A wonderful weekend in Warwick: A 2 Day Itinerary

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Warwickshire is known as being home to one of the most famous places in England, Stratford upon Avon, where Shakespeare was born. But beyond that the county sites aren’t too well known, so in this post I’m going to take you away from Stratford and on a historical weekend tour in to Warwickshire’s towns, stately homes and castles. When visiting the county, we stayed in Warwick itself as a base and drove out to see most of the things on this list. If you want to visit everywhere on this itinerary you will need a car as public transport in the area is limited – and of course, if you want to see Stratford as well, make it a 3 day trip and add it on as it’s only a short 15 minute drive away.


  1. Contents
  2. Itinerary Day 1: Explore Warwick
    1. Warwick Castle
    2. Lord Leycester Hospital
    3. Warwick town centre
    4. Indulge in a delicious dinner
  3. Itinerary Day 2: Further Afield
    1. Baddesley Clinton
    2. Packwood House
    3. Kenilworth Castle
    4. Leamington Spa (incl. dinner)
  4. Have a little longer?

Warwick Castle dates back to Medieval times and was initially built by William the Conqueror in 1068, but was rebuilt extensively in the 14th Century. It’s perhaps most famous for being the home of Richard Neville, The Kingmaker, during the 1400s – he imprisoned Edward IV here and attempted to rule in his name. He died during one of the Wars of the Roses, The Battle of Barnet, fighting against the King. Interestingly, he prepared for the Battle at Warwick Castle and there is an exhibit which tells you all about this.

Also at the castle today you can climb the battlements, visit the Great Hall, explore the castle as it would have been in the 1800s, pay a visit to a real trebuchet and explore the gardens. It’s great for children as well with lots of fun exhibits and games everywhere.

Inside the castle (top) and view from the battlements (above)

I was totally blown away with this incredible place. Right in the centre of Warwick lies an ancient building, built between the 13th and 17th Centuries, that is one of the best examples of Medieval architecture left in the country. Since the 14th Century it’s been a ‘brotherhood’ supporting ex-servicemen. The soldiers living within the walls are known as Brethren and there are Brethren and a Master still to this day, as there has been for the last 450 years. They dress in ceremonial uniforms and run tours through the building (their house, so please be super respectful), and also run a public café where you can eat and socialise with the community. It really is such a special place.

The incredible hospital and church

Warwick town centre is a good place to stroll around. You could pay a visit to one of the lovely churches, or even the Town’s Museum, or just enjoy browsing the shops and taking in the ancient architecture round every corner.

After a busy day exploring, it’s time to enjoy some food. Warwick has a whole range of options, but if you’re looking for something a bit different then Aqua Lebanese is a treat. With traditional Lebanese eats, and strictly no alcohol, the food is absolutely delicious and the mocktails a treat.

Tasty Lebanese

Baddesley Clinton is a beautiful stately home which was built in around the 13th century. It was used as a private home until the 1980s when it was passed to the National Trust. The house is special because it is moated, making for a very picturesque setting, and because inside there is a Catholic chapel. After the Reformation, it seems the owners remained Catholic and hid many Catholic priests in the house to help them escape persecution.

Packwood House is just a 5 minute drive away from Baddesley Clinton. Another gorgeous stately home, this one is Tudor and is famous for its Yew Tree garden. It’s a great place for a walk around the lake and exploring all the gardens. You could choose to have lunch here before heading on to Kenilworth as the on site cafe is lovely.

Beautiful Packwood

The history doesn’t stop on this itinerary and after two ancient houses it’s time for a Castle! Kenilworth is a short drive away from Packwood House and is home the Kenilworth Castle. The Castle dates back again to the Norman conquest, but what you see today was mainly developed in Tudor times. The castle is most famous as being the home of Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth I’s ‘favourite’.

Beautiful Kenilworth Castle

Dudley tried to woo Elizabeth with a 19 day party at Kenilworth Castle in 1575 (following the mysterious death of his wife!), but she was having none of it and remained the ‘Virgin Queen’. He married her cousin Lettice instead.

More incredible castle views

Kenilworth itself is also worth a stroll around as it’s full of pretty thatched cottages and has a nice high street with some great pubs to stop in for a drink.

Pretty cottages in Kenilworth

After visiting Kenilworth, drive on to Leamington Spa for the evening – another historic town in the area. Whilst here we chose to play an Escape Room and then have dinner at the delicious Thai Elephant (the best Thai food I’ve ever eaten and you have to try the chocolate crunch dessert). There are also lots of lovely bars which do gin tasting, wine tasting, or just great cocktails.


You could then also spend a full day in Stratford upon Avon discovering Shakespeare, river boat rides and much more to make this a 3 day break. You can find my Stratford upon Avon post HERE.


And that brings an end to my guide to a weekend in Warwick. What do you think? Would you want to visit this area of England? Let me know in the comments below, and stay safe and happy travelling everyone!

