Yesterday we were lucky enough to be invited to the first of the Mike the Knight weekends at Warwick Castle. We were blessed with glorious sunshine, and it was the perfect day for Freddy, my own little knight in training, to learn all about Mike the Knight's chivalrous code with the motto "Be a Knight, Do it Right!"
The setting for the event is just perfect. Warwick Castle is a fabulous Merlin attraction which is easily accessible from junction 15 of the M40. It is a great family day out with lots to see and do including live combat shows featuring the Warwick Warriors, the Flight of the Eagles show, the Kingmaker exhibition and actor led tours of the State Rooms and Great Hall. Families can have fun in the Castle Courtyard and explore the ancient Towers and Ramparts or enjoy wandering around the beautiful grounds beside the river.
During the special Mike the Knight weekends there are also a range of medieval missions for pre-schoolers to embark on. (These activities are all free of charge and included in the Warwick Castle entry price.) They can practice their archery skills with Mike's Target Test. Jump on a trusty steed and race in Gallahad's Gallop. Go on a voyage of discovery with Sparkie and Squirt in the Dragon Egg Hunt. Build a wall for the Glendragon Castle. Make a Mr Cuddles in the Colour and Craft Tent. Cast a magical spell at Evie's Workshop and even get their faces painted with a special Medieval Mike the Knight design. Each task is rewarded with a sticker and when the missions are completed, the little knights receive a small gift for their hard work. Little ones will learn a whole host of chivalrous lessons such as listening skills, good manners and helpfulness along the way.
Freddy had an excellent time taking part in all the activities, helped by his big sisters. They met up with their cousins, Addy and Dyl, who were also attending the event with their family. Together they embarked on the quest to find the dragon eggs which lead us around the grounds of the castle. They loved it! We visited the Mill, the Peacock Gardens and the Birds of Prey before ending our adventure at the top of the Mound. It was a great way to explore and discover new things. Freddy was slightly disappointed not to see a real live dragon hatching from the final egg, but we explained to him that it had flown away!
In front of the castle is a brilliant sand sculpture depicting Warwick Castle, Glendragon and Buckingham Palace. The 5m x 6m structure weighs in at over 30 tonnes and brings a taste of the seaside to Warwick. There is also a sandpit for children to try to create their own sandcastle and enter a competition to create Britain's Ultimate Sandcastle. Kids can also get to meet and greet Mike the Knight himself and have their photo taken with the CBeebies favourite. The queues to see Mike can get quite long, but at the end of the day we didn't have to wait too long at all.
We really had a wonderful day. There was so much for us all to do, and it was lovely to see Freddy join in with all the fun activities on offer. He is so much more confident these days and loves seizing every opportunity to have fun!
The next Mike the Knight weekend is the 6th and 7th July.
A new series of Mike the Knight is due to air this summer on CBeebies.
Find out more about Warwick Castle at www.warwick-castle.com
Keep up to date with Glendragon news on Mike the Knight's Facebook page or visit the website at www.miketheknight.com or follow Mike the Knight on Twitter @MiketheKnightUK