Warwickshire is a landlocked county in the friendly West Midlands, home to many beautiful countryside areas and native wildlife and birds. Outside the touristy town or two, it’s mostly quiet and peaceful bliss!
If walking in any of the parks, always follow the Countryside Code, to protect dogs and livestock.
An Historic Market Town in Warwickshire
Stratford-upon-Avon is the most visited town in England after London, due to the Shakespeare connection (and especially popular with Americans, which unfortunately can lead to a bit of over-tourism).
His half-timbered house on Henley Street draws visitors from all over the world. The adjoining gardens often host costumed actors reciting lines from his plays, bringing the past to life.
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre sits on the banks of the River Avon. It’s the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who perform works by Shakespeare and his contemporaries throughout the year.
Just outside the town centre, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is the romantic thatched home where Shakespeare courted his future wife. The cottage is surrounded by lovely gardens and orchards.
The River Avon and Bancroft Gardens
The River Avon runs through the town and is a great place to unwind. Rowing boats and river cruises offer a gentle way to see Stratford from the water.
Bancroft Gardens, right by the theatre, make an ideal spot for a picnic or a quiet walk. Watch the swans, enjoy street performers, or relax under the trees.
The Birthplace of William Shakespeare
Few places connect you to William Shakespeare like Stratford-upon-Avon.
Shakespeare’s presence is felt all around, from stage performances at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to street performers recreating his scenes. The town’s old-world feel, with its black-and-white timber buildings, gives every walk a sense of history.
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is more than a medieval fortress. The castle’s imposing towers and sturdy walls have seen centuries of history.
Visitors can climb battlements, wander through lavish interiors, and stroll the landscaped gardens along the River Avon. Seasonal events, like open-air cinema nights, keep the castle lively all year.
Picturesque Countryside and Canal Walks
Warwickshire’s landscape boasts gentle hills, leafy woodlands, and peaceful canals. The Grand Union Canal winds through pretty villages and past fields dotted with sheep.
Footpaths like the Centenary Way or Heart of England Way offer miles of green scenery. The county’s parks and nature reserves, from Brandon Marsh to Ryton Pools, attract walkers, cyclists, and families looking for a breath of fresh air. Waterside pubs provide cosy stops for lunch.
Leamington Spa’s Regency Charm
Royal Leamington Spa stands out for its broad boulevards, Victorian parks, and stylish buildings. It started as a spa town in the 18th century, and its legacy lives on in the Pump Room and Baths.
Today, Leamington buzzes with shops, cafés, and restaurants, while Jephson Gardens offers a peaceful retreat by the River Leam. The town is perfect for a gentle stroll and a spot of people-watching on a sunny day.
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Gardens
Kenilworth Castle is famous for its links to Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. The ruined castle still shows off its massive walls and towers, and from the top you get sweeping views across the countryside.
The recreated Elizabethan Garden, full of roses and carved arbours, gives a glimpse of royal romance from centuries past. The castle’s grounds are popular for family picnics and open-air theatre in summer.
Market Towns to Explore
Warwickshire’s market towns offer a warm welcome and unique finds. Warwick’s Saturday market sells everything from flowers to artisan bread near the grand St Mary’s Church.
Alcester has Roman roots, while Shipston-on-Stour is loved for local food shops and lively pubs. Southam offers a slower pace, and Atherstone hosts one of Britain’s oldest football traditions each Shrove Tuesday.
Independent shops and friendly farmers’ markets are a highlight in these communities.
A Large Medieval Town in Warwickshire
Nuneaton is a large town in Warwickshire, a historic place with a beautiful church and museum, and a park that contains remnants of the old Priory.
Today there is controversy over Labour planning to flatten old buildings in Nuneaton (destroying green belt land) to build new homes. The town has overall poor health, and providing walkable communities and leaving nature intact likely would do more good.
One resident was TV presenter Larry Grayson. Born to a single mother who handed him in a blanket to a local family, they all remained close friends (he lived with his sister until his death).
His beautiful folk-singing co-star Isla St Clair was unimpressed, when the BBC revived the Generation Game a few years back. She wrote that people longed for a show that ‘doesn’t involve eating worms or awful revelations that should be kept indoors’.
The Birthplace of George Eliot
Nuneaton was the birthplace of George Eliot, who lived a scandalous life! Born Mary Ann Evans, she wrote Middlemarch, described as one of the best novels of all time. Her private life was like a book of its own.
Cut off from her family for a ‘scandalous affair’ with George Henry Lewes (already in an open marriage), they remained together for 25 years until his death. Two years later, she married a man 20 years her junior.
During their honeymoon, he leapt from the hotel balcony and ‘sailed over gondolas’, before being rescued from the Grand Canal. George Eliot then became ill and died 6 months later.
