Warwickshire

Shakespeare fans come to this county south of Birmingham to visit Stratford-upon-Avon but Warwickshire has several other attractions including Kenilworth and Warwick Castles.

Stratford-upon-Avon

In 1616 William Shakespeare was born in this lovely town of old Tudor-style buildings. The Shakespeare connection ensures that this is one of the most visited towns in the Midlands.

Practical Information

Stratford-upon-Avon Tourist Information Centre

Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel 0870 160 7930

Website www.shakespeare-country.co.uk

Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

Coming & Going

BUS

Buses terminate at the Riverside Bus Station near Bridgeway Road.

National Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) buses connect Stratford with Birmingham, Cheltenham and London.

Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbus.co.uk) buses go to destinations in Warwickshire and neighbouring counties. The most useful Stagecoach bus routes are X16 and X17, which go to Coventry, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa and Warwick.

TRAIN

Central Trains (website www.centraltrains.co.uk) run trains to Birmingham (Moor Street and Snow Hill stations) and Warwick and First Great Western Link (website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/link/home/index.php) operates train services to Oxford and London (Paddington).

The Dayranger train pass is designed primarily for Birmingham and Coventry residents who want to make a day trip to nearby places like Stratford-upon-Avon but it can also be used to travel or make a daytrip north from Stratford. It costs £13.20 and gives you unlimited train travel after 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends in West Midlands county and parts of neighbouring counties. It lets you travel to Birmingham, Coventry, Crewe, Hereford, Leamington Spa, Northampton, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent and Warwick.

Because of the lack of backpackers' accommodation in Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke and Warwick it can also be used to make a day trip into these cities from Stratford-upon-Avon.

Accommodation

Stratford-upon-Avon YHA

Hemmingford House, Alveston, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7RG

Bus 18, X18, 77

Tel (01789) 205 513

Sights

Most of Stratford's sights relate to William Shakespeare although the relationship can sometimes be rather distant. If you want to get the full Shakespeare experience then it is best to fork out the £13 for admission to all five Shakespeare properties or £10 (£8.70 HI/YHA) for the three properties in the town centre.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, lived in this thatched cottage 1.5km north of the town centre.

Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 292100

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £5.20; joint ticket to all five Shakespeare properties £13

Open Jan-Mar 10am-4pm daily; Apr-May Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Hall's Croft

This home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband John Hall is a Tudor-style house in the old town that is furnished in the style of the early 17th-century.

Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 292107

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £3.50 (£3.50 HI/YHA); joint ticket to the three Shakespeare properties in town £10 (£8.70 HI/YHA); joint ticket to all five Shakespeare properties £13

Open Jan-Mar 11am-4pm daily; Apr-May 11am-5pm daily; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Sep-Oct 11am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am-4pm daily

Harvard House

The mother of the founder of Harvard University lived in this house, which is now a museum displaying 1500 years of British pewter history.

High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 204016

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £2.50

Open 29 May-4 Jul Wed & Sat-Sun noon-5pm; 7 Jul-5 Sep Wed-Sun noon-5pm; 8 Sep-31 Oct Wed & Sat-Sun noon-5pm

Mary Arden's House & the Shakespeare Countryside Museum

Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother, lived in this house 5km from the town centre. It now houses displays depicting country life in Shakespeare's time and it is also home to Rikki, the Snowy Owl that appeared in the Harry Potter films.

Wilmcote, 5km from Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 293 455

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £5.70; joint ticket to all five Shakespeare properties £13

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm; Apr-May Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm

Nash's House & New Place

Shakespeare's granddaughter, Elizabeth Hall, and her husband, Thomas Nash, lived in this house in the town centre. The garden was the site of a house that William Shakespeare bought in 1597 and later retired and died in.

Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 292325

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £3.50 (£3.40 HI/YHA); joint ticket to the three Shakespeare properties in town £10 (£8.70 HI/YHA); joint ticket to all five Shakespeare properties £13

Open Jan-Mar 11am-4pm daily; Apr-May 11am-5pm daily; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Sep-Oct 11am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 11am-4pm daily

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Shakespeare was born in this house right in the heart of the town centre, which has made this the most popular attraction in town.

Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 201823

Website www.shakespeare.org.uk

Admission £6.70 (£6 HI/YHA); joint ticket to the three Shakespeare properties in town £10 (£8.70 HI/YHA); joint ticket to all five Shakespeare properties £13

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm; Apr-May Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm; Sep-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm

Teddy Bear Museum

Set in an Elizabethan house, Stratford's teddy bear museum has hundreds of teddy bears from around the world.

