I'm all for getting to wonder around a castle and find the hidden pathways items of the time period…read moreand the history because right here it's full of it! First off if you plan on coming here on the weekend like my visit was then Rope Drop it because about 2hrs into my visit it was super busy and I was able to get the majority of it done without dealing with the crowd which in my opinion made my experience totally worth coming here! So thankfully I choose to visit inside the castle and see all the items on display as well as the different rooms they have set up to different people who lived here showcasing how they lived and what their setup was making for a total history vibe! The castle also features a few shows such as jousting a bird show a catapult demonstration and more of them I only caught the catapult demonstration as my time was limited here so I made the best of it and decided to go explore the rest of the castle. So when I went exploring I decided it would be a good idea to walk up to the wall and up the spiral stair cases and let me say right there was a total workout as these stairs are beyond small and super winded as well as closed in so bring some good shoes your gonna need them! After climbing the stairs I reached the top of the castle and then chilled for a bit to take in the beautiful views it had to offer by this time I was able to look into the courtyard and see just how crowded it was getting knowing I made the right choice to come up here I ventured further found a few other spiral stairs that lead to different parts of the castle by the end of the second one I didn't see anyone and I was totally alone again and let's just say that was a total vibe as I felt hidden in such a massive structure and I just kinda geeked out for a minute about how cool this entire experience was! Overall very cool castle and experience hopefully I get to come back here again someday as it really just felt magical in it's own way!

It's a tourist-centric experience in a country full of castles that may offer a more…read morehistory-focused and much less expensive day out. £24 a ticket, no matter the age and then and additional £6 to park...regardless of the time of day. If you enter at 4PM you get an hour of the place for that price. Listen, the Falconer's Quest (birds of prey show) is enjoyable - but is that alone worth the cost? Maybe. I will leave it up to you.

Okay, this actually isn't the new house - that is long gone - but what it actually is is a museum…read moreand gardens. Mind you, I wasn't really too thrilled about it, probably because it just happens to be another one of the many Shakespeare themed places that you find here. However, it was small, so it doesn't take too much time to look around.

Stratford-upon-Avon is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare. We toured…read moreShakespeare's New Place to learn a little of Shakespeare's history and actually step foot on the same grounds where he resided. Unfortunately the original house was demolished (for reasons I won't spoil) so a garden has been constructed as a replacement. The estate has artworks and the Great Garden, where a couple of people hosted a picnic or relaxed in the shade. It might have been due to the extreme heat or season, but the Knot Garden did not have a full bloom of flowers. Exhibition room was informative on Shakespeare's family life, although we finished the entire property in less than thirty minutes. Tickets for just this property are £15 each. A Shakespeare's Story ticket for £26.50 includes entry to Shakespeare's Birthplace (£20) and Anne Hathaway's Cottage (£15) as well. Just visiting one location was enough for us so we opted-out of the story pass, especially since Anne Hathaway's Cottage was far out of the city.

Now that I live (temporarily) in Leamington, it was definitely worth a look at the Royal Pump…read moreRooms. The Pump Rooms use to house the water therapy bathing facilities for people. But now that the bathing facilities are gone, the Warwick District Council converted it into a different areas: an Art Gallery and Museum, Library, Visitor Centre, Cafe and Assembly rooms. For simplicity sake, I will talk about each area separately. **Art Gallery and Museum** Admission is free. The Art Gallery is located on one level and the Museum is on two levels. I didn't expect too much from the Museum but I did like reading about the history of Leamington and town's birth. The Leamington artifacts, and the old pump rooms paraphernalia is worth a look. Lots of hands on activities for children, too. **Library** The library is quaint and holds quite the book selection. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and I was able to get a library card quickly without issue. Please be aware that you do have to show proof of address before getting a library card. I also like that their electronic checkout machines! Wow, super easy to use! BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Radio are also located inside, right near the entrance. They make it easy to get books on loan from other libraries on line, or asking the librarians. **Visitor Centre** Pretty much as its name implies there are loads of pamphlets of the surrounding areas, along with some cute gifts. I grabbed some "To Do" booklets about Cambridge, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and the Cotswold's from here. I also seriously considering buying a few British things to send back to the family in California. **Cafe and Assembly Rooms** The Cafe is open everyday, but with shorter hours on Sunday. It's directly across the Visitor Centre and Library you can't miss it. I've tried their organic green tea and Mediterranean pannini which is quite nice, all for under £8. I wasn't too impressed with their coffee, but I'm a bit of a coffee snob. There is also a menu board with their specials and typical British cuisine like Yorkshire pudding and cakes. The large assembly room holds local events, one that we got to visit was an amazing wine tasting! Aside from food in the cafe, everything is free to explore. Check it out!

