Chesterton Windmill © TAB
Warwickshire, in the heart of England, is best known for the county where William Shakespeare was born, lived and died. The county has royal connections through the magnificent Warwick Castle and also Royal Leamington Spa - made Royal in 1830 by a visit from Queen Victoria.
The county of Warwickshire is a gently undulating county. A range of limestone hills rises on the south-eastern boundary, which includes Edgehill. The north of the county is the site of the ancient Forest of Arden, of which relatively little remains today.
Warwickshire boasts some of the most historic and idyllic locations in the country. During the 18th and 19th centuries the development of the national canal system placed this area at the forefront of the industrial revolution. The county is also rich in historic architecture going back over 1000 years, including the fine medieval Warwick Castle and the many Elizabethan half timbered houses around Stratford and Evesham.
'All's well that ends well still: the fine's the crown; Whate'er the course, the end is the renown.'
County Town: | Warwick - distance from London 98 miles (157 km). |
Nearby Counties: | Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire |
Train Operators: | Cross Connect / London Midland |
Major Airports: | Coventry, East Midlands |
Major Roads: | M6, A45, A5 |
Highest point: | Ilmington Downs, 858 feet |
Rivers: | Anker, Avon, Tame |
County Flower: | Honeysuckle |
Local Delicacies: | Warwickshire Truckle - traditional round cheese with a nutty flavour. Crayfish and Bacon Savoury - crayfish were at one time readily available in this area which explains the origin of the dish. |
The Meaning of Warwickshire
First recorded in 1016 as Waeinewiscscr. The county town name Warwick comes from the Anglo Saxon terms: 'War' meaning an offshoot from a large farm and 'Wic' being a weir or dam, constructed for catching fish.
Map of Warwickshire
The Midlands
Towns and Villages in Warwickshire & WM
Warwickshire: Atherstone,
Bedworth,
Coleshill,
Leamington,
Nuneaton,
Rugby,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwick
West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry
Attractions in Warwickshire & WM
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
| Arbury Hall
| Baddesley Clinton
| Charlecote Park
| Edgehill
| Escape Experience
| Kenilworth Castle
| Packwood House
| Ragley Hall
| Royal Shakespeare Theatre
| Stoneleigh Abbey
| Warwick Castle