Zog’s 15th birthday bash at Warwick Castle – and yes, we were there (obviously!)
We are what you might call a Warwick Castle family.
It’s our go-to for days out, school holiday adventures, and last-minute “let’s just get out of the house” plans.
The kids are obsessed. We’ve done it all — from the mighty trebuchet in action to the epic Falconer’s Quest (seriously, those birds are huge).
But the absolute star of the show, for our crew anyway, has always been one lovable, slightly clumsy dragon: Zog.
So when we heard Zog was turning 15 this year (can you believe it?!), and that Warwick Castle was throwing him a proper birthday party, we were all in.
And yes — we were lucky enough to be invited to celebrate. Cue two overexcited children and one extremely smug parent (me).
🎈 Zog's trail: The interactive trail has had a party makeover, complete with festive flags, fun facts, and of course, some dragon-sized surprises. The kids had an absolute blast spotting Zog’s friends and earning their golden stars. It’s educational and sneaky exercise — win-win.
🎂 Birthday decorations & Meet-and-Greet: Everything was decked out for a party, and yes, Zog himself made an appearance. My youngest practically tackled him in excitement. (Note: Zog gives excellent hugs.)
📚 Zog Live Show: If you haven’t seen this before, go. It’s a charming mix of live performance, storytelling, and audience interaction. Think: theatre meets fairytale. They've added a few birthday twists this summer too, so even if you've seen it before, it's worth another watch.
⚔️ Knight School: Where kids train like medieval legends. If your little ones have ever picked up a stick and declared themselves a sword-wielding hero (which, let’s face it, they have), this is their moment. Set on the gorgeous lawn in front of the castle, Knight School is a free activity that runs throughout the day. Kids get to learn basic sword skills from real-life knights (well, very convincing ones), complete with dramatic poses, battle shouts, and a few swashbuckling moves thrown in for good measure.
Don’t forget the kid’s favourite Zog playground - it is a magical, dragon-themed adventure zone inspired by Julia Donaldson’s beloved character, Zog. Designed for young knights and princesses, it features climbing frames, rope bridges, and slides set within a colorful medieval landscape.
Of course, Warwick Castle is still Warwick Castle — and that means jaw-dropping history, towers to climb, dungeons (if you're brave), and green open spaces for picnics and dragon chases.
Even without the Zog extras, it's an unbeatable day out. But with Zog? It’s full-blown childhood wonder.
Yes, we’ve been a dozen times. Yes, we’ll go a dozen more. The staff are always brilliant, it’s genuinely great value if you grab an annual pass, and they constantly keep it fresh with new events (Zog’s birthday being a perfect example). They get families — and they make it easy for parents to actually enjoy a day out too.
Zog by Julia Donaldson is pure storytelling gold. It’s got everything kids love — a big, eager dragon learning how to fly, roar, and rescue princesses - all wrapped up in rhyme that’s fun to read aloud (again and again).
It’s clever, empowering, and packed with heart — showing kids that it’s okay to make mistakes, and that teamwork wins. No wonder it’s a hit in both book form and on screen.
Happy 15th, Zog! Thanks for being part of our family adventures. Same time next year?