Blog ≫ 2020 ≫ Our holiday to London and Warwick (part three)
Seems cooler again today, 18° though still. Also oddly feels like a Monday.
Still on with the holiday roundup, when we finally got to Warwick Castle. Wednesday morning we both got up and ran. I got up first and did an unscenic 5k running from the castle down towards the motorway. I couldn't figure another way to go, and it was fine anyway. It was popular with other runners too. It's a handy 2.5km from the entrance to the castle to the motorway bridge, so the right place to turn around. Clare went out after me and we met up again at breakfast. Breakfast was good, better than Premier Inn as they had Linda McCartney sausages, handy. When it's buffet you do eat a lot more, when you have to ask someone else to put the food on a plate for you I'm unlikely to say "eleven sausages please". Even the kids ate sensibly.
The castle has quite a lot to see inside it, though it's not huge. There were a lot of rooms that were set out how they would have been in the early twentieth century I think. The castle itself is more like 800 years old or more but apart from the walls everything inside it has been maintained and restored and replaced. There were a few too many rooms for thing one to be trudging round, he got bored and tired. The walk round the castle walls was great, and sitting and having a snack and a drink in the formal gardens was lovely. The weather was perfect here, and we were sharing our sandwiches with friendly peacocks.
Best part of the castle is the "Falconer's Quest", a falconry display with a story. Lots of birds of prey swooping round over the seated audience, including massive condors and eagles. Very impressive, everyone really liked this. From there we saw the full sized trebuchet, though they weren't demonstrating it. I wonder if they ever do? It's big.
We went back to The Old Coffee Tavern for a lovely early dinner and a pint, and then back to the accomodation for the entertainment. First the boys did "knight's training", sword fighting, then there was a knighting ceremony, then there was a proper sword fight between the two knights. Very panto (oh yes it was) and a lot of fun.
Later I went and found a micropub that was excellent The Old Post Office. It closed at 8pm though so I got some takeaway to take back to our lodge. Then passed a road where we'd seen another pub so thought I'd pop in there on the way back. The one I thought I'd seen earlier was actually another pub, I headed to the one I knew the name of further down the street but thought it looked and sounded a bit rough. I don't really like pubs where you can't see in from outside. I headed back to the first pub The Old Fourpenny Shop Hotel and it was good, plenty of ale choice. Popular with families too as it was doing food. Just one pint there and then home.
Up to go back to London the next morning which I will write up later.
5k: Five kilometres, just over three miles in old money.