Glamping at Warwick Castle With Kids

Camping is something I hadn’t done in many, many years. It was so long ago the term ‘glamping’ hadn’t yet been coined. So when we were offered the chance to try out the new King’s Luxury Medieval glamping tents at Warwick Castle, I jumped at the chance. It would be our first outdoor experience as a family and far more glamourous than my previous camping expeditions.

The glamping tents are part of the Knights Village within the grounds of Warwick Castle where there are also 28 wooden lodges. You can imagine the excitement from my five-year-old daughter at not only sleeping ‘outside’ but being able to explore a castle too.

There were four novice glampers on the trip: my friend Gen who was visiting from Singapore, Cheeky (2), Mrs T (5) and myself. We arrived around 11am and easily got a space at the VIP car park reserved for those staying at the Knights Village. There was no queue at reception when we checked in. The staff highlighted all the activities and sites to see at the castle and we went off to explore. Our tent would be available at 4pm.

There is a special entrance into the castle for those staying at the Knights Village so no queuing again (a perk which pleased me greatly). During our two days exploring Warwick castle, we watched a thrilling jousting spectacle in War of the Roses Live, solved a riddle in the Princess Tower and got lost in the Horrible Histories maze. I will detail more about what we did at Warwick Castle in a separate post.

After the castle excitement, we headed back to the Knights Village. Time to check out our accommodation! The King’s Luxury tents are set amongst the trees in front of a large grassy (fenced off) area by the river. There’s plenty of space for children to run around.

Outside the tent, a large chessboard and throne greeted us. So far so regal. Zipping open the thick canvas of the tent, we went inside. The first thing we saw was a large four poster bed with a coat of arms mounted above.

The tent was larger than I was expecting. The majestic four poster bed dominates with two single beds either side and the cot we’d requested. You can see my tour of the tent and Knights Village in the video below.

As well as having proper beds, the other benefit to glamping was wooden flooring. No chance of getting toes wet or too many creepy crawlies wandering in. The tent kept to the theme with decorative touches such as oak chests, Medieval-style lights and felt regal with sumptuous cushions and throws.

From a bloggers perspective, I was pleased with the tents USB ports, plugs and free WiFi! No toilets though. The block of showers and toilets are located a short walk away. The wooden portacabin toilets were of a high standard with fancy decor and the showers were spacious, powerful and hot.

For dinner, we booked the onsite restaurant. Extra entertainment awaited us with two knights in attendance! They wandered around to the tables which gave us the opportunity to ask them questions about being a knight – and get some photos.

The dinner was a three-course menu. The option for starters was the same for adults and children so we got a selection. The girls had fish and chips for their main. I got a vegetable pie and Gen ordered the turkey. It was a huge leg – looking like it was straight from a Medieval banquet! There was plenty on the plate to eat but we left room for dessert! Hot and soft drinks were included in the menu price and there was a bar with reasonably priced alcohol.

Towards the end of the meal, the show began with the two knights engaging in some light-hearted banter, building up to a sword fight – with various weaponry. It was really entertaining and the girls loved it. We got photo with the Knights afterwards.

The rain had started to fall as we went to the tent and got the girls settled. The main part which reminded me of my camping days was making the trip to the toilet and showers. If you have young children, I’d advise taking a potty in case the toilet is needed in the middle of the night – especially if rain is forecast. It was comforting to see a security guard patrolling the area at night. An important safety measure – especially when travelling with children.

The rain continued throughout the night and into the morning. I awoke to the sound of birds chirping and ducks quacking. I’d forgotten how magical it is listen to the sound of nature while under canvas and the pitter patter of rain falling on the tent. All the better when you’re lying in a four poster bed and none of your belongings are soggy!

Glamping is a lot different to my camping experiences as a girl guide and as a festival-goer in my twenties. The fully constructed tent was the first advantage. I can imagine putting up tents while keeping an eye on small children isn’t the easiest.

As much as I used to enjoy toasting marshmallows and cooking up eggy bread, it was far more convenient to wander up to the restaurant for dinner and eat a buffet breakfast with a choice of croissants, cereals and cooked food.

After breakfast, we went to see the archery experts – exclusively there for the Knights Village residents (in the main castle you have to pay extra). Mrs T had a go and ended up hitting the target a few times!

We completed our stay by ticking off some of Warwick Castle’s sites which we had missed the previous day. Having a two-day pass included in the stay meant we weren’t rushing to see everything in one day.

Verdict

Would I go glamping again? Absolutely. You get the benefits of camping such as sleeping outside – without the downsides (soggy bedding and sleeping on the floor). With small children, glamping is the way forward and my daughters loved it. Being able to combine the experience with two days of castle exploration meant we got the added excitement of learning more about knights, princesses and all things castle related.

Glamping at Warwick Castle

– The King’s Luxury glamping tents can sleep up to five people.
– A one night stay includes two day tickets to Warwick Castle, breakfast, VIP parking and evening entertainment. Prices start from £58 per person. Check the website for latest offers.
– The three-course dinner is extra –  £18.95 for adults and £9.95 for children. It includes soft and hot drinks. Alcohol is extra.
– Medieval Glamping at Warwick Castle is available from 30th June – 9th September 2018

* Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of Warwick Castle in return for an honest review. 

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