Warwick

Understand

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

Getting there

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.

Getting 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, 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. (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 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. (updated Apr 2023) 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 hospi

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) 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. Oken Tea Rooms, 20 Castle Street CV34 4BP (walk from Warwick Station towards St Johns, up Smith Street, along High Street and turn left after the junction with Church Street), ☏ +44 1926 499307. 10AM-5PM. Traditional tea rooms in a 15th-century building. It has been slightly modernised but retains high quality of food and shop for loose leaf tea and other goodies. Excellent cakes, sandwiches and scones. (updated Aug 2025)

Drink & nightlife

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)

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)

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.