Warwick Castle

I have loved castles for as long as I can remember. Growing up I did not have the chance to visit many castles but over the last few years, we have had the opportunity to travel across the UK and visit some fascinating castles. There is something about buildings steeped in history that draws me to them. I love architecture and history and century-old buildings are a perfect place to soak up both. A couple of weeks back we visited Warwick Castle and loved it. The castle offers a good insight into medieval history and made for a good day out. If you are planning to visit Warwick Castle, I have some tips for you.

About the castle

Warwick Castle has a history dating back to almost 11 centuries. It all began in 914 when an earthen, defensive wall was built to protect the small hill-top settlement of Warwick against Danish invaders. William the Conqueror developed this into a motte-and-bailey castle in 1068. In 1260 the wood was replaced by stone. During the first half of the 14th century, Caesar's Tower and Dungeon constructed while Guy's Tower was completed in 1395. In 1449 Richard Neville became the Earl of Warwick and a year later the gatehouse and barbican were completed. The castle saw further developments in 1540 when reinforcements were made to the south front, the Spy Tower was built and an extension was made to the State Rooms for a royal visit.

The castle has had its share of royal visits. The year 1572 saw a visit from Queen Elizabeth I while King William III visited the castle in 1695. Queen Victoria graced the castle with a visit in 1858 and in recent times HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the castle in 1996.

In 1750 Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was commissioned to landscape the gardens. Continuous development was carried out at the castle with a conservatory being built and the State dining rooms completed. It was sometime in 1978 when the castle was bought by the Tussauds Group (Merlin Entertainments now) and since then extensive renovation has been undertaken and several new attractions have been added at the Castle.

Highlights at Warwick Castle

The Castle makes for a perfect day-out idea as there is lots to see and do at the castle. With continuous restoration over the past many years, the castle is a fun experience for the entire family.

Towers and Ramparts: Climb up the towers and enjoy beautiful panoramic views. Guy’s Tower (built in the 14th century) is the first tower you see as you enter the castle grounds. The tower is 12-sided, stands 39m tall and has five storeys. The tallest tower at the castle, standing at 44.8m tall, is Caesar's Tower. This tower made of three storeys is a great example of military architecture. All the towers offer lovely views but be aware that the climb up involves a lot of steps and at some places the passage is narrow. It may be unsuitable for those with a fear of confined spaces or heights.

The Castle's Interiors: Lavish is the word that comes to my mind when I remember the beautiful grand interiors of the castle. Whether it is the Great Hall (the largest room in the Castle) with artefacts like suits of armour and two pristine pieces of equestrian armour or the State Rooms or the Green Drawing Room with its collection of beautiful paintings, all the rooms act as a reminder of the time gone by. It is almost a magical feeling; walking around a castle and retracing the footsteps of the family that lived there.

Daily Shows: The castle has many different activities scheduled for each day. 'Flight of The Eagles', a bird of prey show, 'The Great Joust' where knights battle it out and the 'Trebuchet Fireball Spectacular' where you can watch the world's largest working catapult launch a flaming fireball into the air. Some of the shows are weather dependent, so please check with the castle staff before booking your tickets.

The Mound: This is the oldest part of the Castle and offers stunning panoramic views. The climb is not as difficult as the towers. When we climbed up the mound, we were greeted by a beautiful buzzard hovering over the mound. When the birds are left free for the 'Flight of the Eagles' show, they usually fly around the mound, at times resting on the walls.

Playgrounds and Gardens: Warwick Castle has around 64 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens. The gardens were designed by Lancelot Brown and this was his first independent castle commission. River Avon runs through the grounds and you can venture across the river to the island where weather permitting jousting and trebuchet firing takes place. There is Rose garden which even has a new English rose variety called the ‘Warwick Castle’. My favourite part of the Castle's grounds was the Peacock Garden where peacocks roam freely amidst manicured hedges. In the backdrop was the Conservatory. This part of the castle is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Other attractions at the castle include Princess Tower (you need to collect a free timed ticket to this attraction), pageant playground, goal and the Mill & Engine House. If you are not of a nervous disposition, then check out the Castle Dungeon which is an optional extra attraction inside the castle. You need to purchase timed tickets from the Central Courtyard Ticket Tent.

Note: If you are heading for a longer break, here is a list of things to see and do in Warwick that might be useful in planning your holiday.

Plan your visit

There are two types of tickets available: the Castle ticket, that gives you access to the Castle, the grounds, attractions and shows and the Castle & Dungeon ticket that gives you entry to the dungeon as well. The Castle also offers 'Open Dated' tickets that are perfect if you are not sure when you will be visiting. As with most attractions you get a better deal if you book in advance.

Adult tickets at the gate are priced at £18.60 while for children it is £16.20. If you purchase the tickets 1-4 days in advance, the tickets are price at £15.00. You get a further £2.00 discount (tickets priced £13.00) if you book 5+ days in advance. The Castle is open all year round from 10:00am except for Christmas Day.

Note: The prices above are correct at the time of writing the post. 

 

For latest prices, visit Warwick Castle's website.

If you driving to Warwick then you need to plan where you want to park. The Stables Car Park (CV34 4QU)  is next to Admissions but has a charge of £10.00. We parked our car at the St Nicholas Park which is a very short walk away from the castle. The park has a pay and display parking and it cost us just £4.00 for the day. There are other parking areas as well around the castle where you can get parking for a lower rate than the Stables Car Park.

For more information:
Warwick Castle | Warwick CV34 4QU
Phone: 01926 495 421 (9:00am - 5:00pm)