Cragside in Northumberland

Beautiful place to visit with so much to see and do and on a vast site you can easily spend two there and not see it all

Awesome place to visit , good bit for the whole family , you can walk /hike or do the carriage drive

Fantastic place to visit. With or without children. Get yourself there.

£25pp I would recommend buying national trust membership

I visited Cragside yesterday, for the first time and it fulfilled my expectations! Absolutely spectacular!!! The walks are magical and the house is fascinating and aesthetically pleasing. One member of staff had to call for children to stop climbing on the rockery by the house. I suspect, not for safety reasons but to protect the plants from being damaged. There's a clear sign in front of the rockery but the Parents showed no concern. I was going to bring my Dog but there is alot of tarmac and stone and it was very hot to the touch. So, I'll bring him when it's cooler. The ice cream was one of the best I've tasted, on my travels. I'm off Italian heritage, so I like a good Gelato! 🥰 A wonderful day out.

Fantastic place with so much to see, many return visits will be made.

Stunning place in a majestic setting; the iron bridge/ house archetypal image is amazing and the gorge is awesome. Dropped a star as I felt it was expensive, especially with dogs when we wouldn't be going in the house etc

Great place, lots to see and some beautiful scenery. The house is truly astonishing

As my dad said, this place has a “Wow at every turn”. Without doubt one of the most inspiring, interesting and beautiful places you are ever likely to visit

The house was great, very interesting & knowledgeable staff, enjoyed the drive around too but the entrance fee of £25 each is dear. We were disappointed with the visitor centre, cafe was poorly set out & a couple of staff were unhelpful & rude. The tea was weak even after brewing for 10 mins & the portion of wedges was small, it was pricey! The shop was lacking. The toilets were dirty.

Wonderful place. The gardens are beautiful and the history in the house so interesting. Couldn't see it all in a day. We will be back

One of the best National Trust houses I have been too. The house and grounds are amazing. What makes the visit is the friendly staff who help to bring the story of the house alive.

Amazing house and incredible gardens.

Extensive gardens, walks and 6 mile scenic Carriage drive with access to a network of walks. The house is a marvel, a showcase of ideas and inventions many of which are taken for granted today. One of the most impressive National Trust properties. Spotted many types of birds including a rare Eurasian Woodcock and 5 chicks

Cragside is an amazing place to go with the fam! Many walks around the carriage drive and more! Recommended!!!

Amazing place. Out of this world. Worth a visit. Especially at the end of may. When all is bloomed..

Great house, well curated, with fascinating story to tell of a northern victorian genius. Well-staffed and staff with good knowledge of their subject. Grounds magnificent with lots of botanical and engineering interest. Catering good, but cafe can be rather slow at busy times. One of the must-see attractions of Northumberland.

Cragside is an absolute must place to visit if you are in Northumberland. It is probably the national trusts best house to visit. Absolutely stunning and a lot to see. The grounds are beautiful and a six mile drive round the estate with stop off points on route is amazing.

Lovely for a nice family walk and beutiful home. 4 year old enjoys the nature and we do bug hunts

Brilliant! Loved the house, the engineering and designs of the house. Stunning estate and gardens.

Fantastic building, history behind the place and the grounds were stunning.

Amazing walks, dog friendly, lovely coffee and shop. Definitely worth a visit.

The most excellent estate. Three or four days required for a good explore. Lots of walking. Probably one of the best national trust estates.

The place is lovely and has a wonderful place to walk with. Rrcommended for everyone who wants to explore history and relaxation.

One of the best NT properties I have visited. Very very good.

What an adventure for children (and adults alike). The grounds are amazing with so much to explore we never cover the same ground twice. The house is wonderful, and with a children's hunt it keeps them entertained and keen to learn too. Only downside, the queue in the cafe by the visitor center is nearly always long and the scones are very disappointing, or should I say mine did not taste fresh on this occasion.

Really interesting property with plenty of varied walks. Fascinating history of innovative engineering.

Fascinating place! I have been here four times and will come again. The grounds are extremely interesting, with the carriage ride (drive) well worth it. But the house tops it all. A jewel in the National Trusts crown.

It was so lovely. Me and my family would recommended to everyone and the wheelchair access was first standard

At £25.a person I thought it was very expensive the house is well worth a visit and the grounds are well kept

Good day out the second visit, so we didn't visit the house, instead walked around the lake and formal gardens. Finished my the visitors centre for tea and coffee.

Always wanted to go as I pass frequently. Was not disappointed. Awesome grounds and facilities. Multiple walks for max the dog.

A great NT property. Lots of new walks in the grounds. Forest drive. The house is amazing with it's water powered electricity and lift.

Near me, I have been to Gibside and Wallington and can honestly say that Cragside is my favourite of all three. The whole place is family friendly and it has some very significant history within it. However near the beginning there are a few steep inclines some older or less able people may find difficult. There is the option to skip those bits and you can drive your car around the whole site for the rest of it so you don't have to walk all the way back to the start to collect your car. My favourite bit was the pinetums and the gorge.

A repeated visit to a gem of the North. A treasure for families and even just for yourself with a dog. I never tire of relearning about its historical innovations and just the space and the forest and the maze and the lake, great spaces.

