Situated just off the A1 in Northumberland between Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed, The Tempus is conveniently located to reach by road yet feels right in the middle of nature. It sits on the sprawling Charlton Hall Estate (you drive around half a mile down private country lanes off the main road to reach it) among 150 acres of fields and woodland, around six miles from the rugged Northumberland coast. Just a 15-minute drive from The Tempus, the pretty market town of Alnwick is popular among tourists – the Craster bookshop is a particular draw, along with Alnwick Castle and its accompanying gardens that are home to the magical village of Lilidorei (a favourite for families).
Bamburgh Castle and its vast beach is just 20 minutes away by road; the long sandy stretches of Alnmouth Beach are around 25 minutes; and the enchanting Holy Island (which is cut off by tides half the day) is roughly a 30-minute drive. The closest train station is Alnmouth, which is 12 miles away and Newcastle International Airport is 40 miles. There’s nothing self-conscious about The Tempus – this is a hotel that makes you smile as soon as you arrive, with splashes of bright colours, bold patterns and a mishmash of thick fabrics.
It feels rather eclectic and slightly bonkers, but utterly charming. There are plenty of nods to Alice in Wonderland (although it’s not particularly clear why), as well as flashes of 1970s decor, bursts of fake foliage and lots of gold fixtures. While the interiors are mo.