I've visited loads of castles in England, but this Midlands gem is still my favourite

If Warwick Castle had a fan club, we’d absolutely be members.

We visit four or five times a year and it never gets old. Halloween, Christmas, summer events – it’s the perfect day out with the kids, and it manages to be genuinely fun while still feeling steeped in history.

Inside, there’s always something that makes you stop and go “wow”. Seeing Oliver Cromwell’s death mask gave me chills, and the Great Hall packed with knights in armour feels exactly how a castle should. Outside, there’s just as much going on. The birds of prey show is brilliant, the War of the Roses re-enactments are always a hit, and Zog is just lovely for younger kids. Add in the park, the themed areas, and the live shows, and you can easily spend a full day here without rushing.

But for me, it’s the castle itself that really wins. It’s just so grand and unapologetically castle-like. Climbing Guy’s Tower definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted, but I’ve been taking my kids up there since they were tiny, and the views are always worth it.

We’re the sort of family who visits a castle wherever we are in the county. We love Conwy, love Kenilworth, and Tintagel is incredible too. They’re all great in their own way. But our heart is with Warwick. It has that solid, dramatic presence that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

I don’t know if that makes sense, but if you’re after a castle that feels properly grand, full of history, and still brilliant for kids, Warwick Castle is hard to beat.

See my gallery of favourite photos from our visits over the years: