A Night in the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle

karlosinternational

3 years ago

Today I wanted to share a more about my recent trip to Warwick and about my night in the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle. I’ve always been a bit of a history nerd and a grew up in a corner of England that has more castles than any other. So, catching the train to visit Warwick Castle to discover a new castle felt like a no brainer to me. Plus, it was a great opportunity to wander around an unexplored corner of England.

There’s a huge amount of history in Warwick. The castle alone has over 1,100 years of history not to mention the historic buildings elsewhere in town. So I was keen to make my most of my time here. And what better way to experience Warwick Castle than to spend a night in one of its towers? How many of Warwick Castle’s guest get to experience the castle after dark? So I booked my room in the Tower Suites and headed to Warwick. What would the castle have to offer after dark?

Inside the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle

Most visitors visit Warwick Castle without knowing that there’s accommodation here. The accommodation types range from glamping in the Knights village, to the more luxurious experiences in the Tower Suites. There are only two Tower Suites at Warwick Castle, the Rose Suite and the Peacock. Both rooms are inside Caesar’s tower.

More About Caesar’s Tower

Caesar’s tower is over 600 years old and is a part of the castle’s defensive structure. It’s Warwick Castle’s tallest tower and offers stunning views across the River Avon.

The tower has had many roles in the history of the castle, but it’s best known for being a prison. Not an ordinary prison for local troublemakers and petty criminals, but a prison for the noblemen. Most people who stayed in the tower were prisoners of war. The Earls of Warwick made a lot of money by capturing their enemies on the battlefield and selling them back to their families. The prison tower would house these noblemen in relative comfort.

Some historians believe that Edward IV stayed in the tower in 1469 after the Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, rebelled against him. There’s very little evidence that this happened. They know that Edward was captured and that the tower’s name changed to Caesar’s Tower around this time. Could the name change be related to royalty staying in the tower? Either way, it’s a great story. And spending the night in a room that has seen so much history is an amazing experience.

What are the Tower Suites like?

After four centuries as a prison, the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle are fit for a King!

The suites offer a splash of luxury, offering four poster beds and complimentary champagne. The décor gives a nod to the castle’s medieval history. The stone walls and vaulted ceiling are as they would have been hundreds of years ago. Where most hotel rooms have windows, here light enters the room through the arrow slits which once guarded the castle. For a moment it’s like stepping back in time.

The room also has all of the modern conveniences you’d expect from a luxury hotel. You’ll find the television (with sky) hiding in a cabinet at the bottom of the bed. Not to mention the Nespresso machine. There’s a period water closet and a separate shower room.

If that wasn’t enough, guests in the tower suites have private access onto the castle’s ramparts. Opening a door from the shower room, I was immediately on the castle’s battlements, gazing at the stunning views over the Warwickshire countryside. And I had this completely to myself while the castle was closed. So, I got up early to drink my Nespresso and to watch Warwick waking up in the buildings below the castle.

The stairs up to the rooms are quite narrow. Warwick Castle is a very old building so unfortunately there’s no other way of accessing the Tower Suites.

Exploring Warwick Castle

Arrival and Afternoon Tea

Your stay in the Tower Suite includes complimentary afternoon tea. So quickly after arriving at Warwick Castle by train, I took a short stroll from the Tower Suites to the conservatory. The conservatory is over 200 years old. It sits just outside the castle walls, next to the peacock gardens. The café here is open to all guests so even if you’re not staying in the tower suites you can pop in for a coffee or order afternoon tea.

In the 18th century, the owners of Warwick castle wanted a home that felt less like a castle and more like a country estate. During this period, more decorative features arrived in the castle grounds including the conservatory, the Peacock Gardens and even a small zoo. It was an extravagant demonstration of wealth and a great way of entertaining dinner guests. The conservatory has excellent views over the gardens, across the River Avon and into the Warwickshire countryside.

The name of the Peacock Gardens comes from the birds that live here. There are quire a few! See how many you can spot hopping around their gardens and showing their feathers to visitors. The peacocks arrived at Warwick castle in the 19th century. They belonged to Daisy Greville, the countess of Warwick at the time. Daisy was a popular socialite. She brought her small menagerie of animals to the castle, not to mention her lavish parties which were a highlight of the Victorian social circuit. Today’s peacocks are the descendants of those that belonged to Daisy Greville.

I’d definitely recommend taking time to explore the grounds here which extend down to the banks of the River.

Exploring Inside the Castle

Whilst staying in the Tower Suites, you have full freedom to explore Warwick Castle and it’s grounds. So from my afternoon tea in the conservatory, I headed back to the castle for a wander inside the buildings. There are quite a few exhibits, each of which reveals a different chapter of the castle’s history.

