All the Wonders of Warwick!

With a week's holiday ahead of us, we were off to Warwick for a couple of days - primarily to visit Warwick Castle (for which we'd managed to acquire a set of half-price tickets).

Arrived on a sunny Sunday afternoon, stopping at a new (for us) National Trust property, Charlecote Park.  Nice house, nice grounds, very very hot day.

On to Warwick itself, to book into our B&B, have a wander round the town, drink cider in the sun, and indulge in our first curry of the trip.

Day two took us to the Castle - we were already primed with what to expect - something much more along the lines of a visitor attraction than a historic property.  There were indeed archery demonstrations, a giant trebuchet, a 'Flight of the Eagles', and for families lots of opportunities to buy princess and knight outfits for small people . . .

It was also however a stunning property, very well-presented, with some innovative touches (such as Harry Potter style portraits telling the history of the castle).  The set pieces were all very well done too. 

On the downside . . . the sheer number of people . . .  and perhaps a little less attention to conservation aspects than we'd normally expect (no darkened rooms to keep light levels to a minimum here!).  All in all though, a good day out - probably even more so for family visitors.


On our last morning in Warwick we took the advice of a friend and visited St Mary's Church, most of which was rebuilt in the eighteenth century (following the Great Fire of Warwick), but which includes a medieval survival in its Beauchamp Chapel. 






This proved to be a real highlight for me (as an Elizabethan buff), as it contained the tombs of Robert and Lettice Dudley, and their 'noble imp'.

That wasn't the end of the trip, as we moved East to visit family, via a very wet Kenilworth Castle (will have to go back on a drier occasion).

Took the parents for a day out to another new National Trust property at Blickling Hall in Norfolk - lovely exterior, beautiful grounds and the sun was back with us. 


Then, on our final day, we returned to Wales via Attingham Park (a return visit this time).  A good break, and still some days left to get stuck into the garden!