Travel test

WHAT: Christmas at Warwick Castle with a one-night Santa sleepover stay at the Knight’s Village in a wooden lodge. For a family of four it costs about £389 and includes stories with Santa, evening entertainment, an elf wake-up call and breakfast. WHERE: In the West Midlands close to junction 15 of the M40. The castle is half a mile from the train station. EXPERIENCE: Our magical festive stay started with an elf workshop, making special Race to Warwick Castle games before visiting the big man himself in a stunning room with beautiful trees and decor. Santa and Mrs Claus were very convincing.

We then paid a visit to the small Christmas market where the grown-ups enjoyed mulled wine while the kids had hot chocolate and enjoyed roasting (burning!) marshmallows on a fire pit.

It was on to the light trail which was just breathtaking, from its maze full of twinkling lights and trees to neon medieval tents and emblazoned umbrellas made to look like mushrooms. The castle was the showpiece as it was lit up by pastel lighting set to Christmas music. We went on to have fun on an outside ice rink where there were plenty of penguins for starter-skaters and lots of staff to keep an eye on the little ones.

Our Knights Lodge was cosy with a majestic bed for parents and bunks for the kids and a super hot luxury shower.

In the morning sleigh bells rang as elves delivered little gifts to our two boys.

Breakfast was plentiful and parking is included in the price. QUIBBLES: The Christmas market was pretty pricey with mulled wine and hot drinks around £5-6 each.

Blocks of fudge and marshmallow sticks were also a fiver, pretty steep for families. VERDICT: A very special Christmas experience, more suited to small children and grown-ups than teens.