Warwick Castle.

When I was invited to Warwick Castle, I must admit I was slightly apprehensive and not entirely sure I wanted to go. Actually, that’s a lie, I 100% wanted to go. Have you seen this beast of a castle? It was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. Obviously I want to go.

Don’t get me wrong, castles are my thing. The history, the wars, the lives of the people that once lived behind those glorious and imposing walls.

But that doesn’t mean I want to pay big bucks that I can’t necessarily afford to see old stones that once kept greedy war hungry kings and lords safe from their impending doom.

We hunt castles and we find them, sometimes in the middle of the green countryside where there’s not one other living human to be seen. Just the birds that have taken up residence in the torn down eroded stone walls that were once marvelled castles, constantly being torn down by enemies.

We hunt castles and we find them, sometimes on rotting cliffs overlooking the ocean where you can jump down into the remains of the dangerous castle that was built into the overhanging cliff. Centuries ago, these castles weren’t built on eroded cliffs, they were built on sturdy ground, overlooking the ocean and possible advancing enemies.

We climb and we inspect, and we explore these wonders for free. Because somewhere along the line, someone stopped caring about these places. The last nobleman or woman who belonged to the family or clan name that owned and lived in the castle died or moved away to a smaller residence and the castle lay barren and forgotten.

Then there’s Warwick Castle, over 900 years old and still, after hard work and construction, standing strong again. More than just four walls and a courtyard, more than just a courtyard and a wax museum. Once I entered, I understood exactly why I had to pay to enter and I can honestly say, I don’t regret going and I’d go again. I'll take you with me next time.

Here’s why I’m stoked that I was convinced to go to Warwick Castle for a girl’s day out:

1. The Castle has 950 years of history sprawled throughout its core and surrounds.

This castle has literally outlived hundreds of generations of historical timeline importance.

Consider being attacked and attacking with catapults, vicious sword fights sharp and splitting, then one day firing smoke bombs, cannonballs and guns when gunpowder was founded.

Consider the first time human rights was established. The first declaration of human rights signed by King John of England hundreds of years ago.

The first mechanical clock, the invention of glasses for the sight impaired, the Black Death. My all-time favourite is thinking of whoever the founder of the coffee bean and its benefits was. Thank you, kind sir.

The very first circumnavigation of the globe and confirmation that the Earth is indeed round. Slavery, witchery and witch hunts, medical progression and surgery, identifying the speed of light and telescopes that could tell us how far other plants are.

The invention of trains and aviation, this castle has seen people go from bare feet to horse riding to chariots, bicycles, cars and busses and trains to airplanes souring through the air.

The First World War, famine and flu pandemics, the Second World War, poverty, and riches, pollution, and destruction, to today. Where this castle is still standing 958 years later.

2. The Dungeon.

Yes, the dungeon was one of my favourite parts of Warwick Castle. This is an interactive experience, not for the feint of heart and those easily susceptible to heart attack. (Me apparently).

Other than the odd fright, my friend and I could not stop laughing and we had a brilliant, entertaining and education journey through the underground dungeon of Warwick castle. Honestly, kudos to the acting team, we were highly impressed and bored our family to tears talking about how great you were for days after we visited.

3. Horrible Histories Maze

I’ve never learned so much about history and been able to keep so much information in. What a tremendous way to learn about the past and the remarkable saga that Warwick Castle has endured through its years.

We wound our way through Vicious Vikings, Terrible Tudors, World Wars, Normans, Sickness and famine. We mounted obstacles, pretended to be Viking kings on our throne of twisted twigs, crawled through bunkers and found our way out eventually through a long and romantic gazebo lined with vines and fairy lights.

4. 690 Acres.

If you live in a city or town and feel closed in, visit Warwick Castle for some fresh air.

Take a walk through the luscious emerald fields, restrain yourself from chasing the noisy male peacocks through the peacock garden whose feathers are magical when exposed.

Seriously though, not unlike the human male, these guys are loud.

690 Acres to wander, to picnic, to savor in the grandeur of Warwick Castle's beauty. Cross bridges, watch the live shows like the Birds of Prey, the Knight School where kids can dress up and train with ‘swords’ to become knights. I was tempted to try my hand at knighthood.

Follow the Zog the Dragon trail, get pictures with the staff who are part of the acting team and dress up like knights and lords and ladies. Check out the formal gardens, laze by the meandering River Avon (which leads all the way down to Shakespeare’s place of Birth in Stratford Upon Avon) and take a walk to gaze at the terrifying Trebuchet Catapult. One of the world’s largest replica siege machines.

Imagine standing on the castle walls, hundreds of years ago, with a sword or a bow and arrow and suddenly, through the thick of the fire fog, you see this machine rolling towards you. Slowly being pushed and pulled by your enemies.

This catapult was designed to tear down the walls you're trembling on right under or through your feet. Imagine how impossibly vulnerable and defeated you would have felt when that catapult came into view.

5. The Castle.

I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever seen a more grandeur castle, other than the Palace of Versailles in France. But we all know the French liked to show off their splendour and riches through fancy and intimidating gold-plated palaces and hard to breathe in fashion garments.

Warwick Castle was magnificent. Huge enough even that we spent almost the entire day experiencing the castle and everything it had to offer our smiles and adventurous souls.

There are numerous rooms to explore with well designed sets and wax characters throughout, all created and made to look exactly how it would have been from earlier in the 20th century all the way back to poorer times in the 12th and 11th centuries.

No King or Queen ever lived in Warwick castle. Earls and Countesses were the main inhabitants of the Castle. It has belonged to the crown in times or disorder and when no owner could stand forth and claim it due to murder, battle, and as usual, war.

Ladies have owned the castle through heir-ship upon their fathers death. But women were forced to marry to be able to keep the castle in the family. How could a woman possibly own and manage such an estate? (Please do not consider me sexist, I am merely stating what the times were like).

The castle has seen extensive work done over the years and almost every century additions and renovations have been made to create what we see in and around the castle today.

If you visit Warwick Castle, you can climb the highest towers and come out on top with the view of a big “Holy Wowzers that’s breathtaking” and explore the Great Hall where you can gawk at the Victorian High Society at its best parties, the heavy armour and weaponry display and check out the castle’s portcullis and murder holes.

What a day, what a glorious and memorable day. I found Warwick Castle intimidating and exciting all at once and throughout the day I fancied up fairy tales in my head of battles and beautiful villagers dreaming of working and marrying into the castle family.

If you pre-book online like my friend and I did (thankfully) you pay £20.00 each. Wait until you arrive at the door, and you’re charged £26.00 a head. Basically, I highly recommend you pre-book to avoid having to pay the extra £6.00 each.

Either way, get yourself a ticket and get yourself to Warwick Castle and feast your eyes on this impenetrable monster of a castle. You won’t regret it.