The mound is the oldest corner of the castle. Here you can find out more about the original wooden fortress which was here during the 11th century as well as seeing some great views of the castle. The Kingmaker Exhibit tells the story of Richard Neville who instrumental in removing two English kings during the Wars of the Roses.

The main building hosts an exhibit on the castle’s history from the 17th century onwards. The state rooms here are magnificent. This is where the castle’s most prestigious guests, including royalty, would have stayed. Today they rooms are just as splendid as they would have been hundreds of years ago. Expect stunningly decorated dining tables, rich tapestries and authentic 17th century portraits

The great hall has everything you’d expect from a medieval castle including suits of armour, weaponry and stained glass windows. You’ll need a couple of hours to explore the various corners of the castle.

Walking the Curtain Wall

From the Bear Tower you can begin your journey around the castle’s ramparts. These walls helped to defend the castle from attack. Guards and archers would stand sentry on the walls, ready to fire at enemy forces.

Today the vantage point of the castle walls and battlements offer some of the best views over Warwick. From Guy’s Tower, you can see the Collegiate Church of St Mary’s towering over the town centre to the north. From Caesar’s tower you can see the cottages along Mill Street and the beautiful Mill Gardens. You can also see the remains of a Medieval Bridge which was once the only was of crossing the River Avon at Warwick.

A Private Tour

A stay in the Tower Suites includes a tour of Warwick Castle with one of the castle’s historians. This take place after the castle had closed to the public so you’ll have the castle to yourself. It’s a private tour so the historian can tailor the content to your specific interests. You’ll also have plenty of time to ask questions about the various exhibits in the castle.

Richard Neville, The Kingmaker

There’s a huge amount of history at Warwick Castle. The Earl’s of Warwick were particularly powerful during the wars of the roses in the 15^th Century. It was during this period that Richard Neville was the Earl of Warwick. Neville was one of the most powerful and influential noblemen at the time and through his switching allegiances, Richard deposed and replaced two English Kings, hence the name of Kingmaker.

Warwick Castle declined in importance during the Tudor period, perhaps because the Earl of Warwick had played such a strong role in deposing Kings before the Tudor dynasty came to power. They were certain to make sure that Warwick didn’t receive so much power again.

A Warwick Castle Ghost Story

One of Warwick Castle’s darkest stories takes place in 1628. Although it doesn’t take place in the castle, it involves the man who owned the castle at the time, Fulke Greville. It’s now one of the castle’s most infamous ghost stories.

Fulke Greville was a close advisor to Elizabeth I. Fulke became the owner of the castle in 1604 and spent a great deal of time and effort refurbishing the castle and restoring it to it’s former glory between 1604 and 1628.

In 1628, Greville travelled to London with his manservant, Ralph Haywood (some suggest they were lovers but there’s no conclusive evidence). Unfortunately Haywood had a grievance with Greville. He had seen a copy of Greville’s will and was clearly unhappy with the amount he’d receive in the event of Greville’s death. Haywood took matters into his own hands and stabbed Greville in the stomach.

But Haywood’s attempt to kill Greville failed. Greville had survived the attack long enough to visit a doctor for treatment. The doctors attempted to treat Greville by packing the wound with pig’s fat, a treatment which was common for stab wounds at the time. Unfortunately, the pig fat festered inside his stomach and slowly poisoned Greville. It took just under weeks for Greville to die, a slow and painful death.

Greville returns to Warwick Castle each night, a place that he loved and spent a great deal of time restoring. He emerges from his portrait in the states rooms to walk the halls of the castle. Some say that after dark, they hear his screams echoing around the walls of Warwick Castle.

Warwick Castle After Dark

A night in the Tower Suites

So my history tour finished and I headed back to the Tower Suites to spend a night alone in Warwick Castle. You’re welcome to leave the castle in the evening for food, just make your concierge aware so they can let you back in.

As I was heading back into the castle after, I began to realise the magnitude of being alone here. There weren’t any guests in the second Tower Suite so I was completely on my own. To make matters worse, I’d spent the day listening to stories of ghosts, murders and of a castle under attack. I’d even made plans to watch Most Haunted in Warwick Castle before sleeping. I can safely say that this didn’t happen.

Inside, Warwick Castle is a very different place after dark. The stone walls and vaulted ceilings inside the Tower Suite take on a different character in the darkness. It’s extremely atmospheric. The ghost stories I’d heard earlier in the day came to life in my imagination. But the facilities in the Tower Suites are great for distracting yourself. And shortly after watching something light on TV, I drifted off the sleep.

