Things to do in Berwick Upon Tweed
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walls
Berwick's superb walls were begun in 1558 to reinforce an earlier set built during the reign of Edward II. They represented state-of-the-art military technology of the day and were designed both to house artillery (in arrowhead-shaped bastions) and to withstand it (the walls are low and massively thick, but it's still a long way to fall).
You can walk almost the entire length of the walls, a circuit of about a mile. It's a must, with wonderful, wide-open views. Only a small fragment remains of the once mighty border castle, by the train station. The tourist office has a brochure describing the main sights.
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Cell Block Museum
The original jail cells in the upper floor of the town hall (1750–61) have been preserved as a museum devoted to crime and punishment. Tours take in the public rooms, museum, jail and belfry.
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Berwick Barracks
Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the oldest purpose-built barracks (1717) in Britain now house an assortment of museums and art galleries.
The By Beat of Drum exhibition charges through the history of British soldiery from 1660 to 1900, while the Regimental Museum is only really for those with a burning interest in the King's Own Scottish Borderers. The Berwick Museum and Art Gallery romps through the town's history and holds 400 works of art from the Burrell collection (the other 9000 make up Glasgow's famous museum). The Gymnasium Gallery hosts big-name contemporary art exhibitions.
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Barrels Alehouse
Elvis and Muhammad Ali grace the walls of this fine pub, where you'll also find real ale and vintage Space Invaders. There's regular live music in the atmospherically dingy basement bar.
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Magna Tandoori
There's nothing much in this handsome Georgian room to suggest an Indian restaurant, but the huge menu, chock-full of dishes, makes this the best of its kind in town.
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Foxton's
This decent brasserie-style restaurant has Continental dishes to complement the local fare, which means there's something for everyone.
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guided walks
Recommended are the one-hour guided walks starting from the tourist office.
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Reivers Tryst
From the hearty all-day breakfast through to homemade pies for lunch and the likes of gammon and pineapple in the evening, this place specialises in stodgy English cuisine – nothing fancy, but very good.
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Lowry Trail
Known primarily for populating the northwest's industrial landscapes with matchstick figures, some of LS Lowry's finest works are actually the result of his many visits over 40 years to Berwick. Most of the trail's information boards stand on the walls, but the route also crosses the 17th-century Old Bridge into the aptly grim suburbs of Tweedmouth and Spittal. Ask for a free map from the tourist office.
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Berwick's Walls
Berwick's hefty Elizabethan walls were begun in 1558 to reinforce an earlier set built during the reign of Edward II. They represented state-of-the-art military technology of the day and were designed both to house artillery (in arrowhead-shaped bastions) and to withstand it (the walls are low and massively thick, but it's still a long way to fall).
You can walk almost the entire length of the walls, a circuit of about a mile. It's a must, with wonderful, wide-open views. Only a small fragment remains of the once mighty border castle, most of the building having been replaced by the train station.
reviewed
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Barrels Alehouse
Berwick's best watering hole attracts a mixed, laid-back crowd who can be found supping real ales and micro-distilled gins and whiskies at all hours. There's regular live music in the atmospherically dingy basement bar.
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