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Education Studies

Places to visit and where to eat

The University of Warwick is right in the centre of England, easy to reach by rail, car or plane from all parts of the UK and abroad. It is located on the border of the West Midlands and Warwickshire, providing easy access to the major cities of Coventry and Birmingham, and the beautiful historic towns of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Kenilworth and Royal Leamington Spa.

The campus is located three miles to the south west of Coventry City centre and is set in nearly 300 hectares of natural countryside with lakes, woods and beautifully tended gardens in which you can relax and escape from the buzz of campus.

Coventry

  • What should I do/see in Coventry and how do I get there from campus?

Coventry is the nearest city to the University of Warwick. Famous for its Cathedral, Lady Godiva, and the devastation brought to the city in World War 2, Coventry is an ever-developing city steeped in history. 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.

Back in 2017 Coventry was announced as the winner of the 2021 UK City of Culture, a competition run by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) every four years. For a whole year, Coventry will be celebrated with events, music, dance, theatre, and large-scale spectacles. As well as these big celebrations, Coventry will show its unexpected side, with more intimate experiences and ways to get involved across every ward of the city. Check what is currently on and book tickets in Coventry City of Culture 2021: What’s on.

Things to do and visit in Coventry: Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry Cathedral, Coombe Abbey Park, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, War Memorial Park, St. Mary’s Guildhall, Lady Godiva Statue, Fargo Village,

Restaurants and Cafés: Arco, Turmeric Gold, Taste Vietnam, My Dhabba, Leave it to Esmie, Bean & Leaf Coffee House, Esquires Coffee Coventry, Finneys Coffee, Coffee#1.

Transport: the following bus services connect Warwick Campus with Coventry city centre.

    • 12X (National Express): This express service goes directly from the University to the City Centre via Coventry Rail station (runs every 10 min). The ticket costs £2.20 single or £4 return.
    • 11 (National Express): This service goes to Coventry City Centre via Coventry Rail station following a slightly longer route (runs every 20 min). The ticket costs £2.20 single or £4 return.

Another option is to take an Uber or taxi that will cost about £10-15.

Kenilworth

  • What should I do/see in Kenilworth and how do I get there from campus?

The historical town of Kenilworth is the nearest major town to the University of Warwick. Famous for its castle, Kenilworth is a peaceful Warwickshire town. It is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon either in the busy high street or exploring one of England's most romantic and dramatic ruined castle, built in 1120. Abbey Fields also offer a great open space to spend a sunny afternoon.

Things to do and visit in Kenilworth: Kenilworth Castle, Abbey Fields, The Abbey of St. Mary, Kenilworth Trails.

Restaurants and Cafés: Harringtons on the Hill, The Almanack, Forrest Coffee House, Indian Ark, Pomeroys Bistro, Indian Edge, The Cross.

Transport: 11 (National Express): This service links the University of Warwick with Leamington Spa via Kenilworth (runs every 20 min). The ticket cost £2.20 single or £4 return.

An Uber or taxi will cost about £8-12.

Leamington Spa

  • What should I do/see in Leamington Spa and how do I get there from campus?

Leamington Spa is an elegant Regency town located 8 miles (13 km) from campus. It offers a sophisticated charm rarely seen in other UK towns, with a wide choice of fine restaurants, cafés 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.

Things to do and visit in Leamington Spa: Jephson Gardens, Royal Pump Rooms, Victoria Park, All Saints Church, Loft Theatre, Leam Boat Centre (Go boating on the River Leam!).

Restaurants and Cafés: La Coppola, The Dice Box, Nana’s, Cenu cacao, Giggling Squid, The Drawing Board, Kayal, Carisma Tapas & Wine Bar.

Transport: these services all connect the University to Leamington Spa:

    • U1, U1A, U2 (Stagecoach): These express services go from the University of Warwick to Leamington Spa (run every 7/8 min). The ticket costs £4.50 return.
    • 11 (National Express): This service links the University of Warwick with Leamington Spa via Kenilworth (runs every 20 min). The ticket cost £2.20 single or £4 return.

Another option is to take an Uber or taxi that will cost about £15-23.

Stratford Upon Avon

  • What should I do/see in Stratford Upon Avon and how do I get there from campus?

Stratford Upon Avon, famous worldwide as the birthplace of Shakespeare, lies only 15 miles (24 kilometres) from campus. Here, you can walk the streets where Shakespeare spent his childhood. 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 restaurants, or settling down to watch a play at one of the three Royal Shakespeare Company's theatres.

Things to do and visit in Stratford Upon Avon: Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Gardens, Stratford Butterfly Farm, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, The attic Theatre, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.

Restaurants and Cafés: Royal Shakespeare Company – Rooftop Restaurant, The Cork & Tile Portuguese, Plantarium Café, Loxley's Restaurant & Wine Bar, Lambs Restaurant, Honey Blue, Shakespaw Cat Café.

