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Northumberland can now count Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden among its growing list of admirers.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport visited The Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle while on a family holiday to Northumberland earlier this month.

He said: “I’ve enjoyed a brilliant family holiday in Northumberland this summer and visiting The Alnwick Garden and Alnwick Castle has been a real highlight.

"The castle is an extraordinary piece of Britain’s national heritage, while The Alnwick Garden is incredibly beautiful.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden with the Duchess of Northumberland at The Alnwick Garden.

"Both are testament to why it was so vital to protect our irreplaceable heritage and cultural bodies through the pandemic with the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, so these special places can be ready to help us build back better.

"The two attractions are crucial to Northumberland’s future, creating jobs and investment through tourism which will be further boosted by the new Lilidorei play village at The Alnwick Garden, which has received £5m from the Government’s Borderlands scheme.

“This extension to Alnwick’s tourism offering will bring further revenue to the hospitality and accommodation economy in the region.”

The building of Lilidorei is being filmed by MGM for a six part global documentary series to be shown on Channel 4 beginning October 2022.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden chats to the Duchess of Northumberland for a new documentary series on the building of Lilidorei.

Culture Secretary praises Alnwick attractions after 'brilliant' family holiday in Northumberland