Warwick

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

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

• Visit Warwick website

Get in

By air

• 1 Birmingham Airport (BHX ^IATA). Has a wide range of domestic and European flights. Intercontinental destinations include Istanbul, Newark (New Jersey, USA), the Gulf States, Amritsar and Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. By train from the airport station Birmingham International to Warwick takes about an hour, changing either in Birmingham or Leamington Spa. (updated Apr 2024)

By train

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. (updated Apr 2023)
• 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. (updated Apr 2023)

By road

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.

See

• 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 14^th century when the Beauchamp family lived in the castle. Demand-priced: adult day-ticket from £24 online, £39 walk-up, annual pass £49. (updated Apr 2023)
  • 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. (updated Apr 2023)
  • Clarence Tower. Clarence Tower dates back to the late 15^th-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. (updated Apr 2023)
• 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 14^th-century timber-framed buildings, the main areas being the Guildhall, Brethrens' Kitchen, and Knot Garden. Adults £8.50. (updated May 2018)
• 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. (updated May 2018)
• 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. (updated May 2018)
• 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. (updated May 2018)

Further out

• 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, info@chestertonparish.org.uk. 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. (updated Mar 2022)
• 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. (updated May 2018)

Do

• 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. (updated May 2018)

Drink

• 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. (updated May 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Holiday Inn Express Warwick - Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford Rd, CV34 6TW (2 miles south of the city centre), ☏ +44 871 902 1633. 
• 2 The Warwick Arms Hotel, 17 High St, CV34 4AT, ☏ +44 1926 492759. 
• 3 Park Cottage, 113 West St, Warwick CV34 6AH, ☏ +44 1926 410319. Charming B&B in 15th-century timber-frame cottage next to castle entrance. B&B double £100. (updated Jul 2020)

Go next

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

Warwick is a prime jumping off point for visits to nearby Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Routes through Warwick

Birmingham ← ←	NW  SE	→ Banbury → London
Stratford-upon-Avon ← Leamington Spa ←	SW  NE	→ Kenilworth → Coventry