Warwick Castle is just 8 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon and one of England's best-preserved medieval castles, a 14th-century fortress on a bend of the Avon that houses outstanding collections of armour and weapons, state rooms furnished with paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, and a trebuchet firing display in the courtyard. The Merlin Entertainments ownership has added considerable family appeal without diminishing the castle's historic grandeur. Hotels in Stratford provide an excellent dual base for both the Shakespeare heritage and Warwick Castle.