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 (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 (updated Apr 2023)
• 3 Warwick Parkway station (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.

Get around

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).

See

• 1 Warwick Castle (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 (updated May 2018)
• 3 Collegiate Church of St Mary (updated May 2018)
• 4 Market Hall Museum (updated May 2018)
• 5 St John's House Museum (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, [email protected]. 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 (updated May 2018)

Do

• 1 Warwick Racecourse (updated May 2018)
• 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.

Buy

• 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.

Eat

• 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

• 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. (updated May 2018)
• That Gin Bar at 22 Swan St distils its own gin.

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. 
• Warwick Castle is opening a medieval-themed hotel in July 2024.
• 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)

Connect

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

Go next

• Kenilworth is dominated by its medieval castle.
• Leamington Spa is an elegant Regency resort.
• Stratford-upon-Avon has preserved much of its historic centre from Shakespeare's time.

Routes through Warwick

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