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It’s a property that offers a knight to remember. No matter your age.
The new Warwick Castle Hotel will no doubt delight kids – and those adults who are big kids at heart.
I fall into the latter category and its medieval-themed rooms filled me with childlike glee on a recent visit.
The property is in the grounds of Warwick Castle, which already presents a magnificent day out. The fortress offers spooky battlements, intriguing historical artefacts and a winning combination of live-action shows, storytelling and history tours under the banner of Merlin Entertainments.
The just-opened £16.4million hotel is the final flourish – one that makes the castle an excellent location for an enchanting weekend away.
Sophie Foster visits the new hotel in the grounds of Warwick Castle (pictured). She declares that it makes for an ‘enchanting’ weekend jaunt at a ‘magnificent’ location
Sophie explains that Warwick Castle Hotel (above), 10 minutes away by foot from the castle proper, boasts 60 rooms and resembles a medieval long hall
‘In the foyer looms a 14ft-high animatronic Knight – the Earl of Warwick – astride his 300kg armoured steed,’ Sophie remarks. The portraits, horse and knight move and speak when the sword, seen here at the foot of the statue, is drawn
Set back from the castle proper, 10 minutes by foot, the hotel has 60 rooms and resembles a medieval long hall. Check-in is via the entrance hall where a ‘wow’ moment awaits.
In the foyer looms a 14ft-high animatronic knight – the Earl of Warwick – astride his 300kg armoured steed. As your children or, in my case, partner tries to pull the sword from the ground beneath the statue, sound and movement are triggered. The horse rears, the knight announces himself and the paintings on the walls chatter. It’s all quite Harry Potter.
Take a lift – decorated with decals of bookshelves, magic balls and quills – to your bedchamber and you’ll discover that it’s more than a little bit special.
Sophie’s ‘comfortable, and massive, room’ came complete with ‘a plush king-sized bed with royal blue bedding,’ as pictured above
Bunk beds for children, alongside a trundle bed, are installed in an anteroom off the main bedroom, as pictured
Each is decorated in a War of the Roses theme complete with wall-mounted shields, coat of arms and wallpaper tapestries. Our comfortable – and massive – room featured a plush king-sized bed with royal blue bedding and bunk beds plus a trundle bed in an anteroom.
The medieval finish plays out across the bedroom with my favourite detail a pair of heavy metal swords crossed and strapped to the wall (don’t worry, I checked and they’re firmly drilled into the plaster). As for mod cons, there’s air-conditioning, which was appreciated during the hot summer weather, and a large TV.
A delightful wooden walkway connects Warwick Castle Hotel to the war-camp-style glamping tents in The Knight’s Village – one of the estate’s other accommodation options. The village sits on the banks of the river Avon, where the first barrage of fun begins with evening entertainment from 6pm to 8pm.
Families can get involved in have-a-go archery, duelling, and storytelling. While I was there, children ran around playing – mostly with the ducks, ducklings and swans scrambling for crumbs – allowing parents to relax with a beer, wine or snack from a nearby food stand.
Evening entertainment takes place in the Knight’s Village, seen here, from 6pm to 8pm each night (file image)
‘Between the hotel and the Knight’s Village is the accommodation restaurant (above) with tall, beamed ceilings and iron chandeliers,’ notes Sophie
‘The food (pictured) was on par with an average chain restaurant,’ says Sophie. The salad bar and carvery costs £26.75 for adults, £15.75 for children or £7.75 for toddlers
Between the hotel and the Knight’s Village is the accommodation restaurant with tall, beamed ceilings and iron chandeliers.
This feasting hall is where we ate our complimentary breakfast – cereals, pastries or a hot buffet. It’s open for dinner too – a salad bar and carvery (£26.75 for adults / £15.75 for children / £7.75 for toddlers). The food was on par with an average chain restaurant – I wouldn’t hurry back.
As for the next day, spent at Warwick Castle, the live-action shows stand out. They include a jousting tournament dubbed War of the Roses Live! – prepare to choose a side between the Yorkists and Lancastrians and get involved in the heckling.
The Falconer’s Quest is an epic birds of prey display with eagles, hawks and vultures. The Legend of the Trebuchet demonstrates the use of an enormous siege machine (including small explosions). Finally, there’s the Zog Live Show where Julia Donaldson’s dragon character tries to catch a Princess in an – admittedly hilarious – adventure.
At Warwick Castle, pictured here, the live-action shows ‘stand out’, notes Sophie, but you can also take free tours of the castle where you’ll ‘discover murder holes and a clock once owned by Marie Antoinette’
Sophie enjoyed a jousting tournament dubbed War of the Roses Live! (left) as well as archery for £6 (right)
Guests can also try archery (£6), children’s jousting (£6) or take one of many free tours of the castle where you’ll discover ‘murder holes’ and a clock once owned by Marie Antoinette. Climb the tower (520 steps) to gaze at Warwick town from the battlements or relax in the attractive flower gardens alongside wandering peacocks. When you get peckish, head to the food trucks for a meal, drink, and ice cream combo (£13.95).
In the courtyard, I watched Morris dancing and pantomime-style Dames performing to a chorus of laughter from tiny princesses and squires.
I struggle to think of a more enjoyable demonstration of English culture and history than Warwick Castle’s adventure-packed grounds. I will gladly return.
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