What is there to do and see in Warwick?

Jo4

I heard there was a lot of flooding in Warwick yesterday, on the news, has the weather improved or what is the forecast?

Jo4

bylromarha wrote: »

1 lazy day going to CadburyWorld (in Bourneville, Birmingham). Catch a show at NEC/NIA in evening

There seems to be no shows on in the NEC/NIA during the dates we are visiting, am I looking at the wrong websites, if so could you please give me the correct web address?

SORRY for all the hassle.

Savvy_Sue

Looks like the site you want for both NEC and NIA is this one.

Oh, and DS1 says he hasn't drowned yet but there's been a lot of heavy rain!

Jo4

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Looks like the site you want for both NEC and NIA is this one.

Oh, and DS1 says he hasn't drowned yet but there's been a lot of heavy rain!

There is only 1 event then, I had the correct website. :j I suppose it will be like a home from home experience. :rotfl:

bylromarha

Went to Charlecote park on Friday and thought of you!

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-charlecotepark/

It was very soggy and the river had burst its banks, but we managed to picnic before the rain came back!

Sorry to hear the NEC is not going to have a show for you. Next nearest place big place is Milton Keynes Bowl, about 1hrs drive from Warwick if you fancy something there maybe?

Or try Warwick Arts Centre (based at Warwick Uni)? They claim to be the biggest Arts complex in UK outside South bank and often have something good on...coming from a warwick graduate who used to give tours on open days to prospective students!

Savvy_Sue

Warwick Arts Centre - yes, they seem to have a lot of interesting things on - DS1 has been to quite a few comedians!

foreversomeday

Hello! I live in Warwick, hopefully this will be helpful. It's such a pretty town and great for visiting, I always have fun entertaining guests. Here are a few less well known but worth checking out local attractions:

I don't know if they are doing it at the moment because of the river possibly being too swollen but it's worth having a look to see if St. Nicholas park is hiring boats out at the moment. You can hire a boat which you take yourselves down the River Avon through the park which gives you stunning views of the castle. Can be romantic and/or a lot of fun depending on how good you are at rowing! You can do this in Stratford and Leamington too but in my opinion Warwick is the best value for money.

If you like gardens there are some lovely restored Victorian gardens which are free to look round (I think) but they request a donation. This is at the bottom of Mill Street which is pretty in itself and the gardens back onto both the river and the castle.

Something definitely worth paying for if you are okay with heights and small spaces is a look at St. Mary's church. For a minimal fee you can climb the tower (Stairwell is very cramped - hence small spaces) and from the top you can see all of Warwick and the surrounding countryside as well. Great for photos and the church itself is nice to look at as well if you like that kind of thing.

Smith Street is a lovely little street in Warwick with loads of independent shops selling almost anything you can think of. Like a smaller, cheaper version of Stratford. Some nice restaurants there too. At the bottom of Smith Street is St. John's which has a nice museum all about Victorian life in Warwick - though the last time I went there I was about 8 so can't really remember if it's that good. There is a nice walk through the grounds though which leads to St. Nicholas park if you did want to visit there.

Warwick's nightlife is fairly limited but the Tilted Wig in the Market Square has some tables and chairs outside which give a lovely European feel on summer nights and the Punch Bowl is also nice for a quiet drink. Leamington is the place for clubbing but you've said you're not into that so probably best to avoid Leamington at night as it can get a bit rowdy. However Leamington is nice in the day time with the Royal Pump Rooms fairly recently transformed into an art gallery and museum, free entry I think again and they have a nice cafe which is a bit pricey. This is next to the Pump Room gardens which is basically a big field with a bandstand in the middle. The Pump Room gardens can sadly be a bit rough if there's nothing going on with gangs of teenagers gathering but on sunny days they tend to keep to themselves as the gardens are full of couples, children and people generally enjoying the sun. This is opposite Jephson Gardens which has a nice lake and Leamington's own answer to the Eden Project in Cornwall, which is also free to get in. Jephsons usually gets flooded though so I'm not sure what it is like at the moment.

There is a traditional Farmer's market in Warwick on certain Fridays and on Saturdays there is a weekly market in the town centre, but neither are particularly impressive and not really worth missing something else for.

What's on:
http://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/WDC/Leisure+and+culture/Tourism+and+travel/Whats+on/Whats+On+in+Warwickshire/Summer+2007+in+Warwick.htm

Oh - and one more note. Parking is a bit of a nightmare in Warwick, Leamington and Stratford with the Warwick and Stratford parking wardens being particularly vindictive so be careful! Best to ask locals when you are there about parking because to explain the best places here will be confusing.

I hope you have a really good time, and check out the main touristy attractions too because they are worth seeing, apart from the "Shakespearience" in Stratford which is overpriced for what it is.

One more note - I see nobody has mentioned Stratford Butterfly farm yet, which is also worth a visit if you have a spare afternoon but wear loose clothing or layers as it gets very humid in there especially in the summer.

getcarter

What about Hatton Country World, I don't meant the childrens animal bit which is really pricey but the little shopping village outside. You are also not far from the canal so could take a little stroll to Hatton Locks along the canal (nice little (very) tea room).

Or the Air museum at Baginton

http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/location.php

Carter

Jo4

We had a really great time, the only problem we had was that we decided to eat at the "Porridge Pot". It wasn't busy and we got seated straight away. We had a starter which was delicious and we then had dinner. The dinner was not cooked properly, the vegetables were hard, I had gammon and it was extremely salty and fatty.... We had been planning to have dessert but we both felt so sick from what we had attempted to eat of the dinner that we got up and paid the bill.

While paying the bill a male employee approached the female cashier who was serving us and told her that no dinners would be ready for at least 40 minutes as they were going to start cooking everything and that the dinners had been removed. I felt relieved that no one else was going to get the food we had just received and was delighted to be getting out of there.

We both went back to the hotel and spent most of the night in the bathroom. :eek:

bylromarha

Thanks for letting us know you had a good time...what did you do in the end?

Porridge Pot-mmm...OH and I had a rather dodgy valentines dinner there many moons ago and have never returned...so would have to agree it isn't the best around!