Standing on a hill and dominating the village of Warkworth, the dramatic ruins of Warkworth Castle provide an evocative image of medieval strength. Norman in origin, the castle was taken over by the Percy family (of Alnwick Castle) in 1332. Later that century, Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland, allowed the castle to be the home of his eldest son, Harry Hotspur.

The opening scene of Shakespeare's play "Henry IV" is set here. The keep was restored and made habitable again in the 19th century.