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Welcome to Warwick

Explore Leamington Spa

Explore Leamington Spa

Content contributed by our student Welcome Helpers

Royal Leamington Spa – known as ‘Leam’ by locals – is a picturesque regency town located in the heart of Warwickshire and is less than 10 miles from campus. Named after the River Leam, which flows through the town, Leamington Spa’s growth was largely due to the natural spa springs that were discovered and commercialised in the 19th century. Now, it is a popular town for Warwick students to live in or go out in... you will definitely notice the strong student community when you visit Leamington!

How to reach Leamington Spa

  • By Car: A 20-25 minute drive from main campus following the A46 and Kenilworth Road.
  • By Public Transport: Take the U1/U2 bus (Stagecoach) or 11 (National Express). Keep in mind that the Stagecoach buses usually take around 15-20 minutes while the National Express bus takes around half an hour as it passes through Kenilworth.

Points of Interest

A wide open green space, with a tranquil lake in the middle. The lush grass makes it feel like late Spring.

ParksLink opens in a new window

Jephson Gardens is a beautiful Victorian park in the centre of Leamington and the perfect place for a relaxing stroll or picnic with friends! There’s lots to be found within the Gardens, such as the Glasshouse, with a variety of interesting tropical plants, a goldfish pond and an observation beehive, a sensory garden, the Aviary Café, and sometimes outdoor summer theatre productions and band performances. You can watch more theatre productions (as well as films) just across the road, too, at the Royal Spa Centre. Newbold Comyn is another lovely place to walk and the perfect spot for sledging in the winter! On the outskirts of Leamington you can find another park, Victoria Park, which has tennis courts, a skate park, and some of England’s best bowling greens.

The white façade of the shops on the street is clean and bright, reflecting the summer sun. The architecture appears to be in a classic style that harks back to the Victorian era. People walk happily across the street towards the shops. In the foreground of the picture is a bush with pink and white flowers in complete bloom, making the picture have a feeling of freshness and new life.

The ParadeLink opens in a new window

The Parade is the town’s main street and central shopping hub with lots of shops and restaurants; from brands like H&M and River Island to local businesses and more. On the Parade you’ll also find the Royal Priors Shopping Centre – a relaxed shopping environment with a mix of high street stores and unique boutiques. More shops can be found elsewhere on the outskirts of Leamington Spa. Like the Leamington Shopping Park, which sports some bigger stores like TK Maxx, New Look, Next and M&S, as well as a large Sainsbury’s and Aldi. The Tenpin bowling alley is just across the road from the shopping park, too!

Food and Drink

You’ll find lots of restaurants in Regent Court, but also on Regent Street and along the Parade.

Other activities

  • The Dice Box Board Game CaféLink opens in a new window - Located just off the Parade, on Regent Street. This is Warwickshire’s first dedicated board game café, you’ll find nearly 700 games, and you can play as many as you like!
  • The Royal Pump Rooms and its GardensLink opens in a new window - where you’ll find the Leamington Library and the Royal Pump Rooms Art Gallery and Museum, which holds a collection of over 12,000 objects (including fine and decorative arts as well as items relating to local and social history) and provides exhibitions in the visual arts and about the history of the town.

Areas nearby

Coventry

The University of Warwick is situated within the city of Coventry. A vibrant, multicultural and diverse place which was the UK's City of Culture in 2021. Only a bus ride away, it is worth exploring the city centre and all it has to offer.

Leamington Spa

Royal Leamington Spa is a picturesque regency town located in the heart of Warwickshire and is less than 10 miles from campus. Named after the River Leam, which flows through the town, Leamington Spa’s growth was largely due to the natural spa springs that were discovered and commercialised in the 19th century.

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