Kenilworth, a 3 stage ruin (Kenilworth Castle)

Member Name: Happyjaw

Product:	Kenilworth Castle
Date:	16/08/08 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gorgeous venue

Disadvantages: In the middle of nowhere

Kenilworth Castle is a landscape beauty, visible for miles around the ruins rise majestically above the surrounding land and property.
The castle was built in three stages, each an asset to the previous standing, each a larger space to inhabit and therefore leaving us a greater trail of history and monarchy to follow, notably Henry V, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Though ruins the place is a delight to explore, plenty of steps curving up interesting arrowslit towers and ruined rooms with no roof.
Even the graffiti here is ancient, I recall finding markings in the oldest parts, going back hundreds of years, the names of lovers long dead, carved, inexorably, over time into the stone itself, another form of history branded into the buildings.
The land is beautiful and you can often find the gatekeepers cats wandering the ruins, making the remains still a home.
The site is beautifully lit at night and it's worth popping to the pub over the road to catch a glimpse of the nighttime majesty.
The gift shop is generous for EH standards, well stocked, well staffed and with a good choice. If your kids want a wooden sword or princess outfit or a million other things in keeping with a castle you will find it. If you fancy EH produce, a variety of soaps, bath oils, mead, preserves and others I can recommend the food ones, I've never tried the bath and body products. Those will range from £2 to £15.
Fudge from 60p, pencils from 50p, tea towels from £2.50ish, mead at around £5 ish, a replica Excalibur around £500+. It really does cater for all.
The toilets are creatively placed so as not to interfere with the layout and visual impression of the site but feature spiders and other creepy crawlies as full time inhabitants. Not for the faint hearted.
For best value, check out EH's website for events, if you can combine your visit with a performance or historical re-enactment, you really will get the best of both worlds and take a picnic to really maximise the opportunities.

Summary: Be prepared with a picnic when you go