cow’s milk cheese. Nearby Barnard Castle is only a couple of miles drive away. Map
Places to stay: Accommodation is available within Cotherstone at the mid 18th century Fox and Hounds (TripAdvisor), while The Rose and Crown in nearby Romaldkirk dates from around the same time.
Boasting some fine riverside walks, this rural Teesdale community is probably most famous for its unpasteurised cow’s milk cheese. Nearby Barnard Castle is only a couple of miles drive away. Map
Places to stay: Accommodation is available within Cotherstone at the mid 18th century Fox and Hounds (TripAdvisor), while The Rose and Crown in nearby Romaldkirk dates from around the same time.
Frosterley, County Durham
Amid the splendour of Weardale, what was once renowned for its quarrying of exquisite black marble is now best known for its aesthetics. Durham and Bishop Auckland are both around half an hour away by car. Map
Places to stay: The nearest period hotel is Horsley Hall in nearby Eastgate. Dating from the 17th century, it offers seven rooms in all. More details are available at TripAdvisor.
Amid the splendour of Weardale, what was once renowned for its quarrying of exquisite black marble is now best known for its aesthetics. Durham and Bishop Auckland are both around half an hour away by car. Map
Places to stay: The nearest period hotel is Horsley Hall in nearby Eastgate. Dating from the 17th century, it offers seven rooms in all. More details are available at TripAdvisor.
Victoria Hotel, Bamburgh
Bamburgh, Northumberland
Its spectacular castle was once the seat of the Northumbrian Kings, but this small coastal village also boasts some splendid listed buildings that are slightly smaller in stature. Lindisfarne – or ‘Holy Island’ – is just a few miles along the coast to the north. Map
Places to stay: There are a number of period hotels and inns at Bamburgh, including the Grade-II listed Lord Crewe Hotel & Restaurant; The Mizen Head; the Victoria Hotel and Budle Hall. Details at TripAdvisor.
Its spectacular castle was once the seat of the Northumbrian Kings, but this small coastal village also boasts some splendid listed buildings that are slightly smaller in stature. Lindisfarne – or ‘Holy Island’ – is just a few miles along the coast to the north. Map
Places to stay: There are a number of period hotels and inns at Bamburgh, including the Grade-II listed Lord Crewe Hotel & Restaurant; The Mizen Head; the Victoria Hotel and Budle Hall. Details at TripAdvisor.
Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland
Blanchland, Northumberland
Right on Northumberland’s border with County Durham and within the North Pennines AONB, Blanchland is a stunning medieval village with a rich history. Both those keen on walking and history will find much to enjoy both within the parish and the surrounding Derwent Valley. Map
Places to stay: A historic village deserves a historic old inn, and in The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland has one of the most notable anywhere in north east England.
Right on Northumberland’s border with County Durham and within the North Pennines AONB, Blanchland is a stunning medieval village with a rich history. Both those keen on walking and history will find much to enjoy both within the parish and the surrounding Derwent Valley. Map
Places to stay: A historic village deserves a historic old inn, and in The Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland has one of the most notable anywhere in north east England.
Elsdon, Northumberland
Though it might now only have a population of a few hundred, this unspoilt village was the capital of Redesdale during the medieval period. Map
Places to stay: While we are unaware of any hotels or inns offering accommodation within Elsdon itself, the Otterburn Tower is just a short drive away and provides travellers to the area with the experience of being able to stay somewhere truly ancient (it dates, in part, from the 11th century).
Though it might now only have a population of a few hundred, this unspoilt village was the capital of Redesdale during the medieval period. Map
Places to stay: While we are unaware of any hotels or inns offering accommodation within Elsdon itself, the Otterburn Tower is just a short drive away and provides travellers to the area with the experience of being able to stay somewhere truly ancient (it dates, in part, from the 11th century).
Norham, Northumberland
Except for nearby Berwick-upon-Tweed there are few places more northerly in England than the aptly named Norham. Most well known for its castle – famously depicted by J M W Turner – it was shortlisted by Country Life magazine for the accolade of ‘England’s Favourite Village’ in 2007. Map
Places to stay: The closest heritage hotel to Norham is to be found in nearby Cornhill-on-Tweed – Tillmouth Park is a fine Victorian country house whose roots are much older. Also close by in Cornhill is the splendid Georgian Collingwood Arms.
Except for nearby Berwick-upon-Tweed there are few places more northerly in England than the aptly named Norham. Most well known for its castle – famously depicted by J M W Turner – it was shortlisted by Country Life magazine for the accolade of ‘England’s Favourite Village’ in 2007. Map
Places to stay: The closest heritage hotel to Norham is to be found in nearby Cornhill-on-Tweed – Tillmouth Park is a fine Victorian country house whose roots are much older. Also close by in Cornhill is the splendid Georgian Collingwood Arms.
Warkworth House Hotel
Warkworth, Northumberland
Though sometimes referred to as a small town, Warkworth’s comparatively modest population of circa 1,500 makes it eligible for inclusion here. Located on the River Coquet, this is effectively a fortified village whose ruined castle is one of the most historic in the country (once the property of Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy, and mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV).
Places to stay: Warkworth House Hotel is an old coaching inn while Fairfield Guest House offers luxury bed & breakfast accommodation in a Victorian setting. See the Warkworth entry at Booking.com for details.
Though sometimes referred to as a small town, Warkworth’s comparatively modest population of circa 1,500 makes it eligible for inclusion here. Located on the River Coquet, this is effectively a fortified village whose ruined castle is one of the most historic in the country (once the property of Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy, and mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV).
Places to stay: Warkworth House Hotel is an old coaching inn while Fairfield Guest House offers luxury bed & breakfast accommodation in a Victorian setting. See the Warkworth entry at Booking.com for details.