Originally, I thought that the Royal Pump Rooms probably concentrated on the spa that gives…read moreLeamington its name, but it seems I was mistaken. This is, in fact, an art gallery, tourist information centre, cafe and library. I haven't been in the art gallery (though it is free and they do a guided talk on a Friday), but the library is very good. It is open long hours, including Sundays, and the staff are very helpful and friendly. The selection of books is good, and they can get other titles from other libraries if you can't find what you are looking for. They also have a large number of computers that you can use to access the internet. Once a month they run a 'bounce and rhyme' session for babies and toddlers, which is very successful and enjoyable.

Ragley Hall has been, since 1680, a beautiful example of Palladian architecture…read more(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladian_architecture) . It has gorgeous state rooms and halls, beautiful gardens, and even a playground for the kids. There are some other features of particular interest, like the Ragley working farm, sawmill, butchery, and stables building with a collection of carriages. Worth a look is the Jerwood Foundation Sculpture Trail, in which you can stumble across Fernando Casasempere's 'Under the Forest', Harry Everington's 'Crusader', Antony Gormley's 'Insider', Sokari Douglas Camp's 'Man on Man' and Elisabeth Frink's 'Walking Man'. There's a café by the lake, if you fancy a bite.

Ragley Hall is well worth a visit. There are acres of playground, perfect for a picnic and a family…read moreday out. For the children there is a kids zone, adventure playground with a 3d maze, trampoline and climbing frames which leaves you time to admire the Hall and the beautiful gardens. There is a peaceful picnic area by the lake where you may even have the chance to see a few peacocks roaming around.

What a fun and tacky place! And I mean the good kind of tacky…read more I didn't visit the museum exhibition itself, but booked the Shakespeare tour and the ghost tour they offer. The Shakespeare tour was led by a chap dressed up as, obviously, Shakespeare. He was fun and knowledgeable and the tour through Stratford was top notch! Starting at the birthplace, ending at the grave site with lots of sights and anecdotes in between. The ghost tour leads through the museum at night, in the dark (which was brilliant, they only used two lanterns to light the way) and stories about supernatural things people may have experienced here as well as stories about people who lived and died here. There are no obvious tricks used during the tour, it's more like storytelling in the dark and was a lot of fun! Not super scary, but some visitors did seem quite shaken. I'd definitely recommend the tours they offer as both were great and more than worth the small fee.

On a recent trip to Warwick and Leamington Spa, I visited the Market Hall Museum. It boasts some…read morepretty cool sights. If you're on the hunt for a historical hour or some free fun that's as delightful as finding a hidden treasure, read on for my five stars: * Famous Bear: Let's address the bear in the room first--or should I say, in the museum! The first attraction you'll come across here is none other than the legendary Museum Bear, an upstanding citizen of the Market Hall who has been charming visitors for years with timeless appeal. Don't miss the chance to snap a selfie with this beloved local celebrity! * Giant Deer: As if one iconic creature wasn't enough, the museum also boasts an impressive display of a giant deer fossil (or more likely, fossils, as the bones to assemble this beast were likely sourced from several individuals). Looking at Oisin, the name fondly given to this Giant Irish Deer skeleton, will make you feel like you've stepped back in time to the prehistoric era. * Sheldon Tapestry: For a touch of medieval grandeur, make sure to admire the exquisite Sheldon Tapestry of Warwickshire, a masterpiece of craft and storytelling that will transport you to a bygone era when medieval manors and halls dotted the countryside. Good luck figuring out which way is north! Mapmaking was just getting its bearings in the 16th century! * Interactive Exhibits: The Market Hall Museum isn't just a place to passively observe history--it's an immersive experience that invites visitors of all ages to interact with exhibits that bring the past to life. Whether you're investigating butterfly wings with the zooming microscope or donning costumes, there are many changes to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on. * Free Entry: And here's the cherry on top--admission to the Market Hall Museum is absolutely free! That's right, you can indulge your curiosity and satisfy your inner history buff without spending a single penny. That leaves you a few pounds to spend on goodies in the café or gift shop. Altogether, the Market Hall is a budget-friendly spot that's as priceless as the treasures you'll discover--like Roman coins and a real live bee hive. Yes indeed, the Market Hall Museum is a not so hidden gem located in the heart of Warwick, offering a journey through time that's equal parts educational and entertaining. Whether you're a history aficionado, a nature lover, or just looking for a fun way to spend an hour or two with the family, this charming museum has something for everyone.

