Summary
Warwickshire’s county town is a refined locale situated along the River Avon, with origins tracing back to the 10th century. Historically, Warwick was established by the sister of the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Elder and, by 1088, it became the residence of the Earls of Warwick. Their castle serves as a symbol of 14th-century military architecture, while also providing an exciting experience for families.
Following a fire in the late 17th century, the town transformed its terrace of flat-fronted townhouses and several monuments, including the Market Hall and the Collegiate Church of St Mary, adopting a Gothic style. An earlier architectural gem is the Lord Leycester Hospital, while a nearby train stop leads to Royal Leamington Spa, a prominent Regency resort.
Let us delve into the highlights of Warwick:
1. Warwick Castle
Initially constructed by William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest, Warwick Castle has preserved its impressive 14th-century military structure. The castle’s town-facing wing was fortified during the Hundred Years’ War, and the iconic Caesar’s and Guy’s Towers remain as sentinels.
Incorporating elements from French castle design, both towers feature machicolations, with the Caesar’s Tower showcasing a double parapet. After the 17th century, the castle transitioned from military function to a grand residence for the influential Earls of Warwick, complemented by gardens designed by Capability Brown.
The Great Hall and State Rooms reflect the Earls’ affluence, while the castle’s ramparts provide expansive views over the picturesque Warwickshire countryside. The site is managed by Merlin Entertainment, a theme park brand, which hosts jousting tournaments, birds of prey exhibitions, and features an 18-metre trebuchet that launches flaming projectiles.
2. Mill Garden
This charming half-acre garden, situated between the River Avon and Warwick Castle, has belonged to the Measures family since 1938 and was shaped under the 60-year stewardship of Arthur Measures. Located along the route of the Old Castle Bridge, which succumbed to flood damage in the 18th century, the remaining arches are now adorned with grass and flowers.
The imposing Caesar’s Tower stands on the opposite side, creating a picturesque setting. The garden features stone pathways, abundant benches, and a secluded arbor overlooking the remnants of the bridge.
3. Lord Leycester Hospital
This enchanting Grade I-listed assembly of half-timbered buildings has served as a retirement residence for former servicemen since the 16th century. The elegant structures date back to a century earlier when they were originally constructed as living quarters, meeting halls, and dining facilities for the newly amalgamated Guilds of St George and the Blessed Virgin.
The Great Hall hosted a banquet for King James I in the 17th century, which ultimately burdened Warwick with a decade of debt. Additionally, the Chapel of St James the Great, which dates to the 1380s, stands as a testament to the historical significance of the site. A guided tour of the complex includes a stroll through the garden, featuring a 2,000-year-old stone urn from an Egyptian nilometer.
4. Collegiate Church of St Mary
Alongside the castle, the 40-metre tower of St Mary’s Church forms a prominent silhouette on Warwick’s skyline. Despite its Gothic design, the tower and nave were constructed at the turn of the 18th century when Baroque style was prevalent. The Medieval church was largely dismantled during the Great Fire of Warwick in 1693; however, the stunning Beauchamp Chapel survived and remains a masterpiece of Medieval artistry.
Even older is the Norman crypt, originating from the 1120s and housing one of only two original ducking stools in the UK. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to ascend the 134 steps to the top of the tower for a panoramic view.
5. St Nicholas Park
This former meadow adjacent to the River Avon was transformed into a park for Warwick following the Second World War and is filled with recreational facilities during the summer months. Visitors can enjoy a small amusement park with rides, a mini-golf course, a skateboard/BMX area, a paddling pool, a leisure centre, and a quaint tea shop featuring a thatched roof.
The eastern section of St Nicholas Park offers open playing fields for sports and recreation, while the western area encompasses formal pathways and flowerbeds. At the Avon, individuals can rent rowboats or canoes, providing remarkable views of Warwick Castle beyond the treetops.
6. St John’s House Museum
This attractive Jacobean residence near Warwick’s town centre commenced construction in 1626, although the site’s roots extend much further back to the Hospital of St John the Baptist in the 12th century. In the 17th century, St John’s House served as the home of the Stoughton family before it transitioned into a school and subsequently offices for the War Department during the Second World War.
Since 1960, the building has housed the Warwickshire Museum, featuring a Victorian classroom with preserved furnishings, a Victorian kitchen, and an exhibition showcasing fashion trends throughout the ages. The upper floor consists of a museum dedicated to the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers.
7. Market Hall Museum
Constructed during the late 17th century, Warwick’s elegant market hall has been utilized since the mid-19th century for exhibitions of regional natural history and archaeology. The Market Hall Museum is part of the Warwickshire Museum, alongside St John’s House, and has recently undergone updates with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Among its highlights are Oisin the Deer, the skeleton of a prehistoric Giant Irish Elk that roamed Eurasia until approximately 7,700 years ago. The Sheldon Tapestry, woven in the 1580s for Ralph Sheldon’s residence, is noteworthy and occupies an entire wall, depicting a detailed map of Warwickshire.
8. Hatton Locks
For those seeking an expedition into Warwickshire’s countryside, a trek along the towpath of the Grand Union Canal leads two miles from Warwick to a series of 21 locks, established in 1799. These locks facilitated the passage of barges carrying commodities such as sugar, tea, spices, and coal over a 45-metre ascent.
