Warwick Castle Hotel Review: Is It Worth Staying Overnight?

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If you’re thinking of staying at Warwick Castle with the kids, here’s my honest review of what it’s really like, including our stay in the Warwick Castle Hotel and how it compares to other Warwick Castle accommodation options like Knight’s Village glamping and medieval lodges. If you’re wondering whether a Warwick Castle short break is worth it with kids, hopefully my review will give you an idea of what to expect, what’s included with a hotel stay and costs. We really enjoyed our weekend away – to see what the castle itself has to offer make sure you check out my Warwick Castle Guide as well.

Where is Warwick Castle located?

Just before I dive into my review of Warwick Castle Hotel – I thought it would be helpful to share the location and how to get there. Warwick Castle is located in the historic town of Warwick, in the West Midlands. If you’re planning your route, it’s around 30 minutes from Birmingham by car and roughly 20 minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon.

🚅 By train: The nearest station is Warwick railway station, which is about a 15 minute walk from the castle. Trains run regularly from Birmingham and London – it takes around 30-40 minutes by train from Birmingham and about 90 minutes from London. You can also use Warwick Parkway railway station, which is slightly further out but has better parking and direct rail links.

🚗 By car: Warwick Castle is just off the M40 (Junction 15), so it’s easy to reach from most parts of the country. When you stay in the castle grounds, parking is included – just pop your registration number into the machine when you check in.

Types of Warwick Castle accommodation

The accommodation is just outside the main castle grounds in the Knight’s Village, and it’s designed to feel part of the experience rather than just a place to sleep. There are a few different ways to stay at Warwick Castle, and it’s worth understanding the differences before you book as the experience can vary quite a bit. If you want a short break package, with a hotel stay included, check out the Warwick Castle website for the best deals. You can choose between themed woodland lodges, the Warwick Castle Hotel, glamping-style tents or the posher Tower Suites. Here’s a quick overview:

The Warwick Castle Hotel, where we stayed, is the most straightforward option and it’s probably a good fit for most families (keep scrolling down for my review of our stay and photos of our room). It’s a proper hotel within the castle grounds but with a themed, medieval feel. The rooms are set up with families in mind, often with bunk beds for kids, and everything feels easy and comfortable. If you like the idea of staying on-site but don’t want to deal with anything too basic or weather-dependent, this is the safest choice and it works well all year round.

The woodland lodges (cabins) sit over in Knight’s Village and are a nice middle ground between a hotel and something more experience-led. They’re wooden cabins with proper beds and bathrooms, so still comfortable, but with more of a “stay somewhere different” feel. These tend to work well if you want something a bit more memorable than a hotel without giving up too much convenience.

The glamping tents are the most experience-focused option and are usually the biggest hit with kids. They’re themed, fun and feel a bit more adventurous, but they are more basic. Depending on the type you book, facilities can be more limited and they’re much more dependent on the weather. They’re great in summer, but probably not the best choice if you’re visiting in colder months or just want an easy, comfortable stay.

At the other end of the scale, there are the Tower Suites, which are located inside the castle itself. This is more of a premium, one-off experience where you’re actually staying within the historic building. It’s a completely different level in terms of price and experience and, while it’s not what most families will go for, it’s definitely something special if you’re looking to make it a memorable occasion.

If you’re trying to keep costs down, there are also nearby partner hotels available as part of a Warwick Castle short break package, often in places like Warwick or Stratford-upon-Avon. These are standard hotels rather than themed accommodation, so you lose some of the experience, but they can be noticeably cheaper while still including castle entry, which makes them a good compromise.

Our stay at the Warwick Castle Hotel (honest review)

We stayed in the Warwick Castle Hotel and I think it was the best choice for us as a family. First impressions were good. Check-in is quick and simple via the machines in the foyer – then a member of staff will fill you in on where everything is, timings for meals / shows and anything else you need to know. You can check-in from 4pm and there was free parking in the car park directly in front of the hotel. The hotel itself feels modern but with a themed twist, so it still ties into the whole castle experience without feeling over the top. We’ve also stayed with Merlin at both Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures and I always love their theming!

The room was set up really well for families. We had a main double bed and a separate bunk bed area for the kids, which instantly made it feel more relaxed as everyone had their own space. There was a third child’s bed that pulled out from under the bunks if needed – so you could sleep 5 in this room. The only issue was the length of the bunks – they were shorter than at Chessington and Alton Towers so Finn (a tall 14 year old!) was a bit squashed. I’m not sure if this would be the case with other accommodation types at Warwick Castle but it’s worth looking at your options if you’re travelling with teenagers. The central area had space for hanging coats and a tray with biscuits, tea and coffee. Unlike some of the Merlin accommodations this one didn’t have a little fridge. Here are some photos of the family room we had for our stay at Warwick Castle Hotel:

It felt clean, comfortable and practical, rather than luxurious, which is probably exactly what most families want. The bathroom was immaculate and came with both towels and toiletries. One of the biggest advantages of staying on-site was how easy everything felt. You’re right next to the castle, so there’s no worrying about parking, queues or trying to time your arrival perfectly. We could just take our time, head in when we were ready and not feel rushed in the morning. We spent the evening after we arrived relaxing watching TV. The lady at reception informed us that for evening meals you can eat in the restaurant, order room service or have food delivered to the hotel – so there were plenty of options. You could of course also venture off-site to eat locally but we just picked up some bits from a local Tesco to have a hotel picnic. There’s also a shop just off of the main lobby.

Overall, I’d say the Warwick Castle Hotel is a really solid option if you want to make a trip of it rather than just visit for the day. It takes the stress out of the visit and makes the whole experience feel a bit more special for the kids. We found all of the staff we encountered to be very friendly and welcoming both at the hotel and in the castle itself.

