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Warwick is the county town, steeped in history and well-known for the major tourist attraction of Warwick Castle, the finest medieval castle in England. The town centre is small, but packed with old buildings such as the Lord Leycester Hospital, St Mary's Church, and East Gate and West Gate.
In the centre of the town sits the Market Hall Museum and dotted among the nearby streets many antique shops and excellent restaurants can be found.
Going away from the town centre towards Leamington Spa is the historic Smith Street, the oldest shopping street in Warwick. This street has many independant shops and several restaurants serving excellent food, while St John's Museum can be found at the very end.
There is an active arts society within the town and many festivals and events occur throughout the year, including a Victorian Evening, Warwick Folk Festival and Warwick Words.
Warwick Racecourse on the opposite side of town enjoys a full racing calendar throughout the year and offers a fantastic day out at the races.
Events
Download a flyer on events during 2008. Also see the Warwick Town Council website for further details of events in Warwick.
Full list of Attractions
For full details of attractions in and around Warwick see our Attractions Database that lists what to see and do in Warwick District.
Enjoywarwickshire.com Gold Offers
Please also see our Attractions Database for full details on what Gold Offers are available in and around Warwick.
History
According to tradition, Warwick was founded on the banks of the River Avon in 914 AD, when Ethelfleda, Eldest daughter to King Aldred the Great of Wessex, built defences to protect against the Danish invaders. The name 'Warwick' means "dwellings by the wier".
Warwick was built on a small hill which controlled not only the river valley but also the river crossing on the road to London and the road to Stratford Upon Avon. The early Anglo-Saxon town was surrounded partly by a wall and ditch, and remains of these ancient fortifications can still be seen on Ethelfleda's Mound at the southern end of Warwick Castle's courtyard, although most of these remains in fact date from the Norman period.
In 1016 the Danes invaded Mercia and burned down much of Warwick, including the nunnery (which stood on the site of the present day St Nicholas Church).
Due to its fortifications Warwick became an important administrative centre within the Mercian kingdom, in the early 11th century Anglo-Saxon England was divided into administrative areas known as shires, the 'shire' administered from Warwick became known as Warwickshire.
In Medieval times, Warwick remained under the control of various Earls of Warwick, and due to its strategic importance became a walled town. Today the only remains of the town walls are the east and west gatehouses. The east gatehouse now serves as part of Kings High school, a sister institution to Warwick School. Warwick was not incorporated as a town until 1546.
In 1694 a great fire destroyed much of the town, and as a result most of the buildings in the town centre are of 17th and 18th century origin. Although a number of older medieval buildings survive, especially around the edges of the town centre.
The fire burnt down most of the medieval St Mary's Church, but the Beauchamp Chapel survived. It was built between 1443 and 1464 according to the wishes of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick who died in Rouen in 1439. It is an elaborate and fascinating small building and should not be missed by any visitor to Warwick. A full size reclining copper gilt effigy of the Earl lies upon his Purbeck marble tomb - a fine piece of medieval metalwork cast in 1449.
Nearby locations
Attractions nearby to the town include Hatton Country World, as well as picturesque nearby villages and hamlets of Little Shrewley, Norton Lindsey, Leek Wootton, Barford, Hampton Magna, Hampton-on-the-Hill and Hatton.
Tourist Information
The local Tourist Information Office offers a series of leaflets on attractions within Warwick, and is based at:
Warwick Tourist Information Centre
The Court House
Jury Street
Warwick
CV34 4EW
Tel: 01926 492212
Fax: 01926 494837
Email: warwicktic@btconnect.com
Download a visitor guide on the town of Warwick |
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Useful Links to Information on Warwick and organisations within Warwick
48 hours in Warwick
Booking accommodation in Warwick - Link 1
Booking accommodation in Warwick - Link 2
Warwick Tourist Information Centre
Events in Warwick
Download a visitor guide on the town of Warwick
Podcast on Warwick - award winning Shakespeare Country podcast
www.shakespeare-country.co.uk/warwick
Useful links to further information on Warwick
BBC weather forecast for Warwick
Google Map of Warwick
Local buses serving Warwick
National transport links to Warwick
Warwick Car park locations and fees |