Children and adults alike can get a fun taste of the Tudor period thanks to a range of family-friendly activities at Warwick's Lord Leycester this summer.  

Families will be able to step back in time at the unique historic site, getting involved in Tudor school lessons, creating their own wattle and daube or taking part in two family-friendly trails through the Grade I-listed buildings and impressive gardens.  

The Lord Leycester is one of the most significant medieval sites in the UK - and Europe. The collection of half-timbered buildings was built by the powerful Warwick Guilds in the late 1300s to conduct Guild business from the town centre.

In the reign of Elizabeth I, the Guilds gave the buildings to Robert Dudley, the Queen's favourite courtier, to create a home for the Brethren - soldiers injured in the wars of the Tudor age. 

Centuries on, the site remains home to the Brethren and has recently undergone a £4.5million investment to transform it into a modern, authentic visitor attraction, featuring stories of the heritage buildings and residents past and present, whilst preserving its unique history and making it more accessible to visitors. 

This summer, the Lord Leycester is the place to go for family fun, with a range of activities on offer.

Tudor Family Days will run every Friday and Saturday from August 9 to 31 (image via Lord Leycester)

These include Tudor Family Days every Friday and Saturday from August 9 to 31, packed with activities for children to get involved in, from 'Brethren Bootcamp' in the courtyard - to dressing up and a lesson in the school room. 

Youngsters will be able to dress up in Tudor Costume in the Guildhall, create their own wattle and daub or tussie-mussie - a Tudor take on air freshener - in the courtyard and explore the garden, looking closely for wildlife, or become a bird in the Lord Leycester's bird's nest. 

The Lord Leycester also offers two family-friendly trails - one in its historic buildings and another in its gardens - providing a fun way to explore the unique site. 

The Tudor Fairy Trail sends children on a hunt for ten Tudor-inspired fairies hidden around the Master's Garden, ticking them off on a worksheet that features a short rhyme for each one.

The fairies are designed and handcrafted by local artist Amelia Jeffcock, of AJ Art and Design, and are inspired by the fashions of the Tudor period and the changing ideas of fairies in the Elizabethan times. 

'Children of all ages will love our Tudor Family Days' (image by James Smith)

Similarly, the Dudley Bear Trail takes youngsters on a hunt for seven Dudley Bear Shields inside the Lord Leycester's buildings, including the Guildhall, Chaplain's Dining Room, Courtyard, Brethren's Kitchen, Master's Dining Room, Great Hall and Chapel.

As they tick off their finds, children can complete puzzles and quiz questions to learn about the Lord Leycester's 700-year history.  

Bryony Goodwin, audience engagement manager at the Lord Leycester, said: "The Lord Leycester is packed with stories from our 700 years of history, and we've come up with a range of activities to share those stories with visitors - adults and children alike - including our fabulous family fun days.  

"Children of all ages will love our Tudor Family Days, giving them a real taste of Tudor life right here in some of the oldest buildings in Warwick.

"They'll be able to have plenty of fun while learning about the history behind our fabulous site, as well as enjoying a snack in our cafe and a browse in our gift shop. It really is a great day out."