Fantastic place to visit, very interesting. Lovely grounds. Very scenic

Not cheap, but one of the NTs best properties and grounds, and definitely worth a visit.

An amazing residence, with stunning grounds and significant history. A must visit

Only 1 star, the wife and I are members, and we go there for walks. the place is beautiful. We took our grandson, who is 18, for a walk around the grounds but admission for him, or anybody, is £25 as you can't get a ticket just for the grounds, you have to pay for the house visit as well. Bearing in mind a junior 18 to 25 year olds membership is £48. the National Trust is ripping off the public, who they rely upon to keep things ticking along. Also, the cost when using the cafe is extortionate.

Great National trust site. Lots of interesting history to learn and views to be enjoyed.

Brilliant place,full of history, some super walks

Stunning walks and beautiful views would highly recommend especially if you have a National Trust pass

I used it on a Sunday, a weekend that included a bank holiday. It was my fault for visiting without researching properly, but 25 GBP per adult was too expensive. You can understand how expensive the Italian meal I ate with my wife the day before was 48GBP including dessert. Carriage Drive is very narrow and the road into the parking lot is not paved, so I think it was very difficult for my 51-plate BMW sedan. My wife and I collect fringe magnets and postcards as a hobby when we travel, but this shop only had items of a quality that even elementary school students could make. I think the house itself is very beautiful and the gardens are well kept, but if there are so many visitors and they're still charging £25 each, I feel like at least drinks and cafes should be free.

Beautiful place, it looks as if you're walking through a fairly tale 🥰. I drove 4 hours to visit and I'm very happy I did.

Absolutely fabulous Estate, Grounds and Lakes.

This place is just breathtaking 😍 I absolutely love this place ❤️ it's just so beautiful inside and out. Staff are so friendly and helpful the bus driver is a lovely man. Had a great chat with him. Highly recommend. Photos speak for themselves. Very steep and rocky mind. Loved that you can drive around to each place..what a fantastic idea. My twin's loved the play area too. Literally love this x

Jurassic World 2 was filmed here

Very nice house with great walking area around it. You can enjoy yourself for a day with the house and gardens.

This has been on my wish list so was excited to visit. It more than lived upto my expectations.

Good house to visit, like the drive in your own car around the estate feature, would recommend

The 19th century house of tomorrow, very interesting and well presented. The gardens are very picturesque, and there are plenty of excellent short walks. There are toilets, cafe and various car parks.

An amazing place with something for everyone. From a lovely 6 mile drive around the vast grounds you can stop off at various car parks and have a picnic or a mystery walk through the rhododendrons. Then there is a Lake and stunning views of the scenery beyond. If you like formal gardens there is nothing better...it's quite a hike to get to it but it's worth it. All this is the shadow of an amazing building with the history of electricity within. Make sure you give enough time to try every experience that Cragside can offer.

Lovely day, with so much to see and do.

A National Trust property. Wonderfully interesting house and extensive grounds.

It had been too long since we had been here, so as we were in the area we decided to visit. We got our tickets, parked the car and went straight to the house. The house is amazing with all sorts of engineering marvels, gorgeous Architecture, and various other exhibits. After the house we headed to the visitor centre and café. There was a good selection of food to choose from , and certainly what we had was excellent. Afterwards we followed one of the many walks which was as interesting as it was picturesque, though at the end of it we only had enough energy to return home. We will be back again soon . Can thoroughly recommend a visit here.

Lots to see here. Huge grounds with several walking trails. Beautiful gardens and an impressive house.

We enjoyed the house, formal gardens and the location. The amount of innovation and engineering that went into the property was impressive for it's time.

amazing house wonderful gardens, nice drive around the estate. Armstrong was bigger and better than any other Victorian Engineer.

Fascinating place, really interesting place without being ostentatious

Always happy to visit Cragside. Very interesting house and garden.

We've been here a few times but enjoy the house and the grounds. Was good to experience the Carriage Ride pathway to see more of the woodland and terrain.

I visited Cragside with a group of friends in November 2024, and it was nothing short of breathtaking. Set in the heart of Northumberland, the landscape is absolutely stunning, with over 40 miles of footpaths to explore. We could only cover a fraction of it in a day — but what we did see left a lasting impression. After a full day of walking and fresh air, we all slept incredibly well that night! It’s one of those places that really lets you switch off and enjoy nature at its best. The café and gift shop were lovely, and the house itself is full of fascinating information — ideal for anyone who enjoys history or design. It’s very well-presented and worth taking the time to explore properly. While entry can be a bit pricey if you’re not a National Trust member, it’s still a worthwhile day out, especially if you plan to make the most of the grounds. We’ll definitely be returning to see more of what Cragside has to offer.

Such an interesting place, needs more than 1 visit.

Fantastic day out. Something for everyone

Love this place, been many times, house is very interesting. Plenty walks in the gardens and woods.

Maybe the best National Trust site in the country (especially if you're a member - the single visit price is up there as one of the more pricey NT days out!) Vast grounds which would take multiple days to truly explore, a truly unique house and excellent facilities. Just a great day out.

