King Of The Castles (Warwick Castle)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	Warwick Castle
Date:	01/09/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful grounds, lots to see outside, a very popular 'must go to' tourist attraction

Disadvantages: Can get extremely busy, expensive tickets (dungeon is additional)

Warwick Castle was on my list of touristy things to do when I stayed overnight in a hotel in Stratford this year. Located in Warwick, the castle is probably Warwickshire's biggest, most popular, and most expensive, attraction. At around £20 per adult ticket it's not cheap, but as a one-off visit it's definitely somewhere noteworthy to say you've been and depending on the weather the day you go, could prove to be a day-long visit.

There are several ways and places to pay for your ticket, though buying in advance online if possible is probably the cheapest method unless you have an alternative discount voucher. On the day, ticket prices are as follows:

Adult £19.95
Senior £11.95
Student £14.95
Child (4-16) £10
Disabled or carer £8.95
Family £48.00

Entry can also be redeemed via a Merlin pass, Tesco clubcard vouchers and special attraction discount vouchers. I used the latter, which was a buy one get one free ticket after shopping in Tesco, though similar are available elsewhere and frequently popping up so it's a good idea to keep an eye out for them.

£20 for one ticket in my opinion is very high, especially considering this doesn't get you entry in to the dungeon, a sideline attraction within the Castle, as this is an additional charge. Online, I was told this would cost £5, however when I got to the Castle there was a sign saying that the current special offer was dungeon entry for only £7.50 - £2.50 more than I was told it was going to be and they called that a special offer!

I decided not to bother with the dungeon so unfortunately I can't comment on this, and was a little disappointed because I was quite looking forward to it. I was quite glad I gave it a miss afterwards though as walking around the castle grounds took up the 4 hours I intended on spending there anyway.

Getting to the castle is relatively straightforward, though parking is a slightly different matter. I was lucky enough to go on quite a warm, sunny day, but obviously many others took the opportunity to make the most of the weather because the place was packed out! I was directed through the first car park, then past the second, and I ended up in the last overflow car park because there were so many visitors. I couldn't believe just how many cars there were; I expected it to be popular but seeing hundreds of cars in each parking zone, or should I say field, was crazy. There are attendants along the way to ensure you're headed in the right direction, so they're well prepared for visitors flocking there in their hundreds.

Considering the ticket prices I would have expected the parking to have been included, but this is at an additional charge also. The field I parked in cost £3.50 which latest the whole stay, so at least you can park up and not have to worry about rushing back to your car if you're paying within a time limit. If you've parked, you'll need to get a coin from a machine which you then insert into another machine on your way out of the car park, and you can get this from the castle entrance at any time.

Walking from the last car park to the castle itself was quite a trek. I was surprised at how large the grounds actually are, so be prepared to walk for 20-25 minutes to and from the castle. The walk is well-sign posted though, so you can't get lost!

On reaching the entrance, you'll find toilets, food and drinks stands, the ticket office, etc. Then, once you're ready, you go through electronic barriers into the main castle grounds.

I was surprised at just how big the castle is. I knew it was going to be large because of the long walk around it to get from the car park to the entrance, but I was amazed to see just how much ground there is when you get in. Take this as a warning to wear comfy shoes and be prepared for some walking!

The castle grounds are divided into different areas for you to wonder around and peruse in your own time. There's a lot here to do and look at, so it's best to leave a few hours for your visit and make the most of it.

On the day I went, because it was nice weather, there were plenty of displays on. Much was aimed at children in my opinion, and as the place was packed full of people including a great deal of children who looked amused and having a good time, I would say there's enough to keep the younger ones entertained.

What I thought was so good about Warwick Castle was the fact that it was so well organised in the sense that everything up to date, there was plenty to do and they cater to a wide range of ages.

When walking around, you're spoilt for choice for food, snacks, drinks & ice-creams. There's plenty of stands and seating so it does feel like you could spend a good few hours there and just relax and enjoy the day.

There is some beautiful scenery to look around, walk through and sit by. One area, for example, was a garden in its own right, beautifully landscaped with paths, flowers and water features.

The castle itself, the remains, were well-kept and there is enough there to walk up and around.

There are souvenir shops for you to peruse and purchase knick-knacks to remember your day by, or to take home as presents. I'm not one for these sorts of stores, so I saved some money here.

I came away with plenty of photos, which is always nice so that you have something to remember the visit by.

The only niggle I had about it was the fact it was so busy when I went. The queues at the stands for food & drinks were quite long and I found myself getting too hot and feeling a little too overcrowded.

When you get into the Castle you're given a map, which may sound silly but it actually comes in useful because it is a large place and it's good to have it on hand if you're feeling a bit confused (like I did when it got busy and I couldn't remember where the toilets were).

I was pleased with the time I spent at the castle, especially as I wasn't overly keen on going at first. It made for an interesting day out, but I don't think I would have been as positive about it had it have been raining.

This is one of those landmark places to visit in the UK that's so well-known and popular that it's good to be able to tell people you've been there, done that and bought the t-shirt.

Although the ticket prices are high, as a one-off experience it is somewhere I would recommend (especially if you can get a discount or use a buy-one-get-one-free voucher). There's enough to keep you entertained (plus you get a weeks worth of exercise in one day from walking around the grounds) and it's suitable for all ages, whether or not castles are your cup of tea.

Summary: Pricey, but the beautiful grounds are worth visiting to tick off your tourist to-do list