Breakfast

Your stay in Warwick Castle’s Tower Suites ends with breakfast on the second day. This is usually in one of the state rooms. My breakfast was served in the library, a room I’d seen on the previous day when I was exploring the castle. It’s a beautiful room and I ate my breakfast sitting amongst thousands of leather bound books. Apparently most of them have never been opened.

Although there weren’t any other guests in the Tower Suites that night, I didn’t spend my breakfast alone. Warwick Castle belongs to the same company as Madame Tussauds. One consequence of this is that the castle is full of waxworks. So I spent my breakfast with a waxwork of a young Winston Churchill and a taxidermy bear which doubles as a post box.

After Breakfast, I headed back up the Tower Suites to pack my bags and to take a final look over the ramparts before Warwick Castle opened to the public. It was also time to wander around town before catching my train home.

Other Things To Do Near Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle is very close to Warwick town centre which means there are quite a few things to do nearby. Its is a small town, but there’s a lot of history here so there are some great historic buildings and plenty of streets to explore. The walk into town should take you less than ten minutes.

Mill Street and St Nicholas Park

Before you get too far away from the castle, I’d recommend taking a walk down Mill Street and to see the Mill Gardens. It’s one of the prettiest streets in Warwick. Visitors come here to see the picturesque cottages, some of which date back to the 15^th century. You can step back in time here and imagine how life in Warwick may have looked hundreds of years ago.

The Mill Garden is at the bottom of Millstreet. The gardens offer breath-taking views of the castle and the River Avon. There are also some great views of the castle on Castle Bridge. You can walk to here from Mill Street in five minutes.

From here, take some time to explore St Nicholas Park. It’s one of the largest public parks in Warwick. Resident’s head here for the riverside walk and pretty gardens. The park fills with tree blossom each springs to head down to the park to see the brightly coloured flowers and pathways dappled with pink petals. It’s a really great place to relax. St Nicholas Park sits between the castle and the railway station so head here after catching the train to Warwick Castle or before heading home.

When you’re finished in the parks, I’d recommend heading into the town.

The Lord Leycester Hospital

The Lord Leycester Hospital is one of the oldest buildings in Warwick (excluding Warwick Castle). It’s over 450 years old and is a great example of medieval courtyard architecture. The crooked doors and wooden archways are quite magical. It will transport you to the streets of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. It’s little wonder that the building has been used as a film location, mainly for period dramas.

The building isn’t really a hospital. It’s actually home to a charity supporting ex-servicemen. There are some cool things to see inside too, including a 2000 year old nilometer, a device used for measured the flood levels on the River Nile in Egypt.

Collegiate Church of St Mary’s

If you’ve already been to Warwick Castle, you’ll probably have seen St Mary’s church. Some of the best views of this building are available from Guy’s Tower. The church towers above the surrounding buildings and certainly stands out above the Warwick skyline.

Parts of this church are over 900’s years old although most of it dates back to the 1600s. This is because huge parts of Warwick, including the church were destroyed in a fire in 1694. he church has close ties with the castle and former Earl’s of Warwick. Particularly the Beauchamp family who have their own chapel inside the church.

If you have time, have a wander around the church grounds. There are some very old headstones here with plants growing ruggedly between them.

Browse the shops in Smith Street

Heading back to the railway station, take a stroll along Smith Street. This the oldest part of Warwick. Buildings in the other parts of town tend to be newer as a fire destroyed most of the town in 1694. Smith Street today is full of quaint independent shops and local restaurants, some of which are in original medieval buildings. It’s a great little area if you’re looking for food.

You’ll know when you’ve reached this area when you spot the Eastgate which was historically one of three entryways into the town.

Catching the Train to Warwick Castle

Having caught the train to Warwick Castle, I’d definitely recommend travelling this way. Warwick and Warwick Castle are on the train line between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill, so there are regular train services from the UK’s largest cities. The train line from London to Warwick travels through the Chilterns which are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Arriving at Warwick Castle by train is a great way of seeing them.

Once you’ve arrived in Warwick, it’s a short walk from the train station to Warwick Castle. It took me about 15 minutes, having stopped several times to look in the shop windows along Smith Street. I mentioned earlier that Warwick has a small town centre so you don’t need a car to explore this.

A Night in the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle – Thank You For Reading

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed hearing more about my night in the Tower Suites at Warwick Castle. Perhaps you’re even feeling inspired to take your own visit to Warwick Castle. You can find out more about Warwick Castle and staying in the Tower Suites at the Warwick Castle website.

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