Warwick Castle Knights Lodge and Wars of the Roses

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We spent the weekend in a Warwick Castle Knights Lodge. We were there to watch the incredible Wars of the Roses show. Here’s a short video of what we were up to. Turn up the volume, it’s dramatic!

Wars of the Roses Live

This summer until 3rd September, guests can choose their allegiances in the Wars of the Roses live show. The battle takes place on the River Island. It is set in 1455, when the House of Lancaster holds throne. The House of York challenges the crown of King Henry VI and the ensuing battles last for 30 years.

The first time we watched, we took the side of the Yorkists. The actors built up the crowd to cheer for their respective sides before the Knights rode in on horseback and battle commenced. The whole thing was incredibly exciting and we were all amazed by the horsemanship. It was also a great way to teach children about history, Libby was asking me questions throughout the show.

We loved it so much that we went back to watch it again. This time, we took the side of the Lancastrians. The audience are in stands that are undercover, but you can also stand right next to the arena if you arrive early. The actors are incredible and made the whole experience totally engaging. We wouldn’t hesitate to go a third (and fourth) time later in the summer.

Flight of the Eagles

We have seen the Flight of the Eagles several times now but we never tire of it. There aren’t many opportunities to see such enormous and majestic birds soaring above your head. The show lasts for half an hour and you see several different types of birds. Lia is so fascinated by it that at three, she can already identify a sea eagle when the handler brings it into the arena.

Horrible Histories Show

Last time we went to Warwick Castle, the Horrible Histories show was the highlight of our visit. It is both educational and funny, with humour aimed at adults as well as children. They sing and dance as well as acting and the children loved it. We only went once during this visit, much to the girls’ horror. It is the same show every time but they would happily watch it on repeat all day.

The rest of the Castle

Staying in the Warwick Castle Knights lodge gives you the opportunity to spend more time exploring the castle itself. The castle is in a beautiful location with views across the Warwickshire countryside. This time, we managed to go up the tower to enjoy the view.

We also headed into the Princess Tower, which is the girls’ favourite part of the Castle. They tell a little story and the children get involved by helping the princess to solve a riddle. The girls genuinely believe that it is magical and they look forward to it every time we go.

The girls had a great time in the playground, which wasn’t too busy. Sadly we didn’t have time for the Horrible Histories maze this time, despite extending our visit by staying at the Warwick Castle Knights Lodge. But you can read about it in my Horrible Histories at Warwick Castle review. We did make it to the Great Hall and State Rooms. Lia got rather into the game of poker that the waxworks were playing. She has rather a good poker face, don’t you think?

Staying in the Warwick Castle Knights Lodge

The Knight’s Village is a themed accommodation area right next to the Castle grounds. There are bell tents and wooden lodges and we stayed in a Warwick Castle Knights Lodge. This allowed us to make the most of the experience, staying for longer and getting into the atmosphere of the castle.

Warwick Castle Knights Lodges are wood cabins with a medieval theme. Ours had a double bed in the main room and bunk beds in the small room. There was also a third bunk that could pull out at floor level so three children could stay there. We pulled this out to stop Lia from hurting herself if she fell out of bed. There is also a bathroom with a wet-room shower.

Accommodation in Warwick Castle Knights Lodges is fairly basic, but there is a television, tea and coffee making facilities and free WiFi. We were all very comfortable in our lodge and slept well. The accommodation is completely in keeping with  the ethos of Warwick Castle and added to the authenticity of the experience.

Dinner and breakfast

Dinner and breakfast were served in the Medieval Grand Banqueting Hall. This is a lovely wooden building with a bar and canteen-style self-service area. The menu was varied with salad and soup to start, several vegetarian options and some more child-friendly options as well as the main meals for kids. There was also a choice of desserts and soft drinks were included in the price of dinner. That said, I would recommend trying the medieval mead, it is very distinctive!

Breakfast is served in the same area, with hot and cold drinks included. This is also a self-service meal. There were hot and cold options and even a pancake machine. The only issue I found with the buffet style dining is that it’s hard work with young children. I spent most of the mealtimes getting up and down with them to top up their plates or take them to the toilet. That said, it was well worth it to dine in such a lovely setting so close to the Warwick Castle Knights Lodges.

Evening Entertainment when staying in Warwick Castle Knights Lodges

Evening entertainment takes place outside and still went ahead despite the rain. My two took so long eating their dinner that we didn’t manage to catch all the entertainment. However, they did try out some circus skills and watch the knights having sword fights. It was the perfect end to an exciting day at Warwick Castle.

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