Warwick

On Monday we took a drive to the much-recommended Warwick. Unfortunately the Castle was closed (no surprise), partly under construction and also barely visible without access to the grounds which was a tad disappointing. Which reminds me – Jono, can you have a word with Boris? When we arrived – entrance to all National Trust places was free, then lock down happened, now we are allowed out, but everything is still closed! Tell him we need the gardens opened please.

However, all was not lost as Warwick is a very quaint town with a lot of timber-framed buildings including the 14th Century Lord Leycester Hospital (pictured above) – one of the best preserved examples of medieval courtyard architecture in England and is a charity supporting ex-servicemen. Some great pics and info here.

Warwick appears to be a very god-fearing town. We came across about 6 churches on our short stroll around town and on further investigation, it appears that there are at least 12!!!

Whilst I was attempting to pay for parking (using the phone system I finally managed to set up in Stratford-upon-Avon), a very kind gentlemen walking past said to us “You’re not paying for parking are you??”. Then proceeded to tell us there have been no traffic wardens around for weeks and not to pay – even saying he’d pay for our ticket if we got one. Which brings me to another complaint for Boris – some places we go, “Pay and Display” machines are covered up and parking is obviously free, others – appear to be working and that we’re required to pay (Stratford). Then at Windsor – a parking garage beneath a shopping centre was open (to our surprise) and given that we had to take a ticket to enter, and in the absence of any signs indicating the contrary, presumed we would need to pay (which we did) only to have the boom gate at the exit open before we had a chance to get near the machine to insert the ticket!! Can we have some clarity please?