Christmas at Warwick Castle
- Jennifer Kozyra
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Christmas at Warwick Castle is an unforgettable experience with a twinkling light trail, real ice skating, storytime with Santa, walking the walls of the castle in the dark and a winter market of festive food.
Wow, Warwick Castle at Christmas is my new favourite. I find the castle enchanting at any time of year, but wandering the grounds after dusk, as festive lights illuminated the ancient walls, was completely breathtaking.
The towering silhouette of Guy’s Tower stood proudly above the ice rink, while rows of rustic wooden huts offered warm, seasonal treats. With the sweet scent of toasting marshmallows drifting through the air, mixed with the cheerful laughter of children wobbling across the sparkling ice. Every moment wrapped us in that cosy, warm feeling of winter magic.
Further into the grounds, the twinkling light trail with the theme of the “12 Days of Christmas” brought a playful charm to the gardens with buttons waiting to be pressed, springing tiny shows into motion as you wonder round with hands curled around a warm drink.
🎅For younger visitors, story time with Santa was not just a meet and greet but children got to help the elves to sort toys, before settling onto soft cushions to listen as Mr. and Mrs. Claus shared magical stories. It was one of the best Santa experiences I've uncounted and one that i definitely would recommend.
My daughter and I spent the evening wandering, smiling, and soaking in the wonder and staying on-site afterwards at the hotel made the whole night feel even more special.
⭐⭐ Af link] book your tickets here ⭐⭐
Top Info
📅 22nd Nov - 4th Jan
⛸ Open-air ice skating
✨ 12 Days of Christmas light trail
🎅 Storytime with Santa
☕ Festive stalls with hot food, treats and warming drinks
🔥 Marshmallow toasting £5 for 3 on a stick
🏰 Climb Guy's Tower in the darkness
👨👩👧👧 Perfect for families, couples, teens, and anyone who loves a cosy Christmas experience
🛌 We live 1.5 – 2 hours away, so stayed overnight at Warwick Castle’s hotel
🌞 Visit during the day for shows, tours and daytime ice skating too
⛸ Ice Skating
💰 45 min sessions from £8
The ice rink is set in a beautiful outdoor spot with the castle and Guys Tower rising behind it, making the whole scene feel straight out of a Christmas film. The rink was well-organised, the music is festive, and even if you’re not the most confident skater, the atmosphere makes it fun and light-hearted. Skating with my teenager was such a lovely activity, just the right mix of laughter, wobbling, and photo-worthy scenery.
There are plenty of skating aids if younger children need them and marshalls on and near the ice to assist you if in need of help. You can book ice skating during your day time visit or as an add on when visiting the light trail in the evening.
✨ Light Trail – The 12 Days of Christmas 2025 theme
💰 From £17
Explore the grounds of Warwick Castle which has been transformed into a sparkling wonderland once gone dark. Over half a million twinkling lights illuminate 64 acres of the historic grounds. You can visit just for the evening light trail or spend all day exploring the castle and then stay for when it goes dark and all the twinkly lights turn on.
We spent an hour exploring, my daughter was excited to see some interactive elements, springing tiny shows into motion by pressing buttons and a projected showcase of iconic moments from the year on the side of the castle was great fun to watch. Half way round is a stage area with covered seating and more food and drink stalls. We were pleased to find some heaters to warm our hands and my daughter found sheets of paper for writing a letter to Santa before popping in into the post box.
🎅 Storytime with Santa in the Castle
💰 20 Min experience with castle entry from £29
Inside the castle, the décor is warm, with log fires and beautifully decorated trees, its wonderfully Christmassy. Although Storytime with Santa is designed for younger children, I visited with a teenager and still found it utterly charming. The experience begins with two delightfully cheerful elves who invite everyone to help sort presents in one of the beautifully decorated rooms.
Stepping into the next room felt truly magical. Mrs Claus captivated both children and adults before Santa made his entrance, appearing from the chimney, no less. He was fantastic: dressed in a rich, velvety red suit with a long, flowing beard, he practically radiated Christmas spirit. Together, Santa and Mrs Claus shared a story that was genuinely lovely to sit back and enjoy.
After the storytelling, each family had the chance to meet Santa, take a photo and receive a small but very cute soft toy horse connected to the tale he told. As far as meeting-Santa experiences go, this one was exceptionally well done, believable, heartwarming and in a beautiful setting.
🍔 Food & Drink Stalls
A good amount of food stalls are located next to the ice rink. They offer everything from bratwurst £8.80, jacket potatoes £8.30 and hot chocolate £5.40 and mulled wine £7 toasted marshmallows £5. It’s the perfect setup for grabbing dinner between activities. Half way round the light trail is a stage area with covered seating and a few more food and drink stalls. There are shows on the stage during the day and this is the best place to sit and eat if the weather is wet due to it being under cover and with heaters.
🌙 A Lovely Evening Together
What made the night so memorable was simply spending quality time with my teenager in such a beautiful festive setting. There’s something about twinkling lights, crisp winter air and shared experiences that just brings you closer together.
🛌 Staying Overnight The Perfect Finish
We live around 1.5 – 2 hours away, and honestly, at the end of the evening, I was so glad we didn’t have the long drive home. Instead, it was just a short walk to the Warwick Castle Hotel absolute bliss after hours of walking, skating and exploring.
To read my full review of our stay at Warwick Castle Hotel Click Here https://www.daysoutandmealsout.com/post/warwick-castle-hotel
🍺 We were also pleasantly surprised to discover the newly built tavern, which wasn’t there during our last visit. It was the perfect place to unwind with a drink and revisit our evening by scrolling through the photos we’d taken before heading to bed. A cosy, relaxing end to a magical Christmas visit.
Press Visit Nov 2025
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