Visiting the reopened Warwick Castle after lockdown

In the 952 years since William the Conqueror had the first fortress built at Warwick, the castle has hosted royalty, imprisoned one king, and survived ruin – but I wondered how it would cope with a pandemic, as I headed back to Warwick Castle, reopened after lockdown.

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My daughter has already visited half a dozen times – first as a toddler at Warwick Castle as well as discovering Christmas at Warwick Castle, while we’ve also stayed in the Warwick Castle lodges in the Knights Village to try to pack all the different attractions in to one visit.

So when I was invited back to preview the changes before Warwick Castle reopened properly to the public this weekend, it felt like rediscovering an old friend, coping with all the changes along with the rest of us.

Check out my review of the Zog trail at Warwick Castle, the latest family-friendly addition

In some ways, though, nothing has changed. The castle still stands at the edge of Warwick, the murder holes between the portcullis in the entrance, the Conqueror’s fortress looming on the hill above, princesses and knights wandering the grounds, and suits of armour and other historic artefacts on display in the rooms.

But as soon as you leave your car, you’re reminded of a few differences when visiting Warwick Castle after lockdown.

As well as having prebooked tickets to limit numbers, car parking payments are contactless and there are signs scattered around reminding people to socially distance and stay 2m apart.

Staff in masks take your temperature on entry – younger children, including my seven-year-old didn’t need to – and it was very swift and efficient but still friendly, all done with no contact and the minimum of fuss.

You can expect most staff to be wearing PPE as you explore, although brave Sir Jay and Princesses Cecilia and Florence, who were wandering the grounds, had stuck with medieval costume so kids won’t find themselves entertained from behind a mask.

As we were regaled with stories of just what might be tipped down the murder holes – it wasn’t only boiling water that a besieged castle had an inexhaustible supply of, to my daughter’s fascinated disgust – protective equipment would have come in very handy during long ago battles as well.

Once inside, many of the attractions are still open, more are hoping to reopen before too long, although some have had to stay closed for now.

The Princess Tower, which I remember being distinctly cosy even with limited numbers has had to shut: realistically you’d struggle to socially distance even two people in the smaller chamber.

Instead the Princesses can be found around the grounds, telling stories and chatting to kids. We stopped to hear the tale of the littlest knight, the little princess and the dragon as well as stopping to chat several times during the day.

The Time Tower is also closed and, while we weren’t able to climb the highest tower and go onto the battlements during the preview, the ramparts will also be open.

Numbers will be limited, so only a few family groups are allowed up at any one time, ensuring people are able to distance from each other.

Narrow spiral staircases weren’t designed with social distancing in mind, after all, but as you effectively follow a one-way system through the towers and battlements, it will keep visitors safe while letting them walk the walls.

The Horrible Histories Maze has also been adapted to avoid the dead ends – less of a maze, more of a walk-through experience, and without some interactive elements.

Again, we weren’t able to check out all the changes in advance but anyone visiting after Warwick Castle reopened will still get to experience one of my daughter’s favourite parts.

The main State Rooms and apartments within the castle are also open, along with indoor attractions like the Kingmaker exhibition: there will be limits on the numbers allowed in, and entry times may be restricted, but otherwise the rooms themselves as much as before. 

Numbers are set to be limited to 250 at any one time within the Great Hall and the apartments, with a maximum of 2,500 allowed in altogether – typically Warwick Castle could expect to get around 8,000 visitors per day during summer so expect it to be a lot quieter than usual.

There’s a one-way system through the State Apartments with some changes to the rooms – you’ll be able to look inside the chapel but not enter fully. As these have some of the older pieces of furniture and items on display, most were roped off beforehand anyway.

We had a guide to take us through – along the way, I discovered a few facts I hadn’t known from previous visits, including the fact that Queen Anne’s bed, on display, isn’t her travelling bed as was previously thought but her deathbed brought from Kensington.

And, the guide assured Minnie (who had also been bombarding her with strategies for sneaky ways to get into the castle without a fight), no longer containing the dead Queen. 

The more modern apartments, styled for Edwardian times and the visit of a royal party, are also open to wander through, with a few strategic ropes to ensure you follow a set route and preventing you from roaming inside a few rooms such as the library.

Similarly, the Kingmaker exhibition has always effectively been a one-way route, and you can stroll past the models as Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, prepares for battle but the Castle Dungeon (aimed very firmly at older kids and adults) is closed.

The best views, for now, are from the Conqueror’s Fortress. Also redesigned to follow a one-way route, it stands on the site where William had the first motte and bailey castle built in 1068.

