Annabel Grossman checks in. 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.
![[The Tempus Hotel is spread out across several buildings, including a main house, barns and lodges]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/08/15/The-tempus-interiors---exteriors-TSCCC0623-1-%281%29.jpg)
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.
![[The rooms are quirky and unique with bold batterns and bright colours]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/08/15/The-Tempus%2C-Junior-Suite---Jeffreys-Interiors-%2842%29.jpg)
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 modern, the exterior looks quintessentially English. The hotel is made up of a collection of buildings (some renovated and some new), including the Main House, the Farm Cottage, the Farmhouse, the Pole Barn and the Lookout, set around beautiful gardens. It’s chic and boutique, but also wonderfully laid-back – you’d feel perfectly comfortable plodding into reception in either a pair of wellies or heels.
![[The Tempus bar serves wine, beer and creative cocktails in a cosy setting]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/08/15/The-Tempus---Jeffreys-Interiors-%283%29-HIGH.jpg)
