Warwick Castle

In my experience Warwick is hands down the best day out for kids in England. My 6 year old boy rates it above Lego land which for such a Lego fanatic is remarkable. Even my husband loved it.

Normally taking a trip to a historic place with my children tales a concerted effort to engage and educate, not so here. I often walk round children's attractions thinking how much better I could make things (clearly I am totally unqualified to do so but distracts from the boredom/frustration- Roald Dahl museum springs to mind). Warwick Castle is better than I could possibly imagine.

The wax works interspersed with costumed actors and featuring smells make it easy to get a real sense of how the castle would have operated in it's heyday. my daughter loved the princess tower, the all wooden adventure playground is smallish but great.

We have been twice (from London or we would be there a lot more) once On a busy September Saturday and most recently on a non holiday weekday. This is one of the few
places that is perhaps at it's best on a peak day as the facalonry/archery/trobuchet displays happen then. Although on the quiet day the actors where wonderful at entertaining the children, letting them hold the weaponry and try on armor etc.

the food is edible but un-special. It is right in the middle of the city so very easy to pop out to the high street to one of the Italian food chains or for a pub lunch although the setting is so lovely I would recommend a picnic but one that's disposable as you wont want to lug a hamper around.

Don't know about cost as we were treated both times but I think there are lots of vouchers around/ may be worth getting a Merlin annual pass.