Okay, so it's a bit delayed (nto as much as Gavin's reports), but I got here in the end.
A while back, we went on an annual pass bash to Warwick. For years this place has annoyed me, there's something I don't like about paying extortionate amounts to see a castle - but Warwick is probably in the top ten "best looking" castles in the country, so I guess it's worth it. It's just after going to so many castles, and working at Warwick a few weekends for a pittance, I object to paying for entry :lol:
Well, AP is free, but I still feel angry on behalf of all the paying guests!
So, is it getting any better in my eyes?
First up, we needed to get Maxi-Minor_furie and Annual Pass. He's too tall now to get in for free anymore so has to have one.
He's not going to give in without a fight though, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him!
As we came in through the entrance, we found a medieval version of basket ball. You had to lob dead rats through a hoop. There were three holes in the hoop, each giving varying points.
Lob!
(MMF)
Chuck!
(Minor_Furie)
And Fling those rats!
(SSIL_Furie)
It was a great idea actually. One of those simple ones that really got families involved and having fun. It was being run by one of the permanent "professional" reenactors. These are in short supply, but a great addition to the place. They are pretty much 100% authentic and fit in perfectly. I have even read references to rat chucking games like this. Good start methinks!
So does the rat!
Inside, we skip the dungeon with it's extortionate fee and 40 minute queue! Head instead straight for!
Difficult to follow history display! If you know about the Wars of the Roses, you'll know about Warwick "The Kingmaker". If you don't, it's too complicated to put into little captions here. Don't worry, you're not missing much, he was just essentially the medieval version of Alastair Campbell.
Though I suspect his hat fitted him better than it does MMF!
This display section (it's quite lengthy) was created by Tussauds back in the mid 90's, when they were pretty bloody good. They actually hired the top historians in whatever field was needed to make it. It's very high quality and the kit on display is authentic and well made. The clothing is actually stitched using properly dyed cloth, hand woven using medieval stitches (the clothes were tight, so a special stitch was developed to allow the clothes to "give". This means they could have Robin Hood leggins without the silk or lycra we'd use today (though they had silk, it was exceptionally expensive).
Some of the models are better than others though, the accountant was very real, but the bloke on the right was piss poor!
Outside then, and a chance to walk the castle grounds before we go to see the trebuchet being shot (not fired).
Dark and moody castle!
I have to admit, I'm starting to like the castle, it's endearing. Actually, it's bloody gorgeous. I don't want to like it though
Maxi-Minor_Furie and I trailblaze up the castle walls ahead of the rest of the Family_Furie who are faffing (quell surprise). We get a good view of the ballista that was installed this year. I like ballistas!
Heading up the walls, you soon gain height and get a good view of the main "house"
And the original motte and bailey!
Faffily_furie fail to catch us!
We're heading this way next, down off the tower and over the gatehouse.
Okay, okay, it's bloody lovely!
If only there was a way of taking this photo and making it look like it was a model, that would be hilarious
The trebuchet is being prepped to be shot (not fired)!
Haha! We see you slow-coach-family_furie!
Time for picnic and trebuchet! The Peacock was a much welcomed visitor after last year's exceptionally evil swan!
"I'm coming to give you your shots Mr Peacock!"
After five minutes of people in the hamster wheel, the trebuchet fire pot is loaded and lit! We have fire!
And then whoosh! It's released and the shot is, well, shot (not fired)
Somewhere in the tree a long way off, the shot burns away happily to itself!
I pointed out to Maxi-Minor_Furie that this is the Uk's largest bird of prey
The falconer was stood behind me and told me I was quite wrong and it was actually one of these:
iFail :lol: I didn't know the white-tailed sea eagle existed, never mind was bigger than a Golden Eagle
I consoled myself by stroking the ballista!
Then it was time to play on the park and head off home. I really like the castle now to be honest, I've been turned. I like the extraneous activities they have on too. I still don't think it's a really full day out, and not worth almost £20 entry, but it's good.
However, some things really annoy me - all down to the commercialism of the place. You have a fantastic medieval castle, with authentic reenactors adding colour. Then next to them, a plastic stall selling plastic swords and princess outfits. There's a tin "pub" selling coffee and snacks too. All the staff wear standard trousers and jumpers. It clashes horribly with the rest of the set up. That's what really annoys me about the place, it's the modern standing badly and anachronistically next to the really great stuff. Yes, you have to survive in a modern, competitive business world, but do it with some style - don't just plonk in some crass stalls.
Like the other Merlin parks, you do constantly feel like they have one hand in your pocket, fondling your cheque book. Unlike the other parks though, there's (other than a fantastic castle) not a great deal there that you can say "the place entertained me once I paid for entry". There are the few bits, but parks and gardens (and even castles) are places you can do for free in most counties in the country. So you feel you get less value for money than the rides based parks, and you feel you need to spend more to help keep the kids happy. We brought our own swords and lances, but couldn't leave without also getting an additional plastic helmet for a tenner
So still a mixed bag really. I no longer just dislike the place, but I do still think that there's something wrong with the place, something fundamental that chews at your purse strings...
