A Challenge Warwick Castle

[Tengu]

A Friend told me its no good. The website looks enticing.

However, that doyen of Subjectivity, Tripadvisor says it is a money grabber with bad food.

Thats just the start!

A friend with a teenaged son, has had bad experiences with Heritage attractions, which makes me, who has interests in Heritage very sad.

Has anyone been to Warwick castle, is it suitable for the over 10s, or indeed, Heritage scholars????

 

[Chalkflint]

Tengu
I have been many times but we had yearly Merlin passes (usable at all Tussauds attractions) and Warwick was our local attraction. (We have not been since my son was 9)
It can be expensive but if you pick the right days in summer they have jousting, falconry displays, The 18 metre trebuchet that they fire twice a day. the staff walking around in period costumes and demonstrations in the arena.
The castle is in wonderful condition and has both the medieval history as well as modern royal history where it was home to royalty about 100 years ago.
It also has an old pump house and walks around the grounds.
Anyone interested in history would certainly appreciate it but its costly to get in and full of tourists.
Chalkflint

 

[uncleboob]

TBH warwick castle is a complete waste of time if you are hoping for authenticity. It's a theme park wrapped up in the walls of a castle, expensive to get in then a rip off for the time you spend there. They do have a trebuchet, knight fights and falconry but you would be far far better off waiting until they have an event at kenilworth castle just down the way...run by English heritage, semi ruined so you can really get to grips with the different phases of construction (for example)...there's also the best chip shop locally just a short walk away...forget warwick, visit kenilworth


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[Tengu]

Ah.

These places go on about how the Young male demographic is impossible to reach but really most of our media is aimed at such rare beasts. How unreachable is that?

And, like many heritage attractions, it seems to be unsuitable for scholars...

And Tussauds I am told it is lifelike models of famous people...how unthrilling is that?

There are many places far more entertaining (We can start with the Planetarium) yet everytime I have been past Tussauds, there has been a queue.

Clearly the public loves mind numbing unfun entertainment.

 

[Toddy]

Some of it is just the logistics of a site getting bodies in, through, and then out past the shop, in a timely fashion though.
It's all very well getting folks on site, but you don't want them hanging around all day, there'd be no room for other MOP's (members of the public) to pay to come in and spend money too if everyone stayed all day.
So, they make it an 'experience', a 'tour' and hustle folks round and out the door, hopefully spending money on the way.

 

[shaneh]

Thanks for this post..
Looks interesting.

 

[Tengu]

A well and thoughtfully stocked shop is a mark of a good Heritage Attraction.

(I have been throughly brainwashed in class...)

Tripadvisors few posts on the Shop at Warwick say its tat for kids.

 

[petrochemicals]

I went there years ago as a kid, they've got a dungeon with a rack, iron maiden etc. If you are going by an academic status I would contact them to see if you can get other access. It's also incredibly expensive just to get in the door.

 

[Chalkflint]

Finding somewhere to go for a family day out when you have children can be challenging.
If its really entertaining for the children it is usually at the expense of the adults. If its the other way around the kids get board and the day just gets worse.
When I have a father and son day out a military, car or engineering based museum is money well spent.
When we have days out with the entire family (3 generations) it becomes a bit hit and miss
Hampton Court was a great day out, but Windsor castle wasnt.
One of our favourite family days out was to Chiltern Open Air museum. Which just consists of old buildings saved from demolition and relocated in beautiful surroundings. We recommended it recently to some friends who took their 13 year old son (and a picnic) and had a wonderful time.
Some times less can be more.
Yet the Harry Potter studio tour in London (my idea of expensive hell) is advance ticket only and full booked.
Their marketing team have no problem reaching the right demographics.
Chalkflint

 

[mousey]

I used to work there when I was at university down that way.

I'd echo the previous posts on expense and 'theme parky-ness', but when I was there, there were some very knowledgeable people. On the days where they had in costume folks walking around made it more of an experience, and the 'activity days' with the knight fights, jousting and falconry were always fun, I don't remember a trebuchet, maybe after my time there. They also did an awesome fireworks display [set to music] in the grounds - it was so loud they had to give the locals within a certain radius free entry...

 

[Chalkflint]

I would certainly agree with Mousey about knowledgeable people.
Two years ago we visited Dover castle. They had a mock village set up and experts in different areas talking to the public.
My son and I talked to an archaeologist with the nickname "The Poo Man" He specialised in excavating old Latrines (Toilets to you and me).
He gave a fascinating funny talk about his work and a history of wiping your bum through the ages. From using your hand, to grass and moss, custom made poo spoons for getting into those intricate areas through to modern day toilet paper. Apparently a medieval scholar once researched the best thing to use and highly recommends a Swans neck. (Something to remember next time your out bushcrafting)
He explained how even in modern times disease in poor countries is compounded by poor hygiene.
How Kings of Old had parasites in them. Due to the fact that despite the upper classes being more educated about hygiene the lower classes preparing their food were not.
How to make the best fake turds. (Flour, water, coffee granules, a few nuts and a bit of carrot for authenticity)
He held us captivated and mesmerised for 30 minutes with his knowledge and to this day my son and I still have a couple of on going jokes from his talk
Chalkflint

 

[ferretracer]

Must admit Warwick has turned to more of theme park(london dungeon style), Went about 5 years and was,nt that impressed was better many years ago late 90's early 00's before it changed. Spent weekend there on there medieval festival weekends as a re-enactor also doing the have a go archery for the MOP's and archery displays.
That chiltern open air museum sounds like it could be worth a visit. It sounds similar to the weald and downland museum.