county town of Warwickshire, England

Warwick (pronounced "WORR-ick") is the historic county town of the English county of Warwickshire, standing on the River Avon. Warwick has ancient origins and an array of historic buildings, notably from the Medieval, Stuart and Georgian eras. Its chief landmark is the well-preserved medieval castle. In 2020, it was home to 35,000 people.

Understand

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Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle painted by Canaletto in 1751
Plan of the castle

Warwick was a major fortified settlement from the early Middle Ages, the most notable relic of this period being Warwick Castle. Much was destroyed in the Great Fire of Warwick in 1694 and then rebuilt with fine 18th-century buildings, such as the Collegiate Church of St Mary and the Shire Hall. It was home to 37,000 people in 2021.

Visitor information

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Get in

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By air

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By train

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Direct trains run between Warwick and London Marylebone (90 min), Birmingham Snow Hill and Birmingham Moor Street stations (30 min), and Stratford-upon-Avon (30 min), all operated by Chiltern Railways. Other long-distance services involve changing in Birmingham or Leamington Spa.

  • 2 Warwick station, Station Approach, CV34 4LA. Is central and near the main sights. Warwick railway station (Q2693935) on Wikidata Warwick railway station on Wikipedia
  • 3 Warwick Parkway station, Old Budbrooke Road, CV35 8RH. Don't get off at Warwick Parkway two miles west: it's handy for the cemetery and for motorists on the bypass A46, but not for much else. Warwick Parkway railway station (Q372014) on Wikidata Warwick Parkway railway station on Wikipedia

By road

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Warwick is a 2-hr drive north-west from London on the M40. The usual approach for the castle and centre is to exit at Junction 13 and follow A425 north to town.

National Express coaches run to London Victoria (3 hr 30 min), and via Stratford-upon-Avon, Bristol and Exeter to Torquay.

Get around

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Map
Map of Warwick (England)

The main sights are all within walking distance.

Taxi firms are Mark's (+44 7971 792830), Taxi to Go (+44 7771 719393), Taxi United ( +44 1926 888887) and Taxi Seven ( +44 1926 777777).

  • 1 Warwick Castle, CV34 6AH. Daily Oct-Mar 10AM-5PM, Apr-Sep 10AM-6PM. A Medieval fortress, now part of Merlin Entertainments, which also runs Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, and the Blackpool Tower. Whether your heart sinks or soars at this corporate portfolio will tell you whether their concept of life in Warwick Castle is for you. Extra charges for the haunted tower and dungeon, where medieval unfortunates were trapped, too poor to exit through the gift shop. The oldest parts of the castle date back to the late 14th century when the Beauchamp family lived in the castle. Demand-priced: adult day-ticket from £24 online, £39 walk-up, annual pass £49. Warwick Castle (Q941276) on Wikidata Warwick Castle on Wikipedia
    • The Great Hall. The main attraction, though much of it was ravaged by a fire which makes most of the decor inside fairly recent. The Grevilles lived there in the late 19th century. Waxwork figures and audio narration tell the story of the royal party of 1868 with attendees including Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Curzon and Lord Cavendish. One of the oldest exhibits is a 500-litre copper porridge pot. Included with the entry ticket.
    • Clarence Tower. Clarence Tower dates back to the late 15th-century making it genuinely medieval. It takes 500 steps around a very narrow claustrophobic spiral staircase to get up to the top. The view is astounding and you can see St. Mary's church where the Earls of Warwick were buried and the River Avon. Included with the entry ticket.
    • The Castle Dungeon. This experience is £8 extra and has a 10 years limit. Anyone under 18 has to be accompanied.
    • The Falconers Quest. A large bird of prey show included with the general entry. Special with the show is the variation of birds and how they fly so close over the heads of the seated spectators.
  • 2 Lord Leycester Hospital, High Street CV34 4BH, +44 1926 491422. Tu-Su: Apr-Sep 10AM-5PM, Oct-Mar to 4PM. "Hospital" here means hospitality, shelter or hospice. The oldest parts are Norman, but since Elizabethan times it's been – and remains – a retirement home for ex-servicemen. A charming set of 14th-century timber-framed buildings, the main areas being the Guildhall, Brethrens' Kitchen, and Knot Garden. Adults £8.50. Lord Leycester Hospital (Q6679506) on Wikidata Lord Leycester Hospital on Wikipedia
  • 3 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Old Square CV34 4RA, +44 1926 403940. M-Sa 10AM-4:30PM, Su 12:30-4:30PM. Founded in the 12th century; the fine 14th-century Beauchamp chapel is the burial place of the Earls of Warwick. The Nave and Tower were rebuilt in the 17th century after the Great Fire. Free, donations please; £3 to climb Tower. Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick (Q5146959) on Wikidata Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick on Wikipedia
  • 4 Market Hall Museum (Warwickshire Museum), Market Place CV34 4SA. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, plus Apr-Sep: Su 10AM-5PM. Early life in the city and surrounding country. Free. Market Hall Museum (Q15961647) on Wikidata Market Hall Museum, Warwick on Wikipedia
  • 5 St John's House Museum, St Johns CV34 4NF. Apr-Sep: M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Nov-Mar: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Set in a Jacobean mansion, this is only open school holidays - term time it's booked out for school use. It covers Victorian life and incorporates the museum of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment of Fusiliers. Free. St John's House Museum, Warwick (Q7593594) on Wikidata St John's House Museum, Warwick on Wikipedia

