Four places to get tea and cake in Northumberland

We Brits love a sweet treat every now and again (or perhaps, more often than that!) and they don't get much more British, or sweeter, than a wedge of cake and a spot of tea. It's unsurprising, then, that there are plenty of places to get tea and cake in Northumberland - the birthplace of Earl Grey tea.
Where are the best places to go, though? Look no further than these four fantastic cafés.
Earl Grey Tea House, Howick Hall Gardens
As we just mentioned, it is believed that Earl Grey tea was created in Northumberland and specially blended for the water at Howick by a Chinese mandarin. It was named after, and created for, Charles, the 2nd Earl Grey, who was British prime minister in the 1830s. What better place to drink Earl Grey and eat cake, then, than his former home. The tea house offers a selection of baked goodies, as well as light lunches and snacks.
Best of all, you can work off all the cake you've just eaten by walking around the Howick Hall Gardens, which are truly magnificent. They're highly commended too, as BBC Gardener's World magazine named them as one of the top five coastal gardens in the country. As well as the beautiful flowers, there's plenty of wildlife to enjoy too. If you're feeling brave, why not take 'the long walk' trail, which is one and a half miles long and leads you down to the sea.
Unfortunately it is not free to access Howick Hall Gardens, even if you just want a slice of cake. Adult admission is only £7.70 though, whereas over 60s pay a reduced price of £6.60, and kids go free. If you're thinking of visiting the gardens and tea room a lot, why not split a double season ticket with a friend - it only costs £48.
Station Buffet, Barter Books
Located at Alnwick Station is Barter Books, one of the largest antiquarian bookshops in the UK. It doesn't just sell old books though; it also has a wide selection of more contemporary reading choices. As the name suggests, it's the perfect place to get rid of books you no longer read, as people can trade in the ones they've read for ones they haven't. They can then take their new purchases and sit in front of a roaring fire, or they can head to Station Buffet, which is the café immediately tied to the bookshop.
Station Buffet's menu is full of the owner's favourite comfort foods. Baked goods, tea, soup, bacon sandwiches and Northumbrian rarebit are just some of the things on offer to visitors. It's especially a great place to come and eat in the winter, as three of the rooms have open fires. Dogs are welcome too, so your pooches can snuggle up in the warmth with you.
Both Barter Books and Station Buffet are open every day of the year, except Christmas Day.
Carriages Tea Room, The Heritage Centre at Bellingham
We come from an old station's roaring fires to the chuffing trains of another old station now. Climb aboard the Carriages Tea Rooms, and enjoy tea and freshly-baked goods inside a lovingly restored stationary train carriage. From fruit meringues to tray bakes, you're sure to find your favourite sweet treat here. Plus, there are a variety of fruit and herbal teas available, or if you prefer you can just stick to good old PG Tips.
The carriages in question are 1957 Mark One carriages, which were brought to Northumberland from Okehampton, Devon in 2011. Many of the original fixtures are still present, including the seats, so you really feel as if you've stepped back in time.
Carriages Tea Room is also tied to The Heritage Centre, which is home to artefacts, photos and maps documenting the history and traditions of the local area. If you're a big fan of trains and local history, it's a great place to visit. Again, the museum is open every day except Christmas Day.
The Tea Room and Ice Cream Parlour, Vallum Farm
You'll be spoilt for choice for homemade cakes at the tea room at Vallum Farm. The hugely popular café has won a number of awards for its breakfasts and roast dinners, but its afternoon tea is a firm favourite with customers. In fact, the afternoon tea is such a hit, they've had to start serving it all day every day. If you want something just as sweet, but a little bit cooler, you might prefer to try the ice cream, which is made from the milk of their very own Brown Swiss cows. There are 16 flavours to try, but you might want share a sundae instead - the banana split and knickerbockerglory come highly recommended.
If you end up loving its baked and iced goods, you might want to consider coming for a three-course meal some time. All the meat, game, fish and vegetables used in the dishes come from the farm itself, so you can ensure the produce is fresh and high-quality. There is much more to Vallum Farm that the team rooms though, as you can attend ice cream-making sessions and cheese and wine-matching evenings too. The farm is open seven days a week, including bank holidays.
As you can see, there are a wide number of places you can get tea and cake in Northumberland, and we've only really just scratched the surface! So next time you fancy a cuppa with your friend, partner or the whole family, why not go somewhere a bit different. After all, why would you go to a chain café when you can eat cake inside an old train?