Attractions
The University of Warwick is located in the Midlands, at the centre of England, and has easy access to many sites of interest. The cities of Coventry and Birmingham are within easy reach, as are the towns of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Kenilworth, and Royal Leamington Spa.
Coventry
Coventry is the nearest city to the University of Warwick and it is famous for its cathedral and the story of Lady Godiva. Linked to the campus by a regular bus service, is a busy manufacturing city (Jaguar, the Peugeot Motor Company) with a population of 300,000.
Coventry and Warwickshire website
Further information about Coventry on the University's site
Birmingham
Birmingham is the UK’s second city and birthplace of J. R. R. Tolkien, and is home of the multi-million pound Bullring development and the iconic Selfridges building. Its proximity to the University of Warwick and its good transport links with Coventry make it a suitable destination for shopping and nights out. Other attractions include the National Exhibition Centre (10 minutes by train from Coventry and one of the country's most popular concert venues), Symphony Hall (home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), and the National Indoor Arena. Birmingham International Airport is less than half an hour from campus.
Birmingham tourist and visitor information
Further information about Birmingham on the University's site
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is the nearest major town to the University of Warwick and is a peaceful town in Warwickshire, and Abbey Fields offer an open space to spend a sunny afternoon. Kenilworth Castle, built in 1120, is located on the outskirts of Kenilworth and has recently seen the re-opening of the Elizabethan Garden.
Further information about Kenilworth on the University's site
Royal Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa is a Regency town located approximately 8 miles from campus. It offers a wide choice of restuarants, cafes, and shops. Riverside public gardens bloom in the centre of town opposite the historic Pump Room, where Queen Victoria drank the natural spring waters with their health-giving minerals in the 19th century.
Further information about Royal Leamington Spa on the University's site
Warwick
The town of Warwick is very close to Royal Leamington Spa. The River Avon passes through the historic town, which contains a number of visitors’ attractions, including Warwick Castle, the Lord Leycester Hospital (not a medical hospital!), St. John's museum, the Market Hall, and more. Warwick Castle, which has played a crucial role in 1000 years of British history, overlooks the town. Standing on a site first fortified one thousand years ago, the famous Warwick Castle is the finest medieval fortress in the country set in 24 hectares of grounds and gardens. Visitors can enjoy re-enactments of battles and gain a flavour of life from centuries ago with the resident band of fully costumed actors.
Further information about Warwick on the University's site
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is famous the world over as the birthplace of Shakespeare and is located only 15 miles from campus. Stratford also offers you the chance to take a trip by canal barge or rowing boat on the River Avon, which flows through the centre of the town. Evenings may be spent sampling traditional British hospitality on one of Stratford's many pubs and restuarants, or settling down to watch a play at one of the three Royal Shakespeare Company's theatres. Visit Anne Hathway's cottage (where Shakespeare's wife once lived), take a trip along the River Avon, see Harvard House and the museum of British pewter, see the Stratford Armouries, or visit the nearby manor and art gallery of Compton Verney.
Stratford-upon-Avon tourist information
Further information about Stratford-upon-Avon on the University's site
Further afield
See what life was like back in time at the Black Country Living Museum.
See the world's first bridge constructed from cast iron at Ironbridge (part of a World Heritage Site).
If planning to look around more of the country during your stay, the following web sites may also be of interest:
English Heritage (an organization that looks after historical sites)
National Trust (an organization that looks after historical sites and land)
Smartphone apps
Those with iOS and Android devices may be interested in the following apps:
Photography by: Terry Lin