Alston
Things to do in Alston, Cumbria
Photo © Ross Aitken, Google Maps
Alston is a small market town in the North Pennines with a tight cluster of independent places to eat and stay. The restaurants and cafes here punch well above their size—the Hostel, Cobbles Cafe and The Crossing Cafe all sit at 4.9 ratings, and even the more traditional hotel dining reaches the mid-fours. You could eat differently every night without leaving the town centre, which matters when you are in countryside this deep.
The South Tynedale Railway and Nenthead Mines are the two draws that bring visitors here. The railway is well-established, rated 4.6 from over 800 reviews, while the mines are smaller and more specialist—a 4.7 rating from 46 reviews suggests devoted rather than casual visitors. Both are the kind of attraction that makes a destination trip rather than a passing stop.
Where to stay in Alston(5)
All hotels in Alston →About staying in Alston
For a night or two, there are five hotels and guest houses, ranging from the Cumberland Inn and Alston House Hotel (which both sit around 4.4–4.6) to Lowbyer Manor Country House Hotel, rated 4.7. The Lovelady Shield and Nenthall properties double as restaurants, so you could settle in for a longer stay without much need to stray. This is not a base for exploring the wider region so much as a destination in its own right, in a part of Cumbria where small, solid places to stay and eat are the reliable infrastructure.
Things to Do in Alston(2)
All attractions in Alston →
Where to Eat in Alston(8)
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Attractions Near Alston
All attractions in Alston →Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Alston.
Killhope Lead Mining Museum
Bishop Auckland · ⭐ 4.7
11 mi
Lazonby Swimming Pool
Penrith · ⭐ 4.3
11 mi
Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre
Haltwhistle · ⭐ 4.6
12 mi
Hadrians Wall and Fort
Hexham · ⭐ 4.8
13 mi
Vindolanda
Hexham · ⭐ 4.8
13 mi
Talkin Tarn Country Park
Brampton · ⭐ 4.6
15 mi
Housesteads Roman Fort
Hexham · ⭐ 4.6
15 mi
Hunt Fun Appleby in Westmorland
Appleby-in-Westmorland · ⭐ 4.8
Camping in Alston
All campsites in Alston →
Self-Catering Cottages in Alston
All cottages in Alston →Gilmore House
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £337
Sowerberry
2 bed · sleeps 4
Millstream
2 bed · sleeps 4
Robsons Cottage
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £413
Red Kite
4 bed · sleeps 10 · from £1,468
Harbut Law Holiday Cottages
2 cottages · from £273
Mark Close Milking Parlour
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £815
Harbut Law Holiday Cottages - The Milking Parlour
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £467
Common questions about Alston
Where can I stay in Alston?
We list 5 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Alston.
What is there to do in Alston?
We list 2 attractions and things to do in and around Alston.
Where can I eat in Alston?
We list 8 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Alston.