Christmas at Warwick Castle, UK
I can think of few places as magical in the snow as Warwick Castle – one of my favourite days out, I’ve even stayed overnight there to try to fit in all the activities and attractions for families.
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But when snow swept central England a week ago, the thought of attempting a journey up the M40 was rather less magical… and so we reluctantly postponed our planned visit to check out Christmas at Warwick Castle, the site’s festive events, until this weekend.
A few small patches remained, to my daughter’s delight as she crunched across them, to get us into the seasonal spirit. And while we’d traded snow for intermittent chilly drizzle, it gave a perfect opportunity to pull on the new rainwear which Joules had sent to us as an early Christmas gift along with entry tickets.
Santa would have approved of my bright red Coast waterproof jacket and the fur trim on my fabulously named Downton premium wellies, which kept my feet snugly warm.
And Minnie very very definitely approved of her new Raindance waterproof rubber coat thanks to its colourful pony print and fleecy lining, including the world’s softest pockets. Apparently.
Seeing the man in red was, of course, top of our list – especially as we had Mrs Claus reading a poem first before storytime with Santa. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of small children sit so still and quiet!
It’s just one of the special festive attractions for the Warwick Castle Christmas, and while it is included in the entry price, there’s limited availability for the timed tickets.
Arriving almost bang on 10am for opening, we went straight in to join the queue and picked up spaces for the 12.30pm slot – when we returned to go in later, all spaces had gone for the rest of the day. The early bird catches the Claus.
Another of Minnie’s favourites, the tale of brave Guy of Warwick trapped in a portrait in the Princess Tower, has also had a Christmas makeover.
The basic story has stayed the same, but the clues and riddles to help break the curse have had a festive tweak – a bonus if, like me, you’ve heard the original several times!
And in the Great Hall, the armoured horses have been joined by a 20ft Christmas tree, while Henry VIII and his collection of wives have been temporarily shifted down a few rooms to make way for a much more seasonal sleigh.
With the opulent decoration, from four-poster beds to regal portraits galore, the castle rooms are never less than impressive anyway.
For the rainiest moments of our visit, the Time Tower videos are still as fun to watch – a swift gallop through history from Warwick’s Anglo-Saxon origins via war, plot and neglect to distinctly more stylish Edwardian times.
Having seen the wonderful birds of prey show in glorious summer, we decided against watching these amazing birds in the drizzle though.
But nothing was going to stop us from climbing up onto the battlements, to look down onto the castle and out over Warwick, and contemplate just what tackling those stone spiral staircases every day might do for your leg muscles.
Need to know: Warwick Castle Christmas
Storytime with Santa is running for the rest of this week until December 24, while Christmas at the Castle takes place until December 31. The castle itself is open every day except December 25.
Entry tickets cost from £22 online, which also entitles you to the Rainy Day Offer – if it rains for one hour or more during your visit, you get a free return visit within 60 days of the original ticket date.
An annual pass costs from £49, while joint tickets with entrance to the Dungeon (not suitable for younger children) are also available.
For more tips on visiting Warwick Castle with kids and my review of our overnight stay in the Knight’s Village check out my other posts, including a review of the Zog trail at Warwick Castle
PIN FOR LATER: CHRISTMAS AT WARWICK CASTLE
Disclosure: Entry to the castle and our items from the rainwear collection were courtesy of Joules. All opinions remain my own, including those on the advisability of driving in the snow. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Images copyright MummyTravels
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This looks like such a magical day. Firstly I love the idea of a ‘rainy day’ offer! I have never seen anywhere do this and I think its a wonderful idea. Secondly story time with santa looks fab, and thirdly….those Downton premium wellies are beautiful!!
They are a total welly revelation – I’ve got a classic knee length pair (also Joules, which I bought) but the fake fur trim is fab. Definitely a great day out.
Christmas at Warwick Castle sounds wonderful and I love Minnie’s jacket. We’re still to visit the Castle but I’ve heard so many great things. Hopefully we’ll make it there sometime soon!
One of my favourite places – I hope you do get there, it’s a real treat to explore. And I am also mildly jealous of some of the fun prints my daughter has on her clothes 😀
I want that red jacket! Gorgeous clothes. Great to read more about Warwick Castle at a different time of year, too. I didn’t know about the Rainy Day Offer, and that really is good – even though there’s clearly tons to do indoors. We need to see the interiors on our next visit!
Thanks! Isn’t it cheering – and kept me nicely warm and dry. I do love that about Warwick too, that there’s loads to do indoors on a grey day and equally loads to do outside when the sun shines… and always so much to fit in that you never run out before your time does!
Wow! The Warwick Castle seems so remarkable and outstanding, Cathy. Is a day trip enough to enjoy this place?
It really is remarkable – and it does work really well as a day out, but having stayed over (which is lovely in summer), having two days really helped make the most of it.
Can you believe that despite growing up in brum I’ve never been to Warwick castle. Must remedy
You must! It’s always the things on the doorstep which get overlooked, I think.
Love the idea of the rainy day offer. I need to visit whilst we are relatively close by, it looks like a fabulous day out! 🙂 x
It is SO much fun there, just so much to do – I always have a great day.