Warwick Castle’s story begins in 914 AD, when Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, attempted to defend the Midlands from Danish invaders by building a wooden fort. The fort was a part of a system of fortifications designed to secure the English kingdom.
What visitors see today came about in 1068 after the Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror ordered the castle to become a motte-and-bailey structure. Stone replaced the wood, and by the 13th century, Warwick Castle was complete.
My son and I made the short journey from touring Shakespeare’s birthplace and home in Stratford-upon-Avon. The first thing we noticed was how massive the castle was. One can spend a whole day walking around and witnessing the various events and games. There’s a scavenger hunt in a maze, jousting, weapons demonstrations, ghost tours, reenactments, and many gorgeous photo opportunities.
As a history lover, I enjoyed touring the castle and getting to know the extensive history of the castle. We studied interactive displays that told the story of the Earls of Warwick, who were powerful nobles that helped shape the course of English history. The most famous one being Richard Neville, who was nicknamed “The Kingmaker,” and played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. Neville had a reputation for helping people become royalty, as well as dethroning those who opposed him.
Over time, the importance of the castle decreased and by the 17th century, it became a stately home. The caretakers of the castle were the Greville family, who own the castle from 1604 to 1978. After the Grevilles sold the castle, it was opened to the public and has become one of England’s top heritage attractions.
Walking around Warwick Castle takes you back to a medieval time with knights, wars, torture, and early extravagance. Every child dreams of being a knight or a lady, and some of us hold on to those youthful dreams. Warwick brings those dreams to life.
To book your tickets to Warwick Castle, click here.
More English Stories:
3 Day Itinerary for Visiting Shakespeare’s England
Walking in Shakespeare’s Footsteps: A father/son story
Visiting the Harry Potter Studios London
Visiting Westminster Abbey
Getting Lost on a Ghost Tour in London with my Son
Attending a Chelsea FC Match with my son
Climbing the O2 Arena with my Son
Flying Down the Thames River on a Speedboat
How An Ice Cream Truck Saved the Day During a Hike Across England
Reliving the Dads4Kesem Hadrian’s Wall Hike
Enjoyed the photos and commentary. When Cara was a student at Oxford, and I went to visit her, we took a day trip to Warwick Castle. I vividly remember the public bus ride from Oxford to Warwick, specifically the narrow roads through villages where the bus had to go back and forth to manuever in order to go around the corners made for horses and buggies. Warwick is a must see adventure.