My last visit to Warwick Castle had been for a very different experience entirely — watching Mika perform live against the stunning backdrop of the castle itself. While the venue had proven spectacular for a concert, there had been little opportunity to properly explore everything the castle and grounds had to offer. This family trip finally changed that — and what a day it turned out to be.

Calum had visited two years earlier on a Year 2 school trip, but unfortunately his memories were overshadowed after being stung on the face by a wasp during the visit. Despite that, the excitement of his younger sister Skye, aged five, who was desperate to see the Zog attractions, quickly reignited his enthusiasm for a return visit.

On what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, the four of us — alongside Reb — made the drive down to Warwick full of anticipation. Walking through the castle entrance, we were immediately greeted by Zog’s Playground, which looked more than capable of entertaining both children for hours on end. However, with a packed day ahead featuring the castle itself, sprawling grounds and several live shows, we encouraged them onwards after just 20 minutes.

Passing a couple of interactive Zog story points — including one where the children could enthusiastically hammer buttons to trigger comical dragon roars — we soon arrived at one of the genuine highlights of the day for all four of us: the Horrible Histories Maze. Encouraged by the brilliant invitation to “get lost”, the maze struck the perfect balance between silly fun and family adventure, with plenty of laughs along the way.

A quick stroll through the glorious castle grounds brought us to the Zog meet and greet, where Skye was absolutely delighted to meet her favourite dragon. Shortly afterwards, our first live performance of the day beckoned — Zog’s Story at the Woodland Theatre. With the venue absolutely packed, Calum and Reb sensibly retreated to find shade and indulge in a bit of people watching, while Skye and I managed to squeeze ourselves into a spot near the stage. It was worth the effort. Completely captivated throughout, Skye giggled constantly as the story unfolded, and the energy from the young audience made the whole performance feel wonderfully infectious.

As soon as the show ended, crowds surged towards River Island for the castle’s brand-new spectacular, Viking Raiders. Reuniting with the others en route, we managed to secure a fantastic viewing spot for the historical action show. The performers delivered a convincing and dramatic spectacle, with a surprisingly powerful narrative running throughout. While Skye found some of the fighting a little intense, the other three of us were thoroughly engrossed from start to finish.

After crossing back over the river, we paused for snacks in the shade — a welcome breather and a chance to appreciate just how beautiful the castle surroundings really are. Soon though, another major highlight awaited us: The Falconer’s Quest. Marketed as the UK’s largest birds of prey show, it absolutely lived up to expectations. Watching enormous birds soar inches above the mesmerised audience created one of those unforgettable moments that completely commands your attention regardless of age.

Having enjoyed three shows already, it finally felt time to properly explore the castle itself. With the soaring temperatures outside, the cooler inside was a welcome relief, and wandering through the magnificent interiors proved fascinating for the children. They loved examining the historic rooms and period pieces, while enthusiastically debating which of the many grand bedrooms they would each claim as their own.

Callum & Skye climbing inside the castle

Skye looking over Warwick

From inside the castle to high above it, we then tackled the towers and ramparts. Climbing the turrets and walking the ancient walls rewarded us with some truly spectacular views across the surrounding countryside. That said, the seemingly endless spiral staircases are certainly not for the faint-hearted — especially in the heat!

Callum

With the castle fully explored, there was only ever going to be one way to end the day: a return to Zog’s Playground. Unsurprisingly, it completely dominated the final part of our visit as both children burnt off every last ounce of remaining energy.

By the time we began the journey home, both Calum and Skye were already asking when we could return — and honestly, there’s probably no greater endorsement of a family day out than that. Warwick Castle delivered an experience that felt immersive, entertaining and genuinely memorable for every generation of our group. What had once simply been a fantastic concert venue had now become somewhere filled with family memories too.

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