Essential Hotels > England > Warwickshire > Warwick > Attractions > Warwick Castle

Imposing Warwick castle is one of the finest medieval strongholds in Europe. It stands on a Saxon site above this compact river Avon town and its exceptional Norman and later structure hides an interior completely rebuilt during the 17th century. Warwick Castle is home to 1,000 years of secrets, stories and legend. Each year somewhere in the region 800,000 visitors cross the drawbridge to explore one of England's top historic attractions. It includes state rooms, royal weekend party, Kingmaker exhibition, extensive grounds, torture chambers and dungeons. Medieval banquets are available in addition.

The castle’s story begins with the Mound. A huge earthwork on the banks of the river Avon was constructed by Ethelfleda, daughter of King Alfred the Great, back in AD 914 and further fortified by William of Normandy in 1068, just two years after his conquest of England.

The castle’s 60 acres of grounds and gardens are, for many, as much of an attraction as the house itself. They include the informal pageant field, landscaped by the famous “Capability” Brown; the peacock garden, home to the castle’s flock of peacocks, and the beautiful Victorian rose garden, restored to its former glory in 1986 and reopened by Diana, Princess of Wales. For those with plenty of energy a climb up the castle’s imposing towers and a stroll along the battlements provides the perfect view of the grounds and the surrounding countryside.