Where Art Meets Landscape

The mining community that became world-famous artists. In 1934, a group of Ashington miners enrolled in a Workers' Educational Association art appreciation class — and decided to paint instead. Their extraordinary story became a National Theatre hit.

Designated as England's most northerly National Park, covering 405 square miles of wild Cheviot hills, Hadrian's Wall country and Europe's largest dark sky park. 2026 marks seven decades of protecting this extraordinary landscape.

Born in Bamburgh, Grace Darling became Britain's most celebrated heroine when she and her lighthouse keeper father rowed through a savage storm to rescue survivors of the SS Forfarshire. She was just 22 years old.

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, the greatest landscape gardener in English history, was born and raised in Kirkharle, Northumberland. He transformed over 170 estates including Blenheim Palace and Alnwick Castle's grounds. His 310th anniversary falls in 2026.

Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England — over 70, from the mighty Bamburgh and Alnwick to hidden ruins in the Cheviots. Each one tells a story of border warfare, power and extraordinary architecture.

Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a 73-mile wall across northern England — the most heavily fortified border in the Roman Empire. Nearly 2,000 years later, it remains Northumberland's greatest monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.