Transport: Getting to Stratford Upon Avon from Campus is a bit tricky as there is no direct service of train or bus. The best option is to catch a bus to Leamington Spa town centre (Services U1 and U2 operated by Stagecoach, £4.50 return, or Service 11 operated by National Express, £2.20 single or £4 return ticket) and there catch the Service X18 (operated by Stagecoach, £4.50 return) to Stratford Upon Avon.

Warwick

  • What should I do/see in Warwick and how do I get there from campus?

Warwick sits on the banks of the River Avon and is a pretty, historic town with plenty of visitors’ attractions. 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.

Things to do and visit in Warwick: Warwick Castle, Lord Leycester Hospital, Collegiate Church of St Mary's, St Nicholas Park, Charlecote Park, Hatton Locks, Guys Cliffe House.

Restaurants and Cafés: The Open Arms, Dough & Brew, Tasca Dalí, La Mesa, New Bowling Green, Jambavan, lovebread&co, Thomas Oken Tea Rooms.

Transport: Getting to Warwick from Campus is a bit tricky as there is no direct service of train or bus. The best option is to catch a bus to Leamington Spa town centre (Services U1 and U2 operated by Stagecoach, £4.50 return, or Service 11 operated by National Express, £2.20 single or £4 return ticket) and there catch another bus to Warwick town centre (Services X17 or X18 operated by Stagecoach, £4.50 return).

West Midlands

  • What are the West Midlands’ best cultural or historical attractions?

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Cadbury World

Black Country Living Museum

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Library of Birmingham

Aston Hall

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts

National Trust - Wightwick Manor and Gardens

Dudley Castle

Shopping? Birmingham!

  • I would like to go shopping. Where should I head?

Birmingham! Shopping in Birmingham is a genuine highlight of the city with plenty of different options to choose from. Shopping centres include the famous Bullring & Grand Central, the luxurious Mailbox, Resorts World Birmingham and the world-famous home of British bling – the Jewellery Quarter.

From Harvey Nichols, Selfridges Birmingham and the beautiful arcades and independents to our historic markets in Digbeth, the shops in Birmingham offer you everything you could ever want in an attractive and compact space with plenty of great café bars and restaurants.

Take a look at all the shopping options in this shopping map: Birmingham Shopping Map (.pdf)

Transport: Birmingham New Street Station can be reached from Coventry Rail Station, the nearest main-line train station to the University. There are regular and frequent (every 10 min) train services that take between 20 and 30 min.

To reach Coventry Rail station from Campus you can catch either of the bus services a number 12X or 11 from the campus bus interchange (£2.20 single or £4 return ticket) or, alternatively, take an Uber or taxi which will cost about £10-15.

Another option is a small local rail station, Canley, that is roughly 1.3 miles away from the University - it's a 25 minute walk, a short bike ride or taxi journey to main campus. London Northwestern Railway offer a regular rail service going to Birmingham. This map shows the walking route from Canley rail station to our campus: map.

Click here to find out about rail times and fares and purchase tickets.

London

  • If I want to visit London, what’s the most direct route from campus?

Coventry Rail Station, approximately four miles from the campus, is the nearest main-line train station to the University and has regular and frequent train services to London Euston that take about one hour.

To reach Coventry Rail station from Campus you can catch either of the bus services a number 12X or 11 from the campus bus interchange (£2.20 single or £4 return ticket) or, alternatively, take an Uber or taxi which will cost about £10-15.

Click here to find out about rail times and fares and purchase tickets. We recommend that you book your train tickets well in advance as they will be considerably cheaper than tickets bought on the day of travel.

Another option is a small local rail station, Canley, that is roughly 1.3 miles away from the University - it's a 25 minute walk, a short bike ride or taxi journey to main campus. London Northwestern Railway offer a regular rail service going to London (via Coventry, Rugby, Northampton and Milton Keynes). This map shows the walking route from Canley rail station to our campus: map.

The University of Warwick Campus

  • And if I want a relaxing day and don’t want to travel very far, where should I go?

Campus walks: Our campus covers 290 hectares and lies in the valley of Canley Brook, an area of considerable historical interest. Henry II gave part of this royal estate to Cistercian monks in 1155, and, near Tocil Wood, people manufactured pottery using local clay and charcoal. Following dissolution in 1535, the land was enclosed and developed many of the features you see today. Our campus covers four medieval farmsteads: Gibbet Hill, Tocil, Cryfield and Cryfield Grange.

There are a number of short walks, trails, and green spaces on campus, which are available for all to enjoy. Below you will find downloadable maps and useful links:

Places to eat and drink on campus: Benugo, Pret A Manger, Fusion Sports Bar, Café Library, Café Gibbet Hill, Café Oculus, Café Social, Library Coffee Bar, NAIC Café, Red Rocket, Aroma, Café Humanities, Caffè Nero, University House Cafe, WBS Café.