Warwick is only eight miles from Stratford and like its near neighbour sits on the banks of the River Avon. Most of the town was decimated by fire in 1694, though the castle, for which Warwick is best known, remained in tact.
William the Conqueror built a motte & bailey fortification on the site shortly after his victory in 1066 and gave the site and the title ‘Earl of Warwick’ to Henry de Newburgh. Almost three centuries later Caeser’s Tower and the dungeons were added, followed by Guy’s Tower making it one of the largest stone castles in the country. The dungeons contain a fascinating, if rather gruesome, display of torture instruments. Other displays around the castle include ‘the King maker’ which shows how medieval households prepared for battle and the ‘Royal Weekend Party’, which features a turn-of-the-century weekend party. Both exhibits are the work of Madam Tussaud’s waxworks and the castle is owned by the Tussaud Group.
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