19 Greenhill Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Tel (01789) 293 160

Website www.theteddybearmuseum.com

Admission £2.50

Open 9.30am-5.30pm daily

Warwick

The small historic city of Warwick has an attractive town centre with Georgian and medieval architecture but it is best known for its castle.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

The Court House, Jury Street, Warwick

Tel (01926) 494837

Open 9.30am-4.30pm daily

Coming & Going

BUS

National Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) buses go to Birmingham, Coventry and Heathrow Airport.

Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbus.co.uk) buses go to destinations in Warwickshire and neighbouring counties. Stagecoach buses X16 and X17 go to Stratford-upon-Avon, buses X16 and X18 go to Coventry and Kenilworth and buses 66, 75, 75a, 76, 76a, X16 and X18 go to Leamington Spa.

TRAIN

Warwick has two stations, Warwick station in the town centre and Warwick Parkway station near the M40 motorway, which is primarily used for park and ride services.

Central Trains (website www.centraltrains.co.uk) runs trains from Warwick to Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham (Moor Street and Snow Hill stations), Chiltern Railways (website www.chilternrailways.co.uk) stop at Warwick Parkway on their route linking Birmingham (Moor Street and Snow Hill stations) and London (Marylebone station). First Great Western Link (website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/link/home/index.php) run trains from Warwick to Oxford and London (Paddington).

Accommodation

There is no hostel in Warwick. The closest hostel is the YHA in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is on the bus route into Warwick.

Sights

Doll Museum

Warwick's Doll Museum features a large collection of dolls, teddies and toys.

Oken's House, Castle Street, Warwick

Tel (01926) 495546

Admission £1

Open Jan-Easter Sat 10am-dusk; Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm; No-Dec Sat 10am-dusk

St John's House

This old 17th-century house has been restored to show how people lived in Victorian times.

St John's, Warwick

Tel (01926) 412021

Admission free

Open Jan-Apr Tue-Sat 10am-5.30pm; May-Sep Tue-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 2.30pm-5pm; Oct-Dec Tue-Sat 10am-5.30pm

Warwick Castle

This magnificent castle sits on over 60 acres of grounds and is a short distance to the town centre. Visitors to the castle can see the imposing Great Hall, lavishly appointed rooms; the dungeon and torture chamber and can take in sweeping views from the towers and ramparts.

Tel 0870 442 2000

Website www.warwick-castle.co.uk

Admission £11.50-14.50 (£8.75-10.75 students)

Open Jan-Mar 10am-5pm daily; Apr-Jul 10am-6pm daily; Aug Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm; Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec 10am-5pm daily

Warwickshire Museum

This museum has exhibits on the history of Warwickshire and its highlights include the Sheldon tapestry map. Other attractions include the usual assortment of fossils, bugs and ancient jewellery. The museum also hosts a programme of temporary exhibits.

Market Place, Warwick

Tel (01926) 412 500

Admission free

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm; May-Sep Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm

Kenilworth

Located around midway between Warwick and Coventry, Kenilworth is best known for the impressive Kenilworth Castle.

Coming & Going

Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbuses.co.uk) buses X12, X14, X16, X17 and X18 stop at Kenilworth on the Coventry to Stratford upon Avon and Travel West Midlands (website www.travelwm.co.uk) buses 12 and 112 stop here between Coventry and Leamington Spa.

Sights

Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle was built 50 years after the Norman Conquest and it has witnessed many important events in English history. It was home to much of England's royalty and at least four kings have called the castle home. The castle sits amid countryside between Warwick and Coventry.

Kenilworth (8km north of Warwick)

Bus 12, 112, X12, X14, X16, X17, X18

Tel (01926) 852078

Admission £4.80

Open Jan-Feb 10am-4pm daily; Mar-May 10am-5pm daily; Jun-Aug 10am-6pm daily; Sep-Oct 10am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4pm daily

Rugby

This town near Coventry is home to the prestigious school where the game of rugby was first played. The town's market takes place each Monday, Friday and Saturday.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre

4 Lawrence Sheriff Street, Rugby

Tel (01788) 534 979

Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm

Coming & Going

BUS

National Express (tel 0870 580 8080; website www.nationalexpress.co.uk) buses go to Coventry and London.

Stagecoach (website www.stagecoachbus.co.uk) buses go to destinations in Warwickshire and neighbouring counties. Useful routes include buses 86 and 87 to Coventry and bus X40 to Leicester.

TRAIN

Central Trains (website www.centraltrains.co.uk) have frequent services into Birmingham (New Street) and Silverlink Trains (website www.silverlink-trains.com) go to Birmingham (New Street), Coventry, London (Euston) and Milton Keynes.

Sights

Rugby School Museum

This historic school educated several notable writers including Lewis Carroll and Salman Rushdie, although it is best known as the birthplace of rugby. The Rugby School Museum has exhibits about the Rugby and the game that originated here.

10 Little Church Street, Rugby

Tel (01788) 556 109

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