North East England Station code ALM
Alnmouth
Alnmouth by train: the station for Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Garden and the Northumberland coast. LNER calls about every two hours.
- Around 3 hours 10–25 minutes from London
- 3 LNER routes
- 3 things to do
The Aln estuary and Church Hill at Alnmouth, about a mile from the station.Photo: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Alnmouth
Signposted as Alnmouth for Alnwick, this small station serves both the pretty estuary village of Alnmouth and the market town of Alnwick a few miles inland. Alnmouth itself was once a busy grain port at the mouth of the River Aln and is now a quiet coastal village.
Alnwick is the draw for most visitors. Its castle has been the seat of the Percy family, Earls and later Dukes of Northumberland, for centuries, and the adjoining Alnwick Garden – complete with its famous Poison Garden – was revived at the turn of the 21st century. The town's Victorian railway station is now one of Europe's largest second-hand bookshops.
This is a good jumping-off point for the Northumberland coast, with LNER trains calling roughly every two hours.
Journey
ALM- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 3 hours 10–25 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 3
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 14 of 18 | Morpeth | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| London – Aberdeen stop 14 of 26 | Morpeth | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| London – Inverness stop 8 of 24 | Newcastle | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Most LNER trains in the May–December 2026 timetable take about 3 hours 25 minutes; the quickest (a Saturday evening service) takes 3 hours 10 minutes.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1 July 1847 (as Bilton; renamed Alnmouth in 1892)
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- Northern
- Passengers a year
- 379,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The station opened as Bilton in 1847 and only took the name Alnmouth on 2 May 1892; today it is signposted as Alnmouth for Alnwick.
- From 1850 until 1968 this was the junction for the branch line to Alnwick, whose old terminus is now the Barter Books shop.
- The main building on the southbound platform dates only from 1987, replacing the original structures put up when the Alnwick branch opened.
Photos of Alnmouth
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The Aln estuary and Church Hill at Alnmouth, about a mile from the station. Photo: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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Alnmouth for Alnwick station in July 2026; lifts in the footbridge towers serve both platforms. Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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Alnmouth village from across the river mouth. Photo: Russel Wills, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Alnmouth
The ticket office is on platform 1, reached level from the station car park; platform 2 has level access from the council car park, and lifts in the footbridge link the two. Buses to Alnwick (Arriva X18 and X20) stop on Curly Lane beside the station, and taxis are the alternative. Alnmouth village and beach are about a mile away, and Alnwick about three miles.
The station is about a mile from Alnmouth village and roughly three miles from Alnwick (straight-line distances). Both platforms have step-free access via lifts in the footbridge.
Getting around
Arriva's X18 and X20 buses call at stops on Curly Lane by the station and run to Alnwick; taxis are the alternative. Alnmouth village and beach are within walking distance for most people.
Other train services and connections
- CrossCountry
- TransPennine Express (Newcastle and Edinburgh)
- Northern (limited early-morning and evening trains)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessLevel access to each platform from its car park, and lifts in the footbridge (National Rail category A)
- LiftsLifts to both platforms, available 24 hours
- StaffMon–Sat 06:40–18:15, Sun 10:20–21:00
- Ticket officeOn platform 1 (card payments only); Mon–Sat 06:40–18:00, Sun 10:20–21:30
- Ticket machineBy the ticket office
- Help pointOn platform 2
- ToiletsRADAR-key toilets, available at any time
- Accessible toiletAvailable (RADAR key)
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomListed by National Rail as closed until further notice; sheltered seating on the platforms
- WaterWater refill station
- Left luggageNone
- Car park76 spaces (2 accessible), operated by Northern
- Cycle storage16 sheltered spaces on platform 1 (8 lockers and 8 stands)
- BusesStops on Curly Lane beside the station
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
The Newcastle and Berwick Railway opened a station here called Bilton on 1 July 1847, and on 19 August 1850 it became the junction for the branch line to Alnwick. The North Eastern Railway, which took over in 1854, enlarged the station in 1887–88 and renamed it Alnmouth on 2 May 1892.
Passenger trains on the Alnwick branch ended in January 1968 and freight later that year; the branch platform and the buildings on the northbound side were cleared in the 1970s. The present main building on the southbound platform dates from 1987, and the station was refurbished in 2004. Today LNER, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express trains call on their way between Newcastle and Edinburgh, and Northern runs a few local trains.
A day around Alnmouth and Alnwick
Castle, gardens and books in Alnwick, then the seaside at Alnmouth.
-
Morning
Alnwick Castle
Catch an X18 or X20 bus from Curly Lane to Alnwick and start at the castle, home of the Percy family; it opens for a visitor season, so check dates first.
-
Lunch
The Alnwick Garden
Next door, explore the cascade and the Poison Garden, and stop for lunch.
-
Afternoon
Barter Books
Browse the shelves of Barter Books in Alnwick's Victorian station, the old terminus of the branch line from Alnmouth.
-
Evening
Back to the coast
Return towards the station and carry on to Alnmouth village for a walk on the beach and a meal at the Red Lion Inn.
Things to do near Alnmouth
Alnwick Castle
A Norman castle remodelled over the centuries and still the home of the Duke of Northumberland, with state rooms, exhibitions, guided tours and film-location trails. It opens for a visitor season rather than all year.
The Alnwick Garden
A contemporary garden beside the castle with a grand water cascade, a bamboo labyrinth, rose and ornamental gardens and the Poison Garden, home to more than 100 toxic and narcotic plants.
Barter Books
A vast second-hand bookshop in Alnwick's Victorian railway station, opened in 1991, with a café in the old station buffet. Open daily except Christmas Day.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Pub
The Red Lion Inn
An 18th-century coaching inn in the heart of the village, serving local beer and wood-fired pizza, with rooms upstairs.
Day trips from Alnmouth
-
Berwick-upon-Tweed
England's northernmost town, ringed by mainly Elizabethan ramparts, with Robert Stephenson's Royal Border Bridge carrying the railway over the Tweed.
Direct trains take about 20 minutes, one or two an hour.
-
Newcastle
The Quayside, the castle keep and free museums and galleries.
Direct trains take 24–29 minutes, two or three times an hour.
Where to stay in Alnmouth
Choose Alnmouth for the seaside or Alnwick for the castle and town-centre facilities; both have inns, guest houses and hotels.
Tips for your visit
- Check Alnwick Castle's season dates before travelling – it does not open all year round.
- The Alnwick Garden runs seasonal events, including winter light trails, which may need separate tickets.
Questions about Alnmouth station
How do I get from Alnmouth station to Alnwick?
Arriva X18 and X20 buses stop on Curly Lane beside the station and run to Alnwick, about three miles away; taxis are the alternative.
Is Alnmouth station step-free?
Yes. Each platform has level access from its car park, and lifts in the footbridge link the two (National Rail category A).
How far is Alnmouth village and beach?
About a mile from the station, within walking distance for most people.
Is there parking at Alnmouth station?
Yes, a 76-space car park run by Northern. The daily charge was £2.20 when checked in September 2026.
How often do LNER trains call?
Roughly every two hours in each direction, and CrossCountry and TransPennine Express trains call too.
Are there toilets?
Yes, RADAR-key toilets, including accessible facilities and baby changing.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnmouth_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnmouth
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- bustimes.org/localities/alnmouth-station
- alnwickcastle.com/
- alnwickgarden.com/
- barterbooks.co.uk/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Castle
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick_Garden
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barter_Books
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/alm/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- redlionalnmouth.com/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick-upon-Tweed
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Alnmouth?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.