Further out

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  • 6 St. Giles Church, Chesterton CV33 9LG (7 miles SE of Warwick; by car take Harbury Lane, becomes Chesterton Rd, turn right onto Windmill Hill Lane, then left onto The Green), +44 1494 718773, . This striking castle of a church was founded in the 11th century and restored in the 19th century. It used to serve the village of Chesterton, but the population died or fled when the plague hit in the 13th century.
  • 7 British Motor Museum, Banbury Road, Gaydon CV35 0BJ (8 miles SE of Warwick, exit M40 at Jcn 12, take B4451/B4100; for public transport access, buses serve the museum access road entrance from Banbury or Leamington Spa - see the museum website). Daily 10AM-5PM. World's largest collection of historic British cars. Based on the heritage collection of the former British Leyland, including brands such as Austin, Morris, MG, Triumph, Rover and Jaguar and many unique prototype and concept cars. The museum also holds the Vauxhall heritage collection. Adult £14, family £39, extra for events. British Motor Museum (Q5738949) on Wikidata British Motor Museum on Wikipedia
  • 8 Charlecote Park. Take a bus to Charlecote Park. A tudor house surrounded by a deer park. Maintained by National Trust. Charlecote Park on Wikipedia
  • 1 Warwick Racecourse, Hampton Street CV34 6HN. This is now a National Hunt course, i.e., "steeple-chasing" or jumps and hurdles, with regular race meetings during winter. Flat racing is no longer held here. The racecourse is at the west edge of town centre. Warwick Racecourse (Q7971170) on Wikidata Warwick Racecourse on Wikipedia
  • Golf: Warwick Golf Centre is a nine-hole course by the racetrack.
  • Warwick Folk Festival is late July on Knights Field south of the castle.
  • Sainsbury's on Saltisford / Birmingham Rd is open M-Sa 7AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
  • Tesco is on Emscote Rd east edge of town, open M-Sa 6AM-midnight, Su 10AM-4PM.
  • Rose & Crown on Marketplace is a pub-restaurant and has rooms.
  • Dough & Brew is an acclaimed pizzeria at 45 Brook St.
  • Fusion Clan is an Indian / European restaurant at 15 Smith St.

Drink

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  • Ronnie's Bar is at 4 Jury St near the castle and serves food.
  • 1 The Wild Boar, 27 Lakin Rd CV34 5BU (100 m N of Warwick railway station), +44 1926 499968. M-Th noon-11:30PM, F Sa noon-12:30AM, Su noon-10:30PM. A genial place with its own "Slaughterhouse" micro-brewery. A wide range of home-brewed and other ales are on offer. Compact and cosy, can feel "snug" ie crowded. limited menu of food but the pies are good.
  • That Gin Bar at 22 Swan St distils its own gin.

Sleep

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Connect

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As at May 2024, Warwick and its approach roads have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

Go next

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Routes through Warwick
Birmingham M42  NW  SE  Banbury London
Stratford-upon-Avon Leamington Spa  SW  NE  Kenilworth Coventry


This city travel guide to Warwick is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.