Best tea rooms and coffee shops in Northumberland

• Alnmouth
• Bamburgh
• Bardon Mill
• Beadnell
• Belford
• Bellingham
• Belsay
• Blanchland
• Corbridge
• Cresswell
• Etal
• Gilsland
• Holy Island
• Ingram
• Kirkharle
• Morpeth
• Prudhoe
• Rock
• Swarland
• Warkworth
• Wooler
• Wylam

The Village Tearooms in Alnmouth are a regular watering hole. It is situated on the main street in Alnmouth, Riverside Road. There are two cosy indoor areas and a covered outdoor area.

They do a great range of food. My particular favourites are the Beef Stottie and the Crab Sandwiches. For dessert they have a range of rather impressive cakes, arranged on the sideboard, in the front room. My particular favourite is the chocolate cake. If you are planning on having cake, best leave room. The portions are generous.

What is special about The Village Tea Rooms? – The beef stottie, the portions and the friendly service.

The Copper Kettle is in the beautiful village of Bamburgh.

When you are visiting Bamburgh Castle, why not round the day off with a visit to this tea shop.

They have many great things, including one of their signature sandwiches, the “Kipper in a bun”. The Ploughman’s Platter is pretty good too.

What is special about The Copper Kettle? – Bamburgh itself and the the Ploughman’s Platter.

We have only recently discovered the tea room at Bardon Mill. What a find. Great basic food for good prices.

Of course this is primarily a shop for the residents of Bardon Mill, but there are a few tables inside the shop and some out the front of the shop. However, the real value is found on a nice day though. You can use the tables on the big green outside the shop.

The toasted sandwiches are excellent.

What is special about The Bardon Mill Tea Room? – The toasted sandwiches and the village green outside. Also the pottery across the road, which is definitely worth a look.

Oddly, Beadnell has no permanent cafes near the beach or harbour. There are some vans but if you want to sit in coffee shop or tea shop, you have to go into the village. This is where the Salt Water Cafe is.

It’s in a lovely spot, just across from the church and the Craster Arms. There is an indoor area and several tables on the terrace outside.

They have a very varied menu to cater for any taste, but my particular favourite is the Posh Fish Finger Sandwich. I also like the very chocolatey deserts too.

What is special about The Salt Water Cafe? – The cakes and being away from the busy beach area.

Belford is a quiet village in North Northumberland. It is on the route of the Northumberland Coastal Path and St Oswald’s Way. The next cafe is about another 9 miles away to the north or 6 miles to the east.

There is a large indoor seating area and a dog friendly patio outdoors.

What is special about The Well House Coffee Shop? Home baked goodies and it’s the best place to get a tea, coffee or cake in Belford.

Carriages Tea Room is distinctly different to the others on my list, in that it is situated around a set of old railway carriages. The tea room is at the old station, so this makes sense. The railway leading to the station disappeared long ago.

We like this tea room, not because of the carriages but because there is a section by the outdoor tables devoted to bird feeders. On a nice day, there’s nothing better than enjoying a cup of tea and a sandwich, while watching the birds do the same thing.

Like Kirkharle, this coffee shop is on the A696 but further south at Belsay. The location so close to the road might put some people off but the coffee shop itself is set back from the road up a lane and the outdoor area is very quite and overlooks fields. There is a substantial indoor area too.

They do a really great bacon and egg pie.

Blanchland is usually a bit out of the way for us. But, when we do come here, The White Monk is always good.

The building looks like a church but is, in fact, the old school house. There are two rooms indoors and a large seating area outside.

The sandwiches and toasted sandwiches are really good. We visited recently and everything we had tasted incredibly fresh.

Brockbushes is on the A69, just off the Corbridge roundabout. It might be recognised as the pick-your-own fruit farm. However, there is a farm shop and a tea room.

The tea room has a large indoor seating area, as well as a conservatory and outdoor area, that opens in spring and summer.

Technically Piper’s Pitch isn’t a tea room or coffee shop. However, it had to be included, as has been a fixture in Craster for many years. You can get the famous Kipper Bun here, which is a genuine Craster kipper in a bun. It doesn’t need anything else. Just the kipper and the bun. Perfect! There is also the Auchtermuchty sandwich, which is bacon and haggis in a stottie.

Obviously, my favourites are the Kipper Bun or the Auchtermuchty Sandwich, or maybe both, but you have to be very hungry.

The Drift Cafe has been one of our favourites for some time. As it is situated next to the car park at Cresswell beach, it is very convenient for a snack after a walk.

This cafe has been constantly growing for several years. It now has a large indoor seating area and a huge outdoor area. There is even a double decker bus, which once opened will provide an extra indoor area.

It is very much dog friendly, even indoors, as long as they don’t bark too much.

There is plenty of good stuff on the menu here. The hot wrap melts are delicious and my personal favourite is the haggis, black pudding, bacon and fried egg stottie. Messy but delicious.

Etal is a gorgeous but small village, right in the North of Northumberland. It has a castle, is close to Flodden Field and has its own miniature railway.

So, there’s plenty to do and you might need tea or coffee and cake afterwards. The Lavender Tea Rooms is perfect for this. The garden is lovely and sheltered. Indoors you’ll find the local shop and some tables for those days when outside isn’t an option.

The menu includes lots of local produce and homemade treats, including the “Singin’ Hinnie”, a local type of griddle scone. All at very reasonable prices.

Gilsland is a quiet village on Hadrian’s Wall and right on the county boundary between Northumberland and Cumbria. I suspect that House of Meg is actually on the Cumbrian side but I’ve included it here anyway.