Quick pros and cons

👍Pros:

Really easy, family-friendly setup
Great room layout with separate kids area
No need to worry about parking or travel
Splitting the visit over two days makes a big difference
Adds to the overall experience

❌ Cons:

More expensive than staying off-site
Rooms are practical rather than luxury
Evening entertainment is fairly simple

What’s included when you stay at Warwick Castle?

This is where staying overnight can start to make more sense, especially when you compare it to the cost of a day visit. A typical Warwick Castle short break package usually includes:

Entry to the castle (for one or two days, depending on your booking)
Overnight stay in your chosen accommodation
Evening entertainment in Knight’s Village
Breakfast the next morning
Free parking

What facilities are there for a short break at Warwick Castle?

The forest-themed walkways link the facilities together at Warwick Castle – it’s really pretty and very in-keeping with the accommodation. There’s a large restaurant where you can get meals, snacks and enjoy the breakfast buffet. It’s situated in between the woodland lodges and Warwick Castle Hotel so you can access it from either direction. Next to this there is another wooden lodge with a cafe for coffees and snacks. Follow the walkway round further and you’ll see the entertainment tent and a playground – perfect for keeping the kids busy in the evening after exploring Warwick Castle. The entertainment was on from around 5.30-6pm.

Breakfast at Warwick Castle

Breakfast is included with most stays and it’s served in the main dining area in Knight’s Village. It’s a buffet-style setup with a mix of hot and cold options – things like: full English breakfast items, cereals, pastries, fruit, yoghurt, tea, coffee and juice. It’s what you’d expect rather than anything standout but the food was nice and there was plenty there. My son and I are gluten free – we were given GF rolls on arrival (Finn made his into a bacon bap) but there weren’t other alternative items. However, there was still plenty I could eat as the hash browns were GF and obviously the eggs, bacon, yoghurt, fruit etc were all fine. It can get busy at peak times, so it’s worth going a bit earlier or later if you can – breakfast runs from 7.30am – 10am.

How much does a Warwick Castle short break cost?

The mid-week short break offers can be particularly good value for money (from around £40 per person) which means that you can include an overnight stay and breakfast for the whole family for not much more than the standard ticket price! (If you can get a cheap deal it’s definitely worth opting for a Warwick Castle short break with the kids to make your trip even more fun!)

Though the Warwick Castle Hotel or the Knights Lodges Village accommodation options are likely to be £60 per person+, considering what’s included, I still think that offers great value for money. If you book soon you can make the most of their short break ‘second day free’ offer too. (April 2026) The off-site partner hotels will likely offer the best deals price-wise but obviously you’ll lose some of the experience and convenience of staying on-site. However, if you’re working with a smaller budget, it’s absolutely worth considering and the hotels are still just a short drive from the castle. Here are some example prices – though these can be higher at peak times:

Quick summary (which should you choose?)

👉 Best overall for families: Warwick Castle Hotel
👉 Best balance of experience + comfort: Lodges
👉 Best for younger kids (fun factor): Glamping
👉 Best for a one-off luxury stay: Tower Suites
👉 Best for saving money: Partner hotels

How do I book a Warwick Castle Short Break with a Merlin Annual Pass?

A Merlin Annual Pass can be an amazing way to save money on UK attractions, and some pass types also come with discounts for the resort hotels. (Check what’s included before purchasing.) It gives you access to absolutely loads of attractions including: Alton Towers, Chessington, LEGOLAND Windsor and Thorpe Park; indoor fun like SEA LIFE centres, Shrek’s Adventure!, The London Eye and Madame Tussauds; and historical and immersive experiences like Warwick Castle, The Dungeons and even Cadbury World. Kids under 90cm go free so it can be incredible value for money if you have young children. Check out all of the pass options here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

Look out for offers as Merlin recently had a sale offering their cheapest pass for £79 per person. If you are a Merlin Annual Pass holder, and you’d like to book a hotel stay at Warwick Castle, you’ll need to visit the Merlin Holiday Club area of the website. From there, enter your Merlin Annual Pass number in order to book a discounted hotel stay – click here to head straight to the Warwick Castle Merlin Holiday Club page. You’ll still get all of the room options, so you can book whichever suits your family, and breakfast and parking is included for free as usual too.

Is Warwick Castle accommodation worth the money?

This really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re travelling a distance or visiting during peak season, staying overnight can make the whole experience feel a lot easier and more enjoyable. We travelled up from Kent so it was really handy to stay over the night before so we could get to the castle straight after breakfast. If you’re comparing it purely on cost, staying overnight will almost always be more expensive than doing a single day visit, especially if you’re trying to keep things as cheap as possible. But, if you look at the overall experience, a stay at Warwick Castle is worth it if:

You want a more relaxed visit over two days
Your kids will enjoy the themed stay
You were already planning to spend most of the day there
You can find a good deal

If you’re on a tighter budget, the partner hotels are a good compromise. But if you want that “wow” factor for the kids, staying in Knight’s Village is what makes it. I hope that my review of Warwick Castle Hotel has been helpful – we really enjoyed our stay and thought the castle was fabulous. (Check out my Warwick Castle Guide for all the details on the castle itself.) Staying overnight isn’t the cheapest option, but it does take the pressure off trying to fit everything into one day, and the themed accommodation adds something extra that you don’t get from a standard hotel. If you’re deciding between a day visit and staying over, it really comes down to budget and how much you want to make a trip of it. We’re hoping to head back again later in the year for the Christmas event. Have a great trip and click here to head to the Warwick Castle website for more information and prices for your dates.