9 Things To Do In Warwickshire

 

From Shakespeare to Jane Austen, castles to cars, there are so many things to do in Warwickshire that it’s hard to know where to start. 

These 9 must-see sights in Warwickshire include a truly mad museum, two cathedrals in one, a tropical butterfly farm and grand stately homes. Been to Warwickshire before? Check out the unusual sights at the end of the article to find somewhere new to see.

 

Discover Shakespearean History

See the most important Shakespearean sights

Stratford Upon Avon’s most famous son, William Shakespeare, still draws crowds to Warwickshire 400 years after his death. Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, a half-timbered 16th-century house in the town centre and hear stories of the playwright’s early life. See where he died at Shakespeare’s New Place, now a garden full of artwork. 

If you’d like to know more about the Bard’s wife, go to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a rural house with a cottage garden and orchards, where Shakespeare would have visited his wife in the early days of their relationship. Finally, visit the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to catch a performance of one of his plays.

Pitch up at campsites in Warwickshire

Stratford Upon Avon

More than just Shakespeare

Stratford isn’t just about Shakespeare history, so if you’ve had your fill of that, check out these other attractions in the city. 

Charlecote Park is a Grade I-listed building managed by the National Trust. Most of the large house is Victorian but you enter through an Elizabethan porch before going to see the library, home to over 3,000 books, and the golden hues of the drawing room. Walk in the extensive parkland and spot the herds of fallow deer.

Fancy getting on the water? Take a boat ride on the River Avon and learn about the role the waterways played during the Industrial Revolution. Choose from a rowing boat, a classic Edwardian ship or a canal barge to see the river and canals with or without effort.

Find more Warwickshire towns to visit

Warwick Castle

A day out for adults and kids alike

Visit medieval Warwick Castle, one of the top attractions to visit in Warwickshire. Take a tour to see the grand interior rooms and the towers, walls and ramparts including the world’s largest working catapult. Walk through the 64 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds and see some of the live entertainment the castle puts on: you might watch a falconry show or a jousting tournament. 

Go camping near Warwick

Stratford Butterfly Farm

Visit the tropics in central England

Hit with a rainy day in Warwickshire? Go to Stratford Butterfly Farm and experience the atmosphere of the tropics in the West Midlands. In the huge greenhouses you’ll see hundreds of free-flying butterflies among the waterfalls, pools and lush vegetation. 

Observe the life cycle of a butterfly in the Discovery Zone and visit Minibeast Metropolis for insects, amphibians and reptiles. See the leafcutter ant colonies at work and learn about the connection this butterfly farm has with the rainforest in Belize and the ancient Mayan civilisation.

Find a campsite near Stratford

Kenilworth Castle

Almost a millennium of history

Discover 900 years of history at Kenilworth Castle. Managed by English Heritage, the castle has gone through several transformations since it was first built in the 12th century. See the Norman Keep, the 14th-century Great Hall and the Elizabethan tower where Queen Elizabeth I stayed. Wander the peaceful Elizabethan garden and then visit the tea room in the old Tudor stables. 

If you’re at Kenilworth Castle, visit Stoneleigh Abbey nearby. The palatial stately home was built in the early 18th century and is famous for inspiring the novelist Jane Austen who stayed here. When you read Austen’s book Mansfield Park you’ll spot the numerous similarities to Stoneleigh.

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British Motor Museum

See vintage motors 

Into classic cars? The British Motor Museum has the world’s largest collection of classic British cars and traces the history of the British motor industry from 1896 onwards. See sports cars from manufacturers like McLaren and Aston Martin alongside cars from film and TV – like FAB 1 from Thunderbirds and a Land Rover that was used in the James Bond film Skyfall. 

Learn more about how cars work in the interactive Under the Skin zone and see the period displays like a 1930s garage and a Motoring Cinema. 

Camp near the British Motor Museum

Royal Leamington Spa

One of England’s finest spa towns 

Leamington Spa was one of England’s premier spa towns during the 18th and 19th centuries. Come along here to visit the Royal Pump Rooms, once the town’s most famous baths and now a cultural centre with the Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum inside. 

After that, see the Regency architecture on Lansdowne Circus, the Parade and Clarendon Square and take a walk in Jephson Gardens, a landscaped Victorian park full of sculptures. 

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The MAD Museum

A hands-on museum of kinetic art

The Mechanical Art and Design Museum displays interactive pieces of kinetic art and automata. Help your kids get interested in STEM by bringing them here to see, touch and get involved with mechanical art. 

It’s a hands-on museum and a full sensory experience that aims to get visitors thinking as well as doing. Download a free family activity pack before you arrive so your children have a challenge to complete while they’re there. 

Need more things for the kids to do? See the best parks in Warwickshire

Coventry Cathedral

Two cathedrals on one site

Two sights in one? Coventry Cathedral is two buildings, one a modernist construction that was consecrated in the 1960s, and the other the ruins of the Cathedral of St Michael. 

In the New Cathedral, see the large tapestry of Christ and the colourful stained glass windows. The Old Cathedral is in the gardens next to the new one. It was bombed during World War II, along with much of the city of Coventry, and was left as a reminder of the conflict and the need for peace. 

The ruins are sometimes used as an atmospheric backdrop to open-air events so try to catch one of these when you’re in the city. 

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Unusual Things To Do In Warwickshire

Looking for more offbeat activities in Warwickshire? Start with a visit to Baddesley Clinton, a 500-year-old manor house with an intriguing history as a refuge for Catholic priests during dangerous times. For an outdoor activity, go to Dick’s Lane Bridge to see a split bridge, designed with a gap in the middle so the rope of a horse pulling a barge could be passed through.

Want to get outdoors and stretch your legs in Warwickshire? Check out the 7 best walks in Warwickshire for some inspiration.