As with many tea shops in small villages and remote areas, it is also the village shop. There are some rooms inside for sitting in but there are also tables out front and a tea garden.

They serve takeaway teas, coffees and cakes and also serve larger meals for sitting in.

The Lookout Cafe is part of Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre. This site was originally an open cast mine that was landscaped into the wonderful nature reserve it is today.

Apart from a small parking charge, the reserve is free to enjoy. Why not take a walk around before returning to the cafe.

The cafe is special. It is only small but incorporates a whole wall of windows that overlook the large lake. So, you can sit in the warm indoor cafe, enjoying a cup of tea and a scone, while watching the wildlife.

The menu is simple but good. My favourite is soup and a cheese scone. Just what you need after a walk on a cold day.

Situated in a small walled garden, this coffee house does a lot more than serve coffee. They are committed to sustainability and providing quality, tasty and healthy foods.

They cater for all tastes but ensure that they have a great range for vegetarians and vegans. There are even options for those requiring dairy free and gluten free food.

As the name suggests, this is more than just a café. It is a post office and a shop. However, it is the café that we are talking about here.

There is plenty of indoor seating and a large outdoor seating area, for the nice days.

There is a large menu of all of the typical favourites but their speciality is the fresh crab and lobster that is landed at the harbour on Holy Island.

The Barn at Beal is not actually on Holy Island, it is on the mainland, just. It is a great place to wait for the tide to ebb and to watch it as it goes out.

Also, it is a tea shop, in that it sells tea, coffee and cakes. But, it’s really a restaurant.

The indoor area is extensive and very nice. The outdoor area is one of the highlights. The view over the causeway, sands and the Island are incredible and constantly changing.

Usually, a cup of tea and a scone will suffice, but the breakfast is one of the best I’ve had. Highly recommended.

This cafe has had many names and is currently the Ingram Cafe, which says exactly what it is.

It used to be the National Park Visitor Centre, so is quite large inside. There is plenty of parking right outside and in the Ingram Bridge Car Park. There is a craft and gift shop inside, selling local art and produce. There is also a small outdoor seating area.

These are the only facilities in the Ingram Valley, so are very convenient for a visit to Linhope Spout waterfall.

We have visited the Ingram Cafe a few times and found it to be excellent. The scones are great and they do a local delicacy, Border Tart, which is an iced fruit tart.

Situated just off the A696, Kirkharle is a convenient stopping point on the way to the Scottish borders. The Coffee House is situated in the courtyard, amidst local arts and craft businesses.

Kirkharle is most famous for being the birth place of Lancelot “Capability” Brown, the famous landscape architect.

There are several rooms indoors, with large windows looking out onto the yard. The outdoor seating area is in the yard and is substantial.

They have an extensive menu, which surely has something to suit anyone.

There are plenty of cafes and eateries in Morpeth but Cafe Des Amis is our favourite.

There is a beautifully decorated indoor area and a conservatory at the back, as well as a courtyard garden.

If you are using Morpeth as a base to explore Northumberland, then this is a great place to eat.

They have great scones here and an amazing array of cakes. The menu is very imaginative and there are some lovely combinations on it.

The Tyne Riverside Cafe is a lovely place, right next to the River Tyne. It is convenient for the train and for the Ovingham side, as well as the Prudhoe side.

It is part of the Land of Oak and Iron Trust, which promotes the local area around the Derwent Valley.

Seating is mainly indoors in three areas. There is a snug upstairs.

The food is great and, if it’s available, the broth is excellent, especially with a cheese scone.

Whilst being very close to the A1, it is also very secluded. It is situated just before the main village of Rock, at Rock Midsteads. There is ample space inside. But, on a nice day, you will want to sit outside, in the beautiful garden, overlooking the fields.

The Rocking Horse is very dog friendly, to the extent that there are two resident collies, who are very well behaved, but will happily sit waiting for the remote possibility of being tossed a morsel of food. This is unlikely though, as you will want to eat everything yourself.

Like many tea rooms and cafes in Northumberland, it sells local goodies and displays artworks for sale. The artworks here are a little different though. The photography is from Richard Dunwoody, the famous jockey.

Nelson’s on the Park is so named because it is situated in the recreation area know as The Park, in the south east of Swarland. The entrance is from Old Park Road.

I particularly enjoy a cup of tea or coffee here, with a generous slice of one of their wonderful cakes. Of course the cake might be preceded by one of the many other tasty morsels on the menu.

This cafe has one thing that many others don’t. It has a play park right outside. So, there is plenty to keep children of all ages busy, while you relax and enjoy your snack.

Bertrams is on the main thoroughfare through Warkworth, Bridge Street, and close to the Warkworth House Hotel. It has plenty of room indoors and a small courtyard, at the back. However, it is always popular. So, either book early or be prepared to queue.

My particular favourite is the Cullen Skink. A friend of ours, who is from the area of Scotland where Cullen Skink originated, tried this and said it was very good.

There are several cafes in Wooler but our favourite is The Terrace Cafe. The indoors is cosy, especially on a cold day.

Wooler is on St Cuthbert’s Way and you will arrive in Wooler after around 20 miles without any places to buy something to eat. So, you’ll need a good place in Wooler.

Indoors there are two rooms and there are tables out front.

Whenever we are in the Wylam area, we make a point of visiting the Coffee Tree. They do all of the favourites with great breakfasts, sandwiches and cakes. However, it’s the specials that interest us most. You won’t know what they are until you get there. I always find that I’m drawn to them as I wonder how that combination of flavours works. It always does.