The Inn Collection Group has announced Christmas holiday packages at all of its hotels, including options in Northumberland, County Durham and Yorkshire. Priced from £599 for two people, these three-night breaks from December 24-27 include breakfast each morning, dinner for two on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day lunch and an evening buffet for two, and dinner for two on Boxing Day, making them ideally suited for a romantic retreat.
Popular Alnwick option
One popular option is The Hog's Head Inn on the outskirts of Alnwick. Offering stays for all types of group, with dog-friendly accommodation as well as family rooms with space for up to six guests, this hotel is situated just off the A1, making it perfectly placed for exploring all of Northumberland's attractions.
The Hog's Head Inn lies just a few minutes' drive away from the heart of Alnwick, with plenty to see in the market town from its famous castle and gardens to independent shops and museums full of history. For something to do during the festive break, The Alnwick Garden is open every day 10am-3pm from December 19 until January 3 except Christmas Day, as well each evening from 4.30pm-9pm for its magical Winter Lights trail.
Exploring the coast and countryside
Recently named by LNER as one of the best destinations for a 'quietcation' in the North East, Alnwick is also a great base for exploring the idyllic coast and countryside of wider Northumberland. The seaside villages of Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell, Craster and Alnmouth - complete with unspoiled beaches - are all reachable within half an hour by car, as is the heart of Northumberland National Park, offering incredible walking routes through hills and valleys, Roman ruins, and breathtaking dark skies.
For more places to stay in Alnwick this winter, the town is officially home to the best small hotel in England, with The Tempus on the Charlton Hall Estate scooping this Gold award at the VisitEngland Tourism Awards earlier this year. Another characterful choice of hotel in the town is The Cookie Jar, which was hand-picked by The Good Hotel Guide as one of the best in the region for its character and cosiness, and with more than 500 reviews is the top-rated hotel in Alnwick on Booking.com.
Guest reviews
Back at The Hog's Head Inn, one guest who stayed in June this year said in a five-star review on Tripadvisor: "This place is first class. The best Sunday carvery of all the ones we have stayed in, it was very good, compliments to the chef. The staff here are amazing and can not do enough to help you, customer service is first class. The rooms are very comfortable and very clean."
Another visitor praised: "An excellent location. All the staff very friendly, welcoming and helpful. Comfortable rooms. Food in the restaurant was excellent. Nice touch in the room with dog treats, as dogs are welcome. Will be visiting again."
And a third reviewer wrote: "Great location not far from the A1. Pleasant, peaceful atmosphere with comfortable spacious rooms. Staff friendly and efficient. Food good, as you would expect from this type of hotel."
Some others felt that the food offering had room for improvement, with a different person feeding back: "Breakfast was usual selection but limited choice if you didn't want cooked English or bread/pastries."
Meanwhile, another guest said of their stay: "Everything was just right for our overnight stay with our pup coming along too. The room was ideal with everything you could possibly need, lovely and warm too with easily adjustable heating. The evening food was excellent and very reasonably priced, and the following breakfast was equally as good."
They continued: "Every member of staff we met were extremely friendly and helpful, a credit to the establishment. We would certainly return without hesitation, we spoke with several guests during our visit who had stayed multiple times."
Other North East options
Other options in Northumberland for a Christmas stay with the Inn Collection Group include The Amble Inn and The Bamburgh Castle Inn to enjoy the beauty of the coast in the crisp winter weather. Or for more North East festive breaks, there are also options in County Durham with The Seaton Lane Inn in Seaham and The Kingslodge Inn just outside Durham city centre to choose from.
Those booking a Christmas stay with the Inn Collection Group should note that prices vary by inn and room type, and that dinner on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day has an allowance of £25 per adult. Full terms and conditions can be found on the Inn Collection Group website.
