robinray

Hello, I am planning a trip to England with my two teen children, age 13 and 15. We will be renting a car in Bath and traveling up to see Warwick Castle and on to York. My son is very interested in medieval history and I would love to know if there are any battle reenactments that would be happening anywhere around or along our route up to York. (is there a reenactment at Warwick Castle?)

Also, are there any other points of interest that you might recommend we stop and see along our journey?

I think we might have stop for the night along this route. Would anyone have a recommendation of a fun place to stop for the night?

thank you!!

PalenQ

Stratford-upon-Avon - give the kids a bit different cultural experience than battles - actually a sweet regional town that is really close to Warwick Castle.

annhig

Kenilworth - a real castle, knocked down by Henry V111.

take a look at the website for Warwick Castle - loads happening, depending on when you are there.

the Lord Leycester hospital in Warwick is old, and very interesting.

janisj

I was with you until I got to the "<i>I think we might have stop for the night along this route. </i>" bit . . .

No <i>might</i> in it. Just stay in/near Warwick. Warwick and Warwick Castle is about 1/2 a day's worth and the drive up from Bath will take about 2.5 hours. So even if you leave right after breakfast -- you won't get to the Castle until nearly noon.

By spending the night in the area, you can squeeze in some time in Stratford in the late afternoon or next morning. The next day you can drive on to York. Not really possible to tell you about re-enactments w/o your exact dates. They don't happen every day -- and they are usually on weekends.

There are some demos at Warwick most days -- but not what you'd call battle re-enactments

janisj

Oh - and yes definitely stop at Kenilworth on your way out of Warwick.

robinray

Thank you so much for your advice. I will plan to stop for the night near Warwick (and see that area) before continuing on to York the next day. Any lodging recommendations?
thanks again!

ron

This website might help you track down re-enactments:

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/LivingHistory.htm

PalenQ

Not much in Warwick itself IME - small boring town other than the castle - at least my take.

janisj

"<i>Not much in Warwick itself IME - small boring town other than the castle - at least my take.</i>"

Perhaps you didn't venture very far from the castle car park, The above mentioned Lord Leycester Hospital is wonderful and a really unique site - mostly 14th century w/ a 12th century chapel.

And Warwick's St Mary's Church and its Beauchamp Chapel are truly awe inspiring. The Beauchamp Chapel is considered by many the best medieval chapel in the entire country.

http://www.lordleycester.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4063535...7606365128798/

janisj

But then I guess some would consider those sorts of places <i>boring</i> . . . .

flanneruk

Yup.

The finest medieval and Tudor buildings in the English speaking world are just cheap junk compared to an episode of Coronation Street.

And how can the Beauchamp Chapel possibly compare with the joys of the Blackpool Yates' Wine Bar?

Pathetic.

Incidentally, although Stratford wasn't given a charter till 1553 (later than almost anyone's definition of the medieval period, which some argue finished in 1485 and some argue finished with the death of our last Catholic monarch in 1558) both its parish church and its Guildhall (in the grounds of the King Edward VI School) predate the charter and are definitely medieval.

Bath really has just one sort of medieval survival: its Abbey was rebuilt just before the Reformation.

But the densest concentration in England of medieval buildings (the Tudors had no sentimentality about sweeping away practically everything, except churches, that predated them) is in Oxford. A bit off your route - but not far.

historytraveler

Once again, janisj and flanneruk are spot on. Bath certainly has its strong points, especially the Roman Baths, but medieval it isn't. Not that Stratford isn't worth a stop but it really doesn't have any medieval associations other than those flanneruk mentioned. Stratford is great for Tudor fans, less so for medievalists. Oxford, on the other hand, has much more to offer a medieval enthusiast. Be sure to allow plenty of time for Warwick Castle and its above mentioned sites.

15th century Beauchamp Chapel is remarkable.

PalenQ

Once again, janisj and flanneruk are spot on>

Well janis is the aclaimed Fodor's expert on the U.K. and I thus do defer to her judgment - but to me I am the type of traveler who looks for something more in a base than some ancient facades that are not all that unique in English towns - I like more the trappings of a real city and Warwick was sombulent - way too sombulent for my desires. But perhaps others would feel different. Again I have learnt that janis is always right so I'd go with her/his advice - seriously.

historytraveler

She's not always right ( we disagree on the positive attributes of Oban ), but she is most often right.

<I> " ... I am the type of traveler who looks for something more in a base than some ancient facades that are not all that unique in English towns. </I>"

What in the world are you talking about ? Just curious.

janisj

historytraveler: I'll grant you Oban is <u>definitely</u> 10000% nicer/better than . . . say Ft William

Weird - One can sing the praises of Ft William but finds Warwick boring? I don't think that can be explained by 'different strokes for different folks'.

PalenQ

janisj, Fodor's acclaimed, seriously British expert - even more expert IMO than the many Brits who contribute simply because only as an American or foreign tourist can you really sysnthesize what a foreign tourist expects, will like, etc. - but janisj continually delights in distorting my posts - yes I sang recently the praises of Fort William but only as a well-equipped watering hole for the Highlands area around it - praised it as a good base. A base with many eating options, hotels, etc. Period. Nothing about it being a great town. Perplexed as to why janis continually does this but she does. Anyway she is the hands-down British expert on Fodor's in my very sincere opinion so regards Warwick I defer to her and her vast knowledge of that place. If janis says it take it to the British bank IMO and I am very sincere in this.

PalenQ

I have an open mind about Warwick, which I visited long ago whislt staying in Leaming Spa, which is actually cojoined Wiki says with Warwick as one city - i scanned all the various photos on Wiki and Wartickt Tourist Info Centre and could see no views of the town center - just pix of the church, very nice but a cookie cutter of many English main churches and the old hospital flanner is on about - again looks like dozens of Shakespearean or Tudor (not sure but the old brown/black wood and white stucco facade type thing like the old hospital sports - I guess era buildings (Stratford oozes in these if this is what turns you on) - so does anyone have any photos showing Warwick as the dreamy town janis makes it out (and again I am not doubting janis - but would like to see for my own eyes what is so so dreamy about Warwick - a town I remember as kind of suburban blah. I am ready to stand corrected so show me some dreamy Warwick pix - thanks!

PS I'd stay in Stratford just a few miles away and stop by Warwick Castle the next day en route to York, by all reckoning one of England's finest larger cities

historytraveler

robinray, enjoy Bath and as I've said allow plenty of time for your visit to Warwick. Good suggestions include a stop at Kenilworth and also have a look at ron's website for battle enactments. There are usually a number of them during the tourist season. The problem is finding a convenient venue. I highly recommend Oxford, but it may not fit your itineray. BTW, York is wonderful. Much to see and do.

Smeagol

Warwick and leamington Spa are several miles apart!!! On your way to Warwick stop of at Henley in Arden for a delicious ice cream at the tea room on the high street ( you will see the cow jumping over the moon sign) there is also a cute little expo about the town next door (which is free) and gives a lovely pictorial history of Henley and Warwick. A pleasant stop for 1/2 or so and literally minutes from Warwick.
Warwick reeks of old buildings and is in deed a cute little town but if time is short then I would wander round Stratford and visit Warwick castle the next day. Also if you park in stratford, check the back of the parking ticket as occasionally they do 2 for 1 offers which sometimes include Warwick castle. I have to say I find Warwick a bit boring!!, but aesthetically it's very nice.

annhig

you're absolutely right about foreigners knowing lore than locals - I had never heard of the Beauchamp chapel and I was born and brought up about 10 miles away!

thank you jj for bringing it to my attention.[though I did know about the Lord Leycester hospital]

it's going on my list for next time I'm up that way.