Next, I may catch up with LegoLand and Drayton!
A while back, we went on an annual pass bash to Warwick. For years this place has annoyed me, there's something I don't like about paying extortionate amounts to see a castle - but Warwick is probably in the top ten "best looking" castles in the country, so I guess it's worth it. It's just after going to so many castles, and working at Warwick a few weekends for a pittance, I object to paying for entry :lol:
Well, AP is free, but I still feel angry on behalf of all the paying guests!
So, is it getting any better in my eyes?
First up, we needed to get Maxi-Minor_furie and Annual Pass. He's too tall now to get in for free anymore so has to have one.
He's not going to give in without a fight though, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him!
As we came in through the entrance, we found a medieval version of basket ball. You had to lob dead rats through a hoop. There were three holes in the hoop, each giving varying points.
Lob!
(MMF)
Chuck!
(Minor_Furie)
And Fling those rats!
(SSIL_Furie)
It was a great idea actually. One of those simple ones that really got families involved and having fun. It was being run by one of the permanent "professional" reenactors. These are in short supply, but a great addition to the place. They are pretty much 100% authentic and fit in perfectly. I have even read references to rat chucking games like this. Good start methinks!
So does the rat!
Inside, we skip the dungeon with it's extortionate fee and 40 minute queue! Head instead straight for!
Difficult to follow history display! If you know about the Wars of the Roses, you'll know about Warwick "The Kingmaker". If you don't, it's too complicated to put into little captions here. Don't worry, you're not missing much, he was just essentially the medieval version of Alastair Campbell.
Though I suspect his hat fitted him better than it does MMF!
This display section (it's quite lengthy) was created by Tussauds back in the mid 90's, when they were pretty bloody good. They actually hired the top historians in whatever field was needed to make it. It's very high quality and the kit on display is authentic and well made. The clothing is actually stitched using properly dyed cloth, hand woven using medieval stitches (the clothes were tight, so a special stitch was developed to allow the clothes to "give". This means they could have Robin Hood leggins without the silk or lycra we'd use today (though they had silk, it was exceptionally expensive).
Some of the models are better than others though, the accountant was very real, but the bloke on the right was piss poor!
Outside then, and a chance to walk the castle grounds before we go to see the trebuchet being shot (not fired).
Dark and moody castle!
I have to admit, I'm starting to like the castle, it's endearing. Actually, it's bloody gorgeous. I don't want to like it though
Maxi-Minor_Furie and I trailblaze up the castle walls ahead of the rest of the Family_Furie who are faffing (quell surprise). We get a good view of the ballista that was installed this year. I like ballistas!
Heading up the walls, you soon gain height and get a good view of the main "house"
And the original motte and bailey!
Faffily_furie fail to catch us!
We're heading this way next, down off the tower and over the gatehouse.
Okay, okay, it's bloody lovely!
If only there was a way of taking this photo and making it look like it was a model, that would be hilarious
The trebuchet is being prepped to be shot (not fired)!
Haha! We see you slow-coach-family_furie!
Time for picnic and trebuchet! The Peacock was a much welcomed visitor after last year's exceptionally evil swan!
"I'm coming to give you your shots Mr Peacock!"
After five minutes of people in the hamster wheel, the trebuchet fire pot is loaded and lit! We have fire!
And then whoosh! It's released and the shot is, well, shot (not fired)
Somewhere in the tree a long way off, the shot burns away happily to itself!
I pointed out to Maxi-Minor_Furie that this is the Uk's largest bird of prey
The falconer was stood behind me and told me I was quite wrong and it was actually one of these:
iFail :lol: I didn't know the white-tailed sea eagle existed, never mind was bigger than a Golden Eagle
I consoled myself by stroking the ballista!
Then it was time to play on the park and head off home. I really like the castle now to be honest, I've been turned. I like the extraneous activities they have on too. I still don't think it's a really full day out, and not worth almost £20 entry, but it's good.
However, some things really annoy me - all down to the commercialism of the place. You have a fantastic medieval castle, with authentic reenactors adding colour. Then next to them, a plastic stall selling plastic swords and princess outfits. There's a tin "pub" selling coffee and snacks too. All the staff wear standard trousers and jumpers. It clashes horribly with the rest of the set up. That's what really annoys me about the place, it's the modern standing badly and anachronistically next to the really great stuff. Yes, you have to survive in a modern, competitive business world, but do it with some style - don't just plonk in some crass stalls.
Like the other Merlin parks, you do constantly feel like they have one hand in your pocket, fondling your cheque book. Unlike the other parks though, there's (other than a fantastic castle) not a great deal there that you can say "the place entertained me once I paid for entry". There are the few bits, but parks and gardens (and even castles) are places you can do for free in most counties in the country. So you feel you get less value for money than the rides based parks, and you feel you need to spend more to help keep the kids happy. We brought our own swords and lances, but couldn't leave without also getting an additional plastic helmet for a tenner
So still a mixed bag really. I no longer just dislike the place, but I do still think that there's something wrong with the place, something fundamental that chews at your purse strings...
Next, I may catch up with LegoLand and Drayton!
