A tour between Durham and Newcastle stopped off at Lumley Castle. While I don't know the history of it, a lot of money and effort went into adding in electricity and modernizing it to convert it into a hotel. While it is not an admission-based attraction like some castles in the region, you can take a peek at many of the unique nooks and crannies even if you're not a hotel guest. The library, lounge, courtyard, and restaurant areas were quite impressive, and had me wishing I could spend a night on vacation here just to relax and explore the grounds. While I probably spent only about 20 minutes here, I'm glad I did as castles in England are largely unknown to me, and make for a very unique free of charge stop on a tour in this area of Northern England. I'd recommend a visit if you want to check out a castle without dedicating time and money to a more elaborate visit. read more