Explore 14th-century towers, meet the ghost of a dungeon and spot birds of prey at this thousand-year-old castle.

Visit Warwick Castle to explore towers and a dungeon dating to the 1300s, watch actors in jousting battles and spot eagles and vultures. Danish invaders first built a fortress here in 914 to protect the town of Warwick. William the Conqueror developed the castle in 1068 and it was home to British nobility until 1978, when it became a museum and tourist attraction.

Allow a whole day for visiting the castle. Different ticket prices grant admission to the various attractions. Check the official website of Warwick Castle for detailed information.

Explore the towers and ramparts that once protected the castle from invasion. Gaze up at the 147-foot (44.8-meter) tall Caesar’s Tower, then look for the graffiti left by prisoners in The Gaol, on the lower floor. Visit the castle’s interior rooms. Royalty such as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert once dined in the State Dining Room.

Don’t miss the interactive horror stories in the Castle Dungeon. Meet local witch Moll Bloxham and other castle ghosts in exhibitions and displays. At Merlin: The Dragon Tower you can relive the story of Merlin, a wizard that battled to protect King Arthur. Additional charges apply to these two attractions.

Be sure to see the daily events such as a bird of prey display and the raising of the portcullis (castle gateway). There are summer concerts and theater performances, jousting competitions and evening dinners. Find more details on Warwick Castle’s official website.

Take time to appreciate the castle’s 64-acre (26-hectare) gardens. Spot peacocks and explore a rose garden. Kids will enjoy playing on the slides and swings of the Pageant Playground’s mini-castle.

Warwick Castle is located in the city of Warwick, a 40-minute drive from central Birmingham. Parking is available, but public transport is a more economical option. Direct trains run from Birmingham’s Snow Hill to Warwick station. The station is about one mile (1.6 kilometers) from the castle’s entrance.

The castle is open every day of the year, except Christmas Day. Specific opening hours are available on the castle’s official website. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.