Background

Warwick Castle was originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Alongside jousting tournaments, bird of prey displays, mazes and landscaped gardens, the castle has opened a new 60-bedroom themed hotel. To enhance the family experience further, a dedicated play area was developed in partnership with Timberplay.

The Brief

Warwick Castle's objective was to create a play space that would deliver genuine play value, increase dwell time and drive secondary spend, while also performing a marketing function as a visible and appealing feature of the hotel. The solution needed to satisfy strict conservation and planning requirements for such a historic site.

The Approach

Mountain Larch was selected as the primary material - a natural, durable timber that complemented the castle's aesthetic and supported the planning application. In a commitment to sustainability and play quality, Warwick Castle opted for wood chip surfacing rather than synthetic wet pour, providing impact absorption alongside additional sensory play value.

The Result

The finished installation centres on a bespoke play castle that mirrors the spirit of the real medieval structure. A central play tower is surrounded by slides, balancing ropes, a fireman's pole and wobbly bridges, offering children a range of physical challenges. A separate play hut provides a space for quieter imaginative and social play. Despite its compact footprint, the area caters to children of varying ages and abilities.

The play space was deliberately positioned close to the hotel bar, allowing parents and carers to relax while remaining within sight of their children, a practical consideration that has contributed to overall guest satisfaction.

The Outcome

Matt Halford, Head of Estates & Facilities at Warwick Castle, described the installation as having fully met its commercial objectives, noting strong usage during peak family periods including school holidays and weekends:

“We have been exceptionally pleased with the success of the play area. It is very well used and extremely popular, particularly during peak family times such as school holidays and weekends. From a commercial point of view, it has totally met our objectives of increasing dwell time and secondary spend. It also adds to the guests’ overall feeling that they’ve received good value for money during their stay, encouraging them to return in the future.”