For barge workers, this flight posed a significant challenge, earning it the nickname “Stairway to Heaven” due to the easier terrain following the climb, where workers were compensated upon arrival in Birmingham. The locks remain operational, offering the opportunity to witness holiday barges traversing the flight.
9. Hill Close Gardens
Perched on a hillside overlooking Warwick Racecourse, Hill Close Gardens is an outdoor attraction with a compelling history. These 16 individual Victorian gardens were established to provide green space for residents of townhouses lacking their own gardens.
Each plot is bordered by walls or hedges and includes a lockable gate. Many gardens feature pavilions and summerhouses, allowing families to spend entire days enjoying their plots. Four of these houses are now heritage-listed, and following a period of neglect, a local trust has worked to restore them to their Victorian splendor.
Every plot reflects the character of its 19th-century owner, and visitors can find a nursery selling plants cultivated within these gardens.
10. Royal Leamington Spa
Merely a four-minute train ride away, it is worthwhile to explore this elegant spa town adjacent to Warwick. Royal Leamington Spa emerged in the 18th century following claims of the healing properties of its waters.
Visitors are drawn to the splendid Regency architecture found throughout the center, including Lansdowne Circus, Regent Street, Clarendon Square, and much of the northern and southern Parade. The town’s architectural splendor is mirrored in its upscale bakeries, smoothie shops, tailors, boutiques, and high-end stores such as House of Fraser.
A notable site is the grand Royal Pump Rooms, now accommodating a museum detailing the history of the spa.
11. Jephson Gardens
A must-visit in Leamington Spa, Jephson Gardens provides an opportunity for relaxation alongside the River Leam. Originally an informal riverside path for spa visitors in 1831, the gardens adopted a formal structure as Victorian pleasure gardens in 1846. Since then, it has hosted national flower contests, balloon rides, boating, light displays, brass bands, croquet, and archery.
Currently, Jephson Gardens is a consistent Green Flag award-winner, maintaining its classic layout with stunning flowerbeds, over 140 different tree species, a glasshouse, a charming Victorian tea pavilion, a sensory garden, and seasonal performances by brass bands during summer.
12. Charlecote Park
Under the stewardship of the National Trust, Charlecote Park is a remarkable country house dating back to the mid-1500s. Throughout subsequent centuries, the house underwent various alterations reflecting changing architectural styles until the 19th century when it was restored to an Elizabethan revival aesthetic. The impressive gatehouse has remained unchanged since the 16th century.
The queen herself took residence in a room that is now the drawing room, while the Great Hall is adorned with four centuries of portraits belonging to the Lucy family, the land’s owners from 1247 to 1946. A notable painting of George Lucy from 1760 is attributed to Thomas Gainsborough.
Exploring the Library, Drawing Room, Billiard Room, and Dining Room reveals period furniture, a contemporary portrait of Elizabeth I, and unique artifacts, including a correspondence from Oliver Cromwell summoning Richard Lucy to Parliament.
13. Guy’s Cliffe House
Located on the Avon just before its bend around Warwick are the remnants of a once-splendid manor house. Guy’s Cliffe House carries a troubling history; it was established by Samuel Greatheed, one of England’s wealthiest slave traders, and was likely constructed by enslaved individuals brought in from the Caribbean.
Carvings found in the chalk caves on the property have been attributed to these enslaved people, who likely utilized the caves as dormitories. The house fell into disrepair following the Second World War and suffered extensive fire damage in the early 1990s.
Guided tours of the site reveal features like the intact chapel, which has served Masonic ceremonies since the 1950s and is home to a statue of Guy of Warwick, the legendary Medieval figure after whom Guy’s Cliffe is named.
14. Kenilworth Castle
Situated five miles from Warwick are the ruins of one of the grandest structures from Elizabethan England. Kenilworth Castle has Norman roots, serving as a semi-royal palace that underwent enhancement over centuries. Edward II was dethroned within its walls during the 14th century, and in the years preceding, Kenilworth Castle endured the longest siege in history during the Second Barons’ War, lasting an impressive six months.
The castle’s prominence peaked in the 16th century when the Earl of Leicester transformed it into an opulent Renaissance palace to host Queen Elizabeth I in 1575. Visitors have the opportunity to ascend the tower where Elizabeth stayed, wander through the Elizabethan Gardens, explore the Medieval keep and Great Hall, and view exhibitions within the intact gatehouse and Tudor stables.
15. Warwick Arts Centre
Located on the Warwick University campus, a brief journey towards Coventry unveils the largest performing arts complex in the UK, excluding London’s Barbican. The centre features two theatres, a concert hall, a cinema, an art gallery, and several smaller venues.
With a strong focus on the arts, Warwick University showcases a diverse array of high-quality productions; visitors may enjoy a performance from an international theatrical company one evening, and a student-led production the next. Concerts vary from Shakespearean choral interpretations to lunchtime classical ensembles in the summer, alongside well-known touring bands and tribute acts.
The cinema screens independent films, classic masterpieces by directors like Ingmar Bergman, and a variety of lesser-known films.
