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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Warwick Castle in the rain…

6 replies

Hardhat2 · 08/07/2023 17:37

We’re staying overnight at Warwick castle this week and itlooks like it’s going to be a wash out.

anyone been in the rain and have tips of what to do / what to avoid?!

im digging out the waterproofs…

OP posts:
ReviewingTheSituation · 08/07/2023 18:02

In Warwick town, or in the castle?

The Kingmaker exhibit is indoors, and that's suitable for all ages (although I remember taking one set of friend's kids there and they were scared by the lifelike mannequins!), there's another indoor bit too, with mannequins etc, which isn't quite as child-friendly. The great hall is obviously indoors. Down by the river, there's the old mill, which is also all indoors.

If you have younger children, there's usually a storytelling thing somewhere (like a Princess tower or some such), and if you have older (braver) ones, there's the dungeon (which you have to pay extra for).

But you're right - lots of it is outdoors. But unless it's chucking it down then you'll be fine with waterproofs.

The castle don't like to let you know that you can come and go (I think you have to get your hand stamped, so don't just leave without checking!) - they want you to stay within their bounds and spend ALL your money with them. But Warwick itself is full of lovely independent business who would dearly love you to visit them! I'd strongly advise lunch outside the castle - so many better options. If you exit the castle through the main town gate, and walk straight up to the main road through town you'll get to my favourite coffee shop - Jack's Shack - where you can get a lovely sandwich and a drink. Or for tea and cake, there's Thomas Oken tea rooms, right outside the castle walls. If you're staying overnight and want dinner recommendations, shout up!

There's a free museum in the main square which could pass a bit of time if it's raining. There aren't lots of other indoor things to do in town, other than look in the shops and eat cake. If you do find yourself spending time in town, there is plenty to see below the East Gate (which looks like the 'end' of town if you're just glancing in that direction).

croft89 · 08/07/2023 18:25

I heard a story about an American tourist who was in Warwick town centre

They stopped a local to ask for directions to the town centre and were told that they were in the middle of the town centre

You may need to venture further afield op

ReviewingTheSituation · 08/07/2023 18:42

@croft89 - it is a slightly unusual layout for a town centre though! It has a main road running through it (half of which is called High Street), but there's not very much actually on that street. Then there are old gates/arches at either end of that road (East Gate and West Gate), the other side of which there are shops/cafes etc, and then there is a road at right angles to the High St which leads to the Market Square, where there is a museum, library, main church, shops, pubs, cafes etc etc. And then there's the castle - which is not actually visible from most of the town itself.

So if the tourist was on the High St, someone may have told them (technically correctly) that they were in the centre of town, but not helpfully told them that within a minute or so's walk there is plenty to see/do.

At the end of the day, it's not a big place! It has a big castle, and a racecourse, a huge park with boats, crazy golf etc, a cathedral-sized church, the Medieval Lord Leycester hospital, a lovely river and canal, and a LOT of small retail/hospitality businesses. But there are no big name shops/chains (apart from a small Boots, and a small WHSmiths), and it's all the better for it. But there will be people who expect a 'town centre' to have named/recognisable shops, and Warwick doesn't have those (they're all of about 3 miles away in Leamington). It's a lovely place to visit, and has a lot going for it. No need to venture further afield at all OP!

NoIfsOrButsOrCoconuts · 08/07/2023 18:48

Well I never Reviewing. We’ve been several times to the castle and lord leycester hospital gardens. We did just think it was a rather small place 😂

Not been for many years and this was pre smart phones tbf. I must tell DH, we’ve been talking about going back to the castle, it would be nice to actually see Warwick town now I know there is one.

ReviewingTheSituation · 08/07/2023 18:59

It is a small place - I'm not disputing that for a moment. In fact to quote my own post above "At the end of the day, it's not a big place!", but there's more than enough to keep someone/a family occupied for a day, especially if they're going to the castle as part of it.

Next time you come, go to the tourist info office (where there's also a Yeomanry museum, and an old court house that does tours) and pick up the Warwick Town Trail leaflet for £1, and do the walking tour of the town. That will give you all the history about the great fire of Warwick, show you all the historic buildings and outdoor spaces, take you to some nice viewpoints of the castle and the racecourse/St Mary's Land, and show you that whilst there isn't a massive 'centre', there are lots of places to pass the time and enjoy what the town has to offer.

I've lived here (just outside) for 25 years and still haven't been inside the Lord Leycester! Must get around to that one of these days...

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