The Alnwick District is famous for its unspoilt beauty, and is one of the most picturesque areas of countryside in the whole of England with long sandy beaches, quiet friendly villages, the Simonside and Cheviot hills, and well preserved medieval Castles and gardens. Of note is Alnwick Garden, with its spectacular poison garden and the delightful Treehouse Restaurant. There are numerous Stately Homes in the area including the fantastic Alnwick Castle, home to the Duke of Northumberland, and often referred to as "The Windsor of the North," being the second largest inhabited and visited castle in the UK. Although, you might better recognise it as Hogwarts, being the place where Harry Potter was filmed. The Village of Alnwick is equally worth the visit, with the Bailiffgate Museum, the beautiful Parish of St. Michael, and the delightful Barter Books.