I braved Haunted Castle and had scarily good time
HISTORY and heritage is making way for horrors and haunts at Warwick Castle this half-term.
The famous tourist attraction is hosting The Haunted Castle, a familyfriendly spooktacular of scary day-time activities.
As the clock strikes 6pm, on selected days between now and Halloween Night, there’s also Castle After Dark for those keen to up the fright ante. Never one to shirk an eerie assignment, our Content Editor PAUL SUART took his family along to The Haunted Castle to get a flavour of the thrills and chills on offer ....
I’d read the promo literature, but still wasn’t entirely sure what to expect as we made our way up to the castle from Stratford Road car park. After gaining entry to the castle grounds, and a quick scan of the map on the visitor guide, it quickly became apparent that most of the attractions would be outdoor.
Lucky for us we’d missed the torrential rain that had landed hours earlier and managed to catch the castle on a dry, sunny and unseasonably warm afternoon. For anyone considering visiting, a weather forecast check before setting off would be well advised.
Irrespective of the forecast, wellies might not be a bad shout as it was a little muddy under foot even during our visit. As for the attraction itself? Put it this way, Halloween has never been so much fun!
A charming landmark, and one steeped in so much history, Warwick Castle lends itself to the spectrum of spectres. Close to 1,000 years old, the castle is actually the perfect backdrop for the makeshift world of mystery that lies within its shadows.
Haunted Hallows, its entrance guarded by a gaggle of darkly-cloaked souls, was our first stop. Its meandering, cobweb-lined lanes are home to the weird and wonderful.
Penny Pumpkin and Sylvia the Skeleton are all too happy to share a spooky yarn as you weave through the Hollows, where ghouls and gravestones are never far from view. Penny and Sylvia were brilliantly acted and the spooky sets incredibly well thought out.
After a quick tour of the Horrible Histories Maze, not technically a feature of The Haunted Castle but well worth a trundle nevertheless, we made a play for The Witches Den. Located in front of the castle’s East Front and close to a collection of food and drink stalls - selling everything from burgers and waffles to chicken and chips - The Den was inhabited by the
Three Witches of Warwick whose potion masterclasses and cackle-filled dance routines delivered belly laughs for kids and grown-ups alike.
The witches appear every half an hour (not on the witching hour!) so if you miss one of their ‘shows’ you don’t have to wait too long for another. We made our through the portcullis and into the confines of the castle, passing a headless horseman and his solemn procession in the process. We hadn’t booked a slot for the brilliantly-titled Upscares Downscares, which had attracted quite a queue, so we took something of a detour to Zog Playland (which my fouryear-old clocked as soon we entered the grounds). A new addition to the castle, the Julia Donaldson-inspired soft play area gave my little one Gracie an avenue to let off steam before getting back down to the scary stuff.
Heading back via the Courtyard Shop, we returned to Upscares Downscares and were not disappointed. Groups of around a dozen are escorted from room to room with an eccentric character waiting behind each door.
I won’t give too much away, but it’s a thoroughly entertaining jaunt with each character brought to life (or death) enthusiastically by their respective actors. It’s billed as an attraction for children over five. And while my daughter was a little puzzled at times, she was by no means terrified by the creepy chain of events that unfolded.
A quick boogie by the Dead Centre Stage, positioned, er, dead centre within the towers and ramparts, and we were about ready to depart. Props to the ghost-faced DJ, who delivered a killer of set of ageold classics and modern anthems, and the shapethrowing ringmaster, who even managed to throw in a moonwalk amongst his repertoire of dance moves.
Sadly, we didn’t get time for Halloween Scare Schools, where budding young sorcerers can learn more about casting spells and defending the castle from evil forces, or for the notorious Castle Dungeon, which, incidentally, is not included in The Haunted Castle day ticket. With that in mind, it’s well worth arriving as early as possible.
Not just because there’s so much to do, but because there’s so much fiendish fun to be had. At £29 per person (under 3s are free) it’s not the cheapest day out, but is definitely worth it.
The Haunted Castle is thoroughly entertaining fare for all the family. I strongly suggest you get on down there before it closes on Monday. If you dare!