Arno & Izzy

Travel & Accommodation

The wedding will take place in Acklington, a small village in the countryside in Northumberland in the North East of England.  Being a rural area, it’s not the most straightforward place to get to… but we promise it will be worth it! 

There is a LOT of information below – feel free to reach out to Izzy if you would like any advice on your plans.

The North-East Coastline
The North-East Coastline
Warkworth Castle
Warkworth Castle
Amble Marina
Amble Marina
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick
Alnwick
Amble Marina
Amble Marina

Arriving by air:

  • The closest airport is Newcastle International. There are multiple flights per day direct from Amsterdam with KLM and EasyJet – the journey is around 1hr.

  • From Newcastle airport:

    • The fastest option is to go by car. You can hire them at the airport – a good option especially if you can split with a group and this will also be handy to have over the weekend! The drive is 35-40 minutes, but be aware that you’ll need to drive on the left side and the roads are a bit small and winding!

    • It is also possible to arrange an airport transfer through Alnwick Taxi’s – if you’re with a group the pricing is very reasonable.

    • Alternatively, you can take the metro to Newcastle central station (approx 30 min) and from there take a train (approx 30 min) to the closest main station, which is Alnmouth. From here either someone can pick you up, or you can take a bus or short taxi!

  • The second closest airport is Edinburgh. From Edinburgh airport:

    • Take the Airlink bus (30 min) to Edinburgh Waverley train station. From here you can take the train to Alnmouth (approx 1hr15).

    • It’s also an option to rent a car, but the drive is about 2 hours. It’s a nice route though, so maybe fun if you want to see some of Scotland and Northumberland.

 Arriving by boat:

  • There is a ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle. This is typically a bit more expensive than flights, but it’s a fun and also gives you the option to bring a car. 

  • The ferries travel overnight, departing around 5pm and arriving around 9am the next day. 

  • There’s plenty to do on board – a couple of restaurants, a bar (often with live music), and even a little cinema. It’s fun (as long as you don’t get seasick)!

  • If you don’t have a car, from the ferry terminal you can take the metro to Newcastle Central Station (20 min) and then take the train to Alnmouth station (30 min). You could also look into a taxi transfer.

Arriving by train:

  • We recommend taking the train to Alnmouth station and from here you can get to the surrounding towns/villages by bus or taxi (or someone can collect you if possible).

  • Acklington does actually have a tiny train station, but there is only 1 train per day from Newcastle, departing at 17:57 (40 mins). If you happen to arrive on time to take this one, go for it! We will be hosting a garden party on Friday night at Izzy’s parents place in Acklington so you could come straight there.

  • If you really love trains, you could even consider taking the Eurostar from Amsterdam to London, and then the train from London to Alnmouth – but it’s quite far! It’s about 3.5hrs from London to Alnmouth

  • International guests, BEWARE! The train system in the UK is annoying: you need to buy a ticket in advance for a specific train (tickets not transferable to other trains) and if you leave it until the day, the price will be much higher! Book your train in advance via thetrainline.com. Ask Izzy if you need help or advice.

Acklington is a small place so there are not many options to stay in the village itself. We recommend staying in one of the surrounding towns. Below are a few you can consider, though if you have a car there are many other more remote places available to you! 

Amble

Amble is about 10 mins drive from Acklington and is a cute old fishing village on the coast. There are lots of holiday cottages. Check out:

  • Airbnb

  • VRBO.com for other holiday cottages

  • Wellwood Arms

  • Amble Harbour Retreats

  • The Amble Inn

 

Warkworth

This is a small town next to Amble with a cool old ruined castle. There are a couple of options to stay here, but they are a little more expensive due to the picturesque town! 

  • The Sun Hotel

  • The Hermitage Hotel

  • Warkworth House Hotel

 

Alnwick

Alnwick is a bit further away, about 20 mins drive from Acklington and 10 mins from Alnmouth train station. This is a larger town with more shops and things to see, like Alnwick Castle (famously the Harry Potter castle) and Barter Books (a cool second hand book shop). Here there are quite a lot of options for accommodation, including Alnwick Youth Hostel for a budget-friendly option.

  • The easiest way to get around is by car. You can hire a car from Newcastle Airport.

  • Alternatively there are taxis that operate in the area, including larger vehicles. To guarantee your ride (especially at night), call ahead and book. They also offer airport transfers. Local taxi company:

  • There is a local bus that runs between villages (Alnwick, Alnmouth, Warkworth, Amble, Acklington – and then all the way into Newcastle) but it only runs once per hour. This could be an option for getting to and from the garden party on Friday night depending on where you’re staying.

  • On the day of the wedding, we will organise a bus to transport people to the Rigg & Furrow after the ceremony venue. 

As of April 2025, international visitors will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country. You can find information about this and apply here, through the UK government website. It costs £10 to apply and everyone (including babies) who does not have a UK passport needs one.