Not content to live in its glorious past, Alnwick has become both a major tourist destination and, according to Country Life no less, may be the best place in the country to live. The past and the present come together in Alnwick Castle, seat of the Percy family for centuries, its already healthy visitor numbers boosted hugely by its use in the Harry Potter Movies. The market is thriving, and so are the pubs, old coaching inns and restaurants, some serving great Northumbrian produce. The town is undoubtedly a pretty one, with great natural resources nearby – fabulous countryside, the river Aln (Hardy fly rods handily made in the town), and the sea a couple of miles away at Alnmouth.