Warwick (pronounced "WORR-ick") is the historic county town of the English county of Warwickshire, standing on the River Avon. Its chief landmark is the well-preserved medieval castle.

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle painted by Canaletto in 1751

Plan of the castle

Get in

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 to Warwick takes about an hour, changing either in Birmingham or Leamington Spa.

By train

Direct trains run between Warwick and London Marylebone (90 mins), Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street stations (30 mins), and Stratford-upon-Avon (30 mins), all operated by Chiltern Railways . Other long distance services involve changing in Birmingham or Leamington Spa.

2 Warwick station is central and near the main sights. 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.

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.

See

• 1 Warwick Castle, CV34 6AH. Daily Oct-Mar 10:00-17:00, Apr-Sep 10:00-18:00. Medieval fortress, now part of Merlin Entertainments, who also run Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers, Legoland, Chessington, Blackpool Tower . . . so 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. Demand-priced: adult day-ticket from £18 online, £27 walk-up, annual pass £25. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Lord Leycester Hospital, High Street CV34 4BH, ☏ +44 1926 491422. Tue-Sun Apr-Sep 10:00-17:00, Oct-Mar to 16:00. "Hospital" here means hospitality, shelter or hospice. The oldest parts are Norman, but since Elizabethan times it's been - and remains - a retirement home for ex-servicemen. Charming set of 14th C timber-framed buildings, the main areas being the Guildhall, Brethrens' Kitchen, and Knot Garden. Adults £8.50. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Collegiate Church of St Mary, Old Square CV34 4RA, ☏ +44 1926 403940. M-Sa 100:00-16:30, Su 12:30-16:30. Founded in the 12th C; the fine 14th C Beauchamp chapel is the burial place of the Earls of Warwick. The Nave and Tower were rebuilt 17th C after the Great Fire. Free, donations please; £3 to climb Tower. (updated May 2018)
• 4 Market Hall Museum (Warwickshire Museum), Market Place CV34 4SA. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, plus Apr-Sep Su 10:00-1700. Early life in the city and surrounding country. Free. (updated May 2018)
• 5 St John's House Museum, St Johns CV34 4NF. Apr-Sep M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Nov-Mar Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00. Set in a Jacobean mansion, this is only open school holidays - term time it's booked out for school use. It covers Victorian life, and incorporates the museum of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment of Fusiliers. Free. (updated May 2018)

Further out

• 6 St. Giles Church, Chesterton CV33 9LG (7 miles SE of Warwick. By car take Harbury Lane, becomes Chesterton Rd, turn right onto Windmill Hill Lane, then left onto The Green), ☏ +44 1494 718773, info@chestertonparish.org.uk. This striking castle of a church was founded in the 11th century and restored in the 19th century. It used to serve the village of Chesterton, but the population died or fled when the plague hit in the 13th century. (updated May 2018)
• 7 British Motor Museum, Banbury Road, Gaydon CV35 0BJ (8 miles SE of Warwick, exit M40 at Jcn 12, take B4451 / B4100). Daily 10:00-17:00. World's largest collection of historic British cars. Adult £14, family £39, extra for events. (updated May 2018)

Do

• 1 Warwick Racecourse, Hampton Street, CV34 6HN. This is nowadays a National Hunt course ie "steeple-chasing" or jumps / 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)

Drink

• 1 The Wild Boar, 27 Lakin Rd CV34 5BU (100 m N of Warwick railway station), ☏ +44 1926 499968. Mo-Th 12:00-23:30, Fr Sa 12:00-00:30, Su 12:00-22:30. 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. 
• 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

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

Warwick is a prime jumping off point for visits to nearby Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Routes through Warwick

Birmingham ← ←	NW  SE	→ Banbury → London
Stratford-upon-Avon ← Leamington Spa ←	SW  NE	→ Kenilworth → Coventry