WEBLINKS
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FACTS
| The origins of Warwick Castle can be traced back to the Saxon fortification which Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, used to defend against the invading Danes.
The first castle to appear on the site was a wooden motte and bailey constructed in 1068 at the command of William the Conqueror.
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 |  | Review by Faye Claridge, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Coventry and Warwickshire website producer
CHILDHOOD VISIT
Before my recent visit I hadn't been to Warwick Castle for over 15 years, although from working on the website I was well aware of its popularity.
Put simply, it's the biggest single tourist attraction in Warwickshire and one of the top ten most visited places in the country.
| Ìý |  | There's loads for the kids to do
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A bank holiday can see 6,000 people going through the gates of this magnificent castle, withÌýwonderful displays for the family, including jousting, falconry and jesters.
So, finally, I decided it was time to see the castle for myself so I could pass on the real nuts and bolts of what a visit entails.
| Ìý |  | Chilling out on a sunny weekend at the castle
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DON'T MISS IT
Now that I've seen it for myself, I have to say you cannot visit Warwick or the surrounding area without going to see the castle. It really is worth it. It's even larger, more varied and more entertaining than you might expect.
A VARIED DAY
I was really impressed by the variety of the day at Warwick Castle. The castle's many attractions include fairly standard museum style displays, high towers and ruins, 'living history' smelly and realistic scenes, dark dungeons, beautiful stately rooms, an atmospheric ghost tower, industrial heritage displays and much, much more!
In additional, the castle is set in beautiful grounds that straddle the river Avon, so enjoying a picnic, strolling and chasing geese can all complete your day.
| Ìý |  | The castle's great hall
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SET TIME ASIDE
A visit to Warwick Castle can take a little as four hours but if the weather's good I really would allow a good few more hours so you can make the most of the grounds.
If time is tight then I'd suggest you visit Warwick itself or other places on your hit-list first and leave the castle until the afternoon. It's open until 6pm for most of the year and really does get quieter as the afternoon goes on.
By 5.30pm I was able to have the ghost tower all to myself - the only way to soak up the atmosphere!
| Ìý |  | Jolly Jester Jingle on stage
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COUNT THE COSTS
If you're considering a visit, you'll need to know the real costs you have to think about for a day at Warwick Castle. Hopefully this will help, although please just use this as a guide as prices can change.
Entrance to the castle is from £33 for a family of four in the off-peak season (more on special event days/evenings). For an adult it costs from £12.95. Prices go up slightly for peak season and special events. Queues on busy days can be considerable, but medieval style entertainment is often on hand to keep people amused.
Parking in the castle's car parks costs from £2.50 and varies slightly according to how far away you park from the castle. Either way it's a pretty stroll through woodland to the grounds. Parking is free for coaches and disabled visitors. A lot of the spaces are quite a walk from the entrance, so if you have any mobility problems it's well worth asking for a close space even if you're not registered disabled.
A brochure is £3.95 and is a lovely book of photographs, but actually the castle rooms have plenty of information on display and the book adds little more.
Audio tours give you approximately one hour of chat about the castle history and cost £2.50. They are available in English, French, German and Japanese.
Refreshments are available in a number of cafes, a restaurant and, often, other outdoor stalls. As an idea, a veggie burger and large drink cost me £4.25 and a coffee and muffin was £2.20. Picnics are welcome, though, and in good weather eating by the river would save you money and give you a great break watching the kids chase the ducks. BBQs and meat roasts are found within the grounds too...just follow the yummy smells...
Souvenirs are sold in numerous places throughout the castle and if you have little ones with you be warned - they will want toy archery sets, princess hats or armour. Every other child in the castle looks like one of the dressed-up waxworks by the end of the day!
| Ìý |  | Archer at the castle
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SPECIAL NEEDS
There were more pushchairs than you'd expect at an old castle, which has to be a good sign about the castle's access.
However there is a lot of the castle that is impossible to visit other than by using dimly lit steep stairs and narrow doorways.
The mill and the armoury exhibition have wheelchair access, but I'm afraid a lot of the attraction has to be experienced through a video for those that physically can't get about in the castle. To reflect this, wheelchairs users get into the castle free of charge.
On a sunny day, this is a good deal as wheelchair users can enjoy the 60 acres of gardens and all the special outdoor events in the summer.
BASIC INFORMATION
Opening times for the castle are every day (except Christmas day):
10am - 6pm April to September
10am - 5pm October to March
Last admission is half an hour before closing.
There is a recorded information line on 0870 442 2000 and the website (on the left) has lots of visitor details.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VISIT
If you've visited the castle recently and would like to add to this page or make a comment, please email us.
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