A knight to remember: inside the new medieval Warwick Castle Hotel, complete with striking portraits and royal bedrooms with walls of swords
It is a quality that a knight offers to remember. No matter your age.
The new Warwick Castle Hotel is sure to please children – and adults who are already big kids at heart.
I belong to the latter category and when I visited recently the medieval rooms filled me with a childlike joy.
The property is set in the grounds of Warwick Castle, which is already a magnificent day out. The fortress offers eerie battlements, intriguing historical artefacts and a winning combination of live-action shows, storytelling and history tours under the Merlin Entertainments banner.
The recently opened £16.4 million hotel is the latest addition to the castle, making it a prime location for an enchanting weekend away.
Sophie Foster visits the new hotel in the grounds of Warwick Castle (pictured), declaring it a ‘magical’ weekend getaway in a ‘magnificent’ location
Sophie explains that the Warwick Castle Hotel (above), a 10-minute walk from the castle itself, has 60 rooms and resembles a medieval long hall
‘In the hall looms a 14ft tall animatronic knight – the Earl of Warwick – on his 300kg armoured steed,’ Sophie notes. The portraits, horse and knight move and speak when the sword, seen here at the base of the statue, is drawn
The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the castle itself and has 60 rooms. It resembles a medieval long hall. Check-in is via the entrance hall, where a ‘wow’ moment awaits.
In the hall, a 14ft tall animatronic knight – the Earl of Warwick – looms on his 300kg armoured steed. As your children or, in my case, your partner attempt to retrieve the sword from the ground beneath the statue, sound and motion are activated. The horse rears, the knight announces himself and the paintings on the walls chatter. It’s all Harry Potter.
Take the elevator up to your bedroom, decorated with images of bookshelves, magic balls and goose feathers, and you’ll discover it’s more than a little special.
Sophie’s ‘comfortable and large room’ was complete with ‘a luxurious king size bed with royal blue bedding’, as pictured above
Bunk beds for children, in addition to a trundle bed, are installed in an anteroom next to the master bedroom, as shown
Each is decorated in a War of the Roses theme, complete with wall-mounted shields, coats of arms and hanging tapestries. Our comfortable – and enormous – room had a plush king-size bed with royal blue linens and bunk beds plus a trundle bed in an anteroom.
The medieval finish continues in the bedroom, with my favorite detail: a pair of heavy metal swords crossed and strapped to the wall (don’t worry, I checked and they’re firmly drilled into the plaster). As for modern conveniences, there’s air conditioning, which was very welcome in the hot summer weather, and a large TV.
A delightful wooden walkway connects Warwick Castle Hotel to the war camp-style glamping tents in The Knight’s Village, another of the estate’s accommodation options. The village is situated on the banks of the River Avon, where the first flush of fun begins with evening entertainment from 6pm to 8pm.
Families can participate in archery, duelling and storytelling. When I was there, children were running around and playing – mostly with the ducks, ducklings and swans looking for crumbs – leaving parents to relax with a beer, wine or a snack from a nearby food stall.
In the Ridderdorp, seen here, entertainment is organised every evening from 6pm to 8pm (file image)
‘Situated between the hotel and the Knight’s Village is the on-site restaurant (above) with high beamed ceilings and iron chandeliers,’ Sophie notes
‘The food (pictured) was comparable to your average chain restaurant,’ says Sophie. The salad bar and carvery cost £26.75 for adults, £15.75 for children or £7.75 for toddlers
Between the hotel and the Knight’s Village is the on-site restaurant with high beamed ceilings and iron chandeliers.
This function room is where we had our free breakfast – cereal, pastries or a hot buffet. It is also open for dinner – a salad bar and carvery (£26.75 adults / £15.75 children / £7.75 toddlers). The food was comparable to your average chain restaurant – I wouldn’t go there again in a hurry.
As for the next day, spent at Warwick Castle, the live-action shows stand out. They include a jousting tournament called the War of the Roses Live! – prepare to pick a side between the Yorkists and Lancastrians and get involved in the cheering.
The Falconer’s Quest is an epic birds of prey show featuring eagles, hawks and vultures. The Legend of the Trebuchet demonstrates the use of a huge siege engine (complete with small explosions). Finally, there’s the Zog Live Show, in which Julia Donaldson’s dragon character attempts to capture a princess in an admittedly hilarious adventure.
At Warwick Castle, pictured here, ‘the live-action shows stand out’, Sophie notes, but you can also take free guided tours of the castle, where you’ll discover ‘murder holes and a clock once owned by Marie Antoinette’
Sophie enjoyed a jousting tournament called War of the Roses Live! (left) and archery for £6 (right)
Guests can also try their hand at archery (£6), children’s jousting (£6) or take one of the many free tours of the castle, where you’ll discover ‘murder holes’ and a clock once owned by Marie Antoinette. Climb the tower (520 steps) to gaze down over Warwick Town from the battlements or relax in the attractive flower gardens alongside wandering peacocks. If you’re feeling peckish, head to the food trucks for a meal, drink and ice cream combo (£13.95).
In the courtyard I watched Morris dancing and pantomime-like performances by Dames, amidst loud laughter from the little princesses and squires.
I can’t think of a more enjoyable demonstration of English culture and history than the adventurous grounds of Warwick Castle. I’d love to come back.
