Things to do in Warwickshire
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Café Bar Inspire
Coventry's Christchurch church was destroyed during World War II, leaving only the spire, which now, slightly sacrilegiously, shelters this bar. This is forgivable as it is very good. It serves an international selection of bottled brews, as well as baguette and salad snacks throughout the day.
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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…
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Royal Shakespeare Company
Coming to Stratford without seeing a production of Shakespeare would be like going to Rome and not visiting the Vatican. The three theatre spaces run by the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company have witnessed performances by such legends as Lawrence Olivier, Richard Burton, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) and former Dr Who, David Tennant.
There are three grand stages in Stratford – Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre on Waterside and the Courtyard Theatre on Southern La. The first two properties were extensively redeveloped between 2007 and 2010 – contact the RSC for the latest news on performance times at the three …
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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.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
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Dirty Duck
If you only have one drink in Stratford, come here. It's almost as essential as a trip to the theatre. Officially called the Black Swan, this enchanting alehouse is a favourite postperformance thespian watering hole, and has a roll call of former regulars (Olivier, Attenborough etc) that reads like an actors' Who's Who. It's in a very pretty location across from the river. The adjoining restaurant (11:00 to 22:00) is good value.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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Kozi Bar
The dark orange walls, leather sofas and deep rattan armchairs create a warm ambience at this coffee shop, restaurant and cocktail bar. There's a sunny garden at the back for the summer and on the weekend it turns into Warwick's only late-night bar playing mainstream house and club classics.
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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.
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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.
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Browns
With a door policy that makes Groucho's look slack, Browns nevertheless is one of the most easy-going, stylish places around. Spacious (you can normally find a seat here) and split on two levels, it also dishes out excellent-value canteen-style meals.
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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.
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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.
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Warwickshire Museum
Other interesting sights include the Warwickshire 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.
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Tin Angel
It's a shame Coventry's coolest bar is the size of a sardine tin (although there are expansion plans), but this is the most hip, laid-back place in town. DJs, acoustic music and poetry evenings are just part of the entertainment.
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Lambs
The classiest joint in town – Lambs skips the Shakespeare chintz in favour of Venetian blinds and modern elegance. The menu includes slow cooked lamb, Gressingham duck and the like, and the wine list is excellent.
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Guided Walks
Two-hour guided walks depart from Swan fountain just by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. An alternative walk is run by the Royal Shakespeare Company on Saturday mornings, and leaves outside the Swan Theatre on Waterside.
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