This is ok if you like dinosaurs and stuffed dead things. It's free to get in and, as there are a…read morecouple of other museums in Warwick, it's good as part of a day out, particularly if it's raining (because, if it's a nice day, St. Nicholas Park is the best place to go!). The museum has two floors. The ground floor has bones and fossils found locally of different creatures and is more about the prehistory of the area while the first floor has two rooms, one with human history showing maps, bones, etc. with information about local history and archaeology and the other room with a range of stuffed animals and insects in drawers and things. There are bits of information about the different creatures shown and the museum also have there own honey bees. (I think their honey is sold in the museum). I don't think there is parking at the museum itself but there are a few parking places including a large one by St Nicholas Park (known as Warwick Park or just "the" park, local people will know where you mean if you as where it is!) which is only a short walk from the town centre and the museum is pretty much in the middle of the town.

I came here with a friend on what could pass for a lovely sunny day. Avoncroft is a great place for…read morea wander around a variety of different buildings which reflect our history. I have a fairly short attention span, but the outdoor setting and the many different sights kept me on track. I found the demonstration of the telephone exchange really interesting, calling people from old phone boxes was fun, and we learnt a lot about arrows from costumed people by the windmill. The really nice part of this is that unlike since museums, the buildings mostly do feel used and look genuinely lived in- enhanced in some cases by people making bread in an old bread oven and a very nice smelling stew on the old stove. There's a good opportunity to get some local ales and ciders in the gift shop, which is always appreciated by me!

I went here on a gloriously hot Summer's day on a day out supervising a group of 7 year olds…read more Although it's a called a museum, Avoncroft is actually akin to a building 'sanctuary' because many of the buildings on show here were destined for demolition. Avoncroft have painstakingly dismantled the buildings and re-assembled them in this huge historical attraction. After a walk around looking at the outside of lots of buildings, one of the first ones that we took a look inside was a small dwelling from around the 15th(?) century. I helped all the kids up a steep set of ladder-like stairs. We all stood on the mezzanine level which would have been used for sleeping. I felt a little spooked. Looking around I wasn't the only one as the kids were all looking wide-eyed and on edge. Although it was a bright sunny day, there seemed to be a strange and ghostly presence in the house, like the weight of occurrences over the years was hanging heavy in the air. We hurried out pretty quick-smart... The windmill offered a pleasant respite from our haunted house encounter. Inside this working mill, a man in ye olden days costume took us through the process of a flour mill, showing us how plain and wholemeal flour are made from raw wheat. He then adjusted the mill on its base, so it swiveled round. The idea is that the sail can be pointed in the direction that the wind is blowing, so as to maximize its efficiency. There's loads more here and it's a full day out for families, school groups and the more historically-bent amongst the adults.

We visited Hailes Abbey whilst walking Hadrian's Wall last August. Though little remains of the…read moreabbey, the English Heritage organization has created a wonderful, complimentary audio tour that truly brings the abbey to life, helping one visualize what it once looked like and how those who called it home spent their days. We easily spent an hour and a half perusing the grounds whilst listening to the tour, but it can be done in much less time. Hailes Abbey also offers a small museum filled with interesting artifacts and sculptures found at the site. The museum can be tackled in very little time, but is worth a quick look. There is also a very pleasant cafe located on-site, where we had a lovely cup of tea and, later, some ice cream whilst overlooking the remains of the abbey. Though owned by the National Trust, Hailes Abbey is maintained by English Heritage, and therefore free to both members, but National Trust members must pay £1 extra for the audio tour. The abbey closes for the winter and reopens around the start of April.

Hailes Abbey, located near Winchcombe, is a National Trust property. These are the ruins of a 13th…read morecentury Cistercian Abbey. The cloister arches are quite lovely, and there is a small museum on site to learn of the history of the Abbey. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-hailesabbey.htm It's well worth a trip to see if you are in the Cheltenham/Winchcombe area.