📌 Berwick-upon-Tweed, Nortumberland
★★★
🛠️ Attraction open except for Main Guard Museum – open Friday to Tuesday with reduced admission fee (checked July 2025)
This 18th century complex in Berwick-upon-Tweed is England’s earliest purpose built barracks, and the main tourist attraction of this important border town. Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, over 600 troops were stationed here from 1721, but it declined in importance after the failed 1745 Jacobite rebellion. The last regiment to be in residence was the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) up until 1963. At the time of our last visit in 2019, the main features of the barracks were no fewer than three museums: one about the barracks themselves, one for the KOSB, and one for the town itself. How long you should allocate to each one probably depends on your own interests.
🌍 Location
📌 Parade, 5-min walk east of Berwick-upon-Tweed town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NU 001531
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.771086,-1.999995
🚌 Bus to Berwick-upon-Tweed | 🚆 Berwick-upon-Tweed (0.5 mi)
🚗 Car park / street parking
📝 Key info
⌚ Wednesday to Sunday, April to 3 November, plus Bank Holidays during this period
🎫 £5.40+ adult / £3+ child depending on season / free for English Heritage members – discount when booking online in advance
