Sights in Warwickshire
-
A
St Michael's Cathedral & Ruins
The pretty cathedral quarter is historically the richest part of the city. The wonderfully evocative cathedral ruins of St Michael's Church Cathedral, destroyed by Nazi incendiary bombs in the blitz of 14 November 1940, still stand as a permanent memorial. The 180 steps of its Gothic spire can be climbed for some panoramic views.
Symbolically adjoining the old cathedral's sandstone walls is the Sir Basil Spence-designed cathedral, a modern, almost Gothic, architectural masterpiece. It includes a giant Graham Sutherland tapestry of Christ, glorious stained-glass nave windows (best seen from the altar), and a towering etched glass front. Look out for the Jacob Epstein statu…
reviewed
-
B
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Start your Shakespeare tour at the house where the world's most famous playwright supposedly spent his childhood days. In fact, the jury is still out on whether this really was Shakespeare's birthplace, but devotees of the Bard have been dropping in since at least the 19th century, leaving their signatures scratched onto the windows. Set behind a modern facade, the house contains restored Tudor rooms, live presentations from famous Shakespearean characters, and an engaging exhibition on Stratford's favourite son.
reviewed
-
C
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust manages five buildings associated with Shakespeare. Three of the houses are central, one is an easy walk away, and the fifth a drive or bike ride out; a combination ticket costs about half as much as the individual admission fees combined. Opening times are complicated and vary during the off season (check the website for details). In summer, enormous crowds pack the small Tudor houses; a visit out of season is much more enjoyable. Note that wheelchair access to the properties is restricted.
reviewed
-
D
Holy Trinity Church
The final resting place of the Bard is said to be the most visited parish church in England. Inside are handsome 16th- and 17th-century tombs (particularly in the Clopton Chapel), some fabulous carvings on the choir stalls and, of course, the grave of William Shakespeare, with its ominous epitaph: 'cvrst be he yt moves my bones'.
reviewed
-
E
Coventry Transport Museum
Down by the bus station, this stupendous museum is every schoolboy's dream. Inside you can view hundreds of motor cars from across the ages, from the earliest 'horseless carriages' produced by Daimler in the 1890s to the jet-powered car that broke the land speed record (and the sound barrier) in 1997. Also on display are motorcycles, buses, tractors and early pushbikes and the car that Field Marshall Montgomery drove to Berlin in WWII. Kids will love the atmospheric 'Coventry Blitz Experience' and the Thrust speed simulator.
reviewed
-
F
Mary Arden's House
Mary Arden's House at Wilmcote, 3 miles west of Stratford, was the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother. If you cycle there via Anne Hathaway's Cottage, follow the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal towpath to Wilmcote rather than retracing your route or riding back along the busy A3400. The easiest way to get there otherwise is on a bus tour. The Shakespeare Countryside Museum is housed here.
reviewed
-
G
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Before marrying Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway lived in Shottery, a mile west of the centre, in this pretty thatched farmhouse. As well as period furniture, there's an orchard and arboretum, with examples of all the trees mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. A footpath (no bikes allowed) leads to Shottery from Evesham Pl.
reviewed
-
H
Lord Leycester Hospital
Leaning against the Westgate like a rest home for Hobbits, the wonderfully wonky Lord Leycester Hospital has been used as a retirement home for soldiers (but not as a hospital) since 1571. Visitors can wander around the courtyard, chapel, guildhall and regimental museum.
reviewed
-
I
St Mary's Guildhall
This hall is where the town's trades came together in the Middle Ages to discuss town affairs. As one of England's finest guildhalls, it was chosen to be a jail for Mary Queen of Scots. Stained-glass windows glorify the kings of England; further down the hall, stands WC Marshall's statue of Lady Godiva. Look out for the medieval tapestry depicting Henry VI.
reviewed
-
J
Collegiate Church of St Mary
Drag yourself away from the castle ramparts to explore this magnificent Norman church, founded in 1123 and packed with 16th- and 17th-century tombs. Highlights include the Norman crypt, the Beauchamp Chapel (built between 1442 and 1464 to enshrine the mortal remains of the Earls of Warwick), and the clock tower , which offers supreme views over town.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm
Bored of the Bard? Unleash your inner insect-lover at this 'farm', just east of the town centre. It's a large walk-through greenhouse housing hundreds of species of exotic butterflies in tropical foliage. Arachnophobes beware - the 'Arachnoland' scorpion and spider section may keep its specimens behind glass, but it is guaranteed to get your heart racing.
reviewed
-
L
Warwick Castle
Founded in 1068 by William the Conqueror, the stunningly preserved Warwick Castle is the biggest show in town. The ancestral home of the Earls of Warwick, the castle remains impressively intact, and The Tussauds Group has filled the interior with noisy attractions that bring the castle's rich history to life in a flamboyant but undeniably family-friendly way.
With waxwork-populated private apartments, sumptuous interiors, landscaped gardens, towering ramparts, displays of arms and armour, medieval jousting and a theme-park dungeon (complete with torture chamber and ham actors in grisly make-up), there's plenty to keep the family busy for a whole day. Tickets are discounted…
reviewed
-
M
Shakespeare Countryside Museum
The home of William's mother is now used to house the Shakespeare Countryside Museum, with exhibits tracing local country life over the past four centuries. Plan to spend more time here than at the other properties to appreciate its unique collection of rare farm animals.
reviewed
-
N
Mill Garden
For a fragrant perspective of the castle, head for the Mill Garden , an explosion of flowers and plants within splashing distance of the weir that powered the castle mill. Money raised from this captivating little corner goes to charity.
reviewed
-
O
Knot Garden
The wealthy, retired Shakespeare bought a fine home at New Place on the corner of Chapel St and Chapel Lane. He died there in April 1616 and the house was demolished in 1759. An attractive Elizabethan knot garden now occupies part of the grounds.
reviewed
-
P
Hall's Croft
Shakespeare's daughter Susanna married respected doctor John Hall, and their fine Elizabethan town house is south of the centre on the way to Holy Trinity Church. Deviating from the main Shakespearean theme, the exhibition offers fascinating insights into medicine in the 16th century.
reviewed
-
Q
Warwickshire Museum
Other interesting sights include the WarÂwickshire Museum , in the 17th-century market building. It displays the Sheldon's Tapestry Map, a woven map of Warwickshire stretching 5m across, which dates from 1647.
reviewed
-
R
Harvard House
The exuberantly carved Harvard House was home to the mother of John Harvard, after whom Harvard University in the USA was named in the 17th century. It now houses a Museum of British Pewter.
reviewed
-
S
Guild Chapel
The Guild Chapel dates from 1269, though it was rebuilt in the 15th century. It's not open to the public except for services (10:00 Wednesday and noon Saturday April to September).
reviewed
-
T
Priory Visitor Centre
The story of the massive St Mary's cathedral, the original Coventry cathedral dismantled following the Reformation, is told in the small but well-presented Priory Visitor Centre.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
Nash's House
Displays in Nash's House, where Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth lived, describe the town's history and contain a collection of 17th-century oak furniture and tapestries.
reviewed
-
V
Shakespeare Exhibition
Tickets to Shakespeare's Birthplace include admission to the adjacent Shakespeare Exhibition, where well-devised displays chart the life of Stratford's most famous son.
reviewed
-
W
St John's House
St John's House is a striking Jacobean mansion with an antique doll and toy display, reconstructed Victorian rooms and a regimental museum.
reviewed
-
X
King Edward VI School
Next door to the Guild Chapel is King Edward VI School, which Shakespeare probably attended; it was originally the Guildhall.
reviewed
-
Y
Warwick Castle Ticket Office
reviewed