Alongside the path up the hill are boards with information about the Battle of Hastings, and the differences between Anglo-Saxons and Normans, for a helpful background.

Some are designed to be turned or spun, so it’s definitely worth having your own hand sanitiser if you’re planning to touch them – although you’ll also find sanitiser dotted around the grounds.

Having gazed out at the surrounding countryside, with panels pointing out what lay beyond, we found one of the hand sanitiser stands as we headed down to the river and the trebuchet – also closed, as are some of the activities like archery along the way.

But the peacock garden was very much open, and the peacocks, who had been missing their usual admiring audience, were ready to pose and strut among the flowers: we counted eight at one point, plus one peahen (there are more apparently).

A few flew up into the trees, a whirl of decorative feathers, while another let out its distinctive cry from the top of its topiary counterpart. If you’re not sure where to find the peacock garden, you really only have to follow the calls.

You’ll also find one of the open cafes here: food is takeaway only, so you can step inside to pick up sandwiches, cakes and coffee, then take it outside to enjoy in the gardens, on nearby picnic benches or on the lawns.

It’s fine to bring your own food too, and there’s takeaway afternoon tea for a treat – plus Prosecco if you fancy.

There are also kiosks dotted around the grounds for snacks and drinks. Payment is contactless, and a similar set-up applies to the souvenirs: we could look in at the swords, shield, battleaxes, helmets and more, with staff inside to hand out your purchases.

As Minnie has two swords, a shield and has proved rather adept with a bow and arrow, I decided she didn’t need any more additions to her own personal armoury!

With the ramparts closed during our visit, we had chance to spend a bit longer exploring some of the 64 acres of gardens, wandering down to the VIP gate for the Knight’s Village.

You can’t go through unless you’re staying there, but the lodges at the Knight’s Village are available to book – we loved our stay when we visited a few years back, and as the lodges are spread out through the grounds, with their own bathroom, it’s easier to socially distance.

The tents remain closed for the time being, as they share washing facilities and are closer together as well.

One of my own favourite highlights, the Falconer’s Quest show – the UK’s biggest birds of prey show – was the finishing touch for our day.

It will be taking place twice a day, with benches marked so there are two empty ones between each row.

It’s first come first seated, so I definitely advise getting there early – the show is never less than amazing, even in the middle of a mini downpour, and Minnie was so wowed by the birds, she’s now decided to become a falconer herself when she grows up.

All set against the backdrop of a story of one fisherman’s son, on a quest to become a falconer, you’re introduced to a variety of different birds, from owls to eagles and a condor.

Watching them swoop through the skies, snatch morsels of meat from mid-air and sometimes soar past so close to the audience that I swear you can almost feel the feathers is breathtaking.

Or in one or two cases, to take a look at the rain and decide they really didn’t fancy the lures that much! It’s reassuring to see the birds are never forced to do anything – and are, of course, free to fly away if they ever wanted to.

And distinctly funny to watch Bert the eagle owl duck out partway through his own moment of glory to skulk in a tree.

Chatting to the falconer afterwards, we discovered this stunning bird is only aged one so still a relative newcomer – his older fellow performers showed him and us how it’s done, gliding above our heads with their huge wings outstretched, and twirling high in their graceful aerial ballet.

The perfect way for us to end on a high as well.

For more great family days out, check out my pick of the best UK castles with kids

Need to know: Reopened Warwick Castle after lockdown

Tickets cost from £20 for adults, £17 for kids if you book five or more days in advance (otherwise £23 and £20). It costs £1 to book a slot if you’re an annual ticket holder.

Entry is only available if tickets are prebooked and the usual deals, such as the 2-4-1 discount isn’t currently an option.

The rainy day guarantee still applies though: if it rains for one hour or more during your visit, you get a free return visit to be claimed within 60 days of the original ticket date.

If you visited within the 60 days before the castle closed in March 2020, the guarantee still applies and your ticket is valid for reuse within 60 days of the castle reopening.

Visitors are encouraged (though not obliged) to wear face masks and there is more detail on safety measures and the latest information on what’s open at the castle on the website too.

Additional toilets are in place around the grounds, as well as signs reminding people to distance in the main toilet blocks.

Warwick Castle has also been awarded the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry charter mark from Visit England, to show all the required health and safety processes are in place.

Disclosure: My visit was courtesy of Warwick Castle. All opinions are my own (except my daughter’s strategies for breaching a castle’s defences, which she came up with by herself). 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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