Stunning side, the circular drive is such a great way of exploring discovering different parts of the site - will go back!

Fascinating house - so many interesting innovations by Armstrong. Never realised he also worked developing armaments ! Great walks in the grounds - so many things to see.

Great volunteers, the house is really interesting as it was the first property to have electric light powered by hydro.

Loved it. I have to say this has to be the best house we have ever visited and we have visited quite a few.

Amazing views and lakes, beautiful place.

Amazing place but expensive entry.

This is a fascinating blend of history, innovation, and stunning natural beauty. The house is full of Victorian ingenuity, and the surrounding gardens and woodland walks are absolutely breathtaking. A perfect day out for all ages.

Fantastic place to visit wish we l I very nearer and could go more often.

Fabulous! Amazing gardens with well marked routes. The visit to the house is a must!

Great place to visit with family. Bit hilly, but there is a little bus that takes you up and runs every half hour. Some short walks to do too. A tip.. drive up to the lake walk and kids play area as it's a hike !

Amazing scenery, interesting house. Pleasantly different to other NT properties with the reliable cafe experience

Awesome place to visit but do it over 2 days give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your visit

Fantastic find we had a great day but didn't see it all ,nice staff and great gardens and hall,if we're up this way again we will pop in.

Visited Easter Saturday and yes it was busy, I went to find a table as I have limited mobility. My husband waited in the queue. It took just over half an hour to order 2 teas and 2 slices of cake! A gentleman in front wanted discount which caused total uproar as the staff couldn't figure out how to do it on the tills.. this resulted in both tills being rebooted! Utterly ridiculous, the queue was now out the door and right across the courtyard.

Plenty for a whole day out. We explored the grounds by car due yo limited mobility but looking forward to return to explore on foot when more mobile. What looks like a brilliant play area for kids. House fascinating with knowledgable guides.

Great day out. Fun for all the family. So much to see and do. Very interesting!

The most interesting NT property we have visited. Fascinating, massive and inspiring in equal measure.

Fabulous - a day is easily spent here; absolutely stunning. Recommend getting there early!

Inspiring and incredible house set in beautiful, tranquil gardens. I couldn't believe the original owner put a Turkish bath in the basement, a dishwasher in the kitchen and a lift for residents, and all the electricity powered by hydropower. A must-see NT property. Only downsides: you have to pay £25 fee per adult even if you only want access to the garden and the property isn't accessible. My 80 year old Mum couldn't manage all the stairs, or the rocky garden, despite being mobile. Top tip: see the view from the iron bridge.

One of the most beautiful places I've had the pleasure of visiting. A gorgeous house set in an amazing setting with gardens, views, water and plenty of walking areas. The house was amazing and the whole visit was fantastic from the moment we arrived. Would highly recommend this place to anyone, so many photo opportunities too.

It is iconic ,history,beautiful grounds an amazing architecture.

Slightly disappointed at the number of rooms open

Excellent site. The house is fascinating, with plenty of information but not overstuffed. The real star tho is the grounds which are huge, natural and packed with places to explore. The playground is the icing on the cake, with the nice touch of a den building area. Didn't try the restaurant but the coffee kiosk was normal, reasonable NT stuff

This is a delightful place; the natural surroundings are beautiful. Spend a day with family.

Loved the gardens and grounds. Rather expensive at £62.50 for 2 adults and a child. If I could change one thing it would be to have a gardens only option. The cafe had the most gorgeous gf scones and service throughout was excellent

Something for everyone here. Today the weather was fabulous, which made our visit even better 🌞

Terrific place to visit. Lovely walks, and such an interesting and unique property riddled with stories and history. Great for family or solo visits.

Really interesting beautiful place. Innovative & northern!

This is the former home of William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong, founder of the Armstrong Whitworth Arms Company. An industrial magnate, scientist, philanthropist, and inventor of the hydraulic crane and the Armstrong Gun, Armstrong also displayed his creativity in the domestic realm, making Cragside the first home in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power. In 1887, Armstrong was knighted, becoming the first engineer or scientist to be granted a peerage, and became Baron Armstrong of Cragside. On August 20, 1896, Elswick once again planted dragon flags all over the place to welcome Li Hongzhang, the distinguished guest of the Qing government. The Qing Dynasty envoy who attended the coronation of Nicholas II, the last emperor of Tsarist Russia, paid a visit to Britain. In Newcastle, 86-year-old William Armstrong, founder of the Armstrong Company, personally accompanied him on a tour of his Elswick shipyard. Armstrong, a native of Newcastle, experienced the most glorious and splendid Victorian period in British history and became famous. He also invited Li Hongzhang to his castle Cragside as a guest, full of pride.

If you are member of national trust, would recommend this place as its beautiful place.

If you like exploring , this is the place. Helpful volunteers , toilets clean , play area very good for the kids. Just not enough time for everything . Will need to go back for more adventures.

Great place to visit for both parents and kids. Good play park up the top for the kids. Good number of EV charge points but wouldn’t work on electroverse app so had to use contactless which worked fine

Great place to visit. Nice walks and plenty to see

Fascinating house very well worth a visit. Huge grounds with great views and lots to explore.