39 responses to “A wonderful weekend in Warwick: A 2 Day Itinerary”

  1. Medieval castles, lovely architectural churches and Baddesley Clinton…wow!!! Such rich history and unique structures to enjoy, not to mention the delectable cuisine you’ve shared! A great post ~ thanks, Hannah 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw so glad you liked it Phil, it is a lovely and very underestimated area of England, which I think is worth a visit for all of its history 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Wonderful shots throughout, especially of Baddesley Clinton. Warwick seems like a great place to unwind away from the crowds and tourist hotspots. I love the history, the food looks amazing and you’ve never seen one thatched cottage too many.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Leighton – and yes I thought Baddesley Clinton was particularly photogenic with its moat. Even better that the crowds were nowhere to be seen 🙂 Hope you’ve had a nice weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. These buildings are gorgeous. And a fascinating history to go with them. I’ve read a few historical fictions from this area so it’s great to add to my imagination of the settings. Maggie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh that’s amazing Maggie that you are familiar from the stories with the area, it’s famous for a lot of Tudor history especially with Shakespeare nearby. So glad to add some pictures to the words 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. We did Warwick Castle and a little bit of the town a few years ago, mainly because of the connection to the Nevilles and that fascinating history. There were so many Richard Nevilles down the line in that family. The Plantagenets and Tudors weren’t great at coming up with new and interesting names, were they? I’ve always wanted to go to Kenilworth…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes that history is what drew us too, though I was a little disappointed the Castle didn’t do more with the exhibition – it felt very child friendly, rather than historically informative. Kenilworth is great, I actually went to University at the University of Warwick and lived 10 mins from Kenilworth but never visited it…always the way! Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That was our takeaway from Warwick exactly – too family-friendly. I suppose it costs a zillion dollars to maintain all those castles in the UK and attracting families and their wallets probably goes a long way toward paying for upkeep, but still… 🙂

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  5. Only briefly visited Warwick once a long time ago so it’s been interesting to read your post. I’d love to return and follow some of your suggestions especially Baddesley Clinton.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh so glad you enjoyed in Mario, it’s a beautiful area and well worth a visit if you get the chance 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Great report and photos! Another region I will have to visit should I ever come back to England …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much – and yes, I’m enjoying sharing some lesser known areas of England 🙂

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  7. All of those castles and houses are beautiful. I had heard of Warwick Castle before it is nice to see some pictures of the inside.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much for reading and so glad you found it interesting. Warwick is a great place, and the castle really is special 🙂 Hope you’ve had a good weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. By goodness I just think I could never tire of seeing such beautiful architecture and learning the history of these places. I really love your posts about these small areas and all they hold. Kenilworth Castle is absolutely stunning!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thanks so much Meg – I’ve actually really enjoyed sharing all these small, much lesser known areas of England recently. We have so many sites noone really knows much about and it’s fun to shine a light on them. Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. So many great spots to explore! I think Warwick Castle would be my top pick, I didn’t realize how big it was based on the first two pictures. I also laughed about how old these are compared to what I saw in Philly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you liked it Lyssy and thanks as always for reading 🙂 Haha yes, it’s so funny isn’t it, it’s crazy to think we now have surviving buildings over 1,000 years old here now!!! Hope you’ve had a great weekend.

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  10. Just love the reflection shot with the moat. I have something similar from Hever Castle when I visited a few years back. Brought back happy memories 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thanks Linda, so glad you like it. I agree, there is something Hever Castle-esque about it! Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend, and thanks so much for reading 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. That library inside Warwick Castle is GOALS! I’ve not been to this part of England before, although I had the opportunity to pop by Stratford upon Avon before…looks like it’s another place I’ll have to make a trip over to when I’m back in England!

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  12. Sounds like a wonderful weekend in Warwick that was filled with lots of history and historical buildings. Baddesley Clinton looks beautiful and I love how its surrounded by a moat. I’m such a fan of those thatched-roof cottages.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much for reading and I’m really glad you enjoyed it – I agree Baddesley Clinton was stunning 🙂 Hope you’ve had a nice weekend

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Yup…Wonderful Warwick!!! Beautifully captured, Hannah!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thanks Jyothi. Hope you’ve had a good weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I love the spectacular Warwick Castle, which actually looks more like a fortress and its beautiful library! I would love to explore its many ramparts and towers – it looks like due to its sheer size you can easily spend the whole day there. Thanks for sharing and have a lovely weekend 🙂 Aiva

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it’s definitely easy to spend a whole day there by the time you’ve walked up the hill to get there, explored the walls and ramparts, climbed the turrets, discovered inside, visited the exhibits, the gardens and rivers. It’s amazing really 🙂 Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend Aiva, and thank you for reading 🙂 xx

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I love it when your post starts with a picture of a castle ☺️. You certainly had a variety of food on this trip – I like the look of that chocolate dessert. The closest we’ll get to Warwick here in South Africa, is the Warwick Wine Estate close to Stellenbosch – I will let you know how it compares with your Warwick 😁.

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    1. Hehe I can never get enough of a good castle!!! Though a wine estate is definitely something I could be on board with – we will have to swap Warwicks temporarily lol!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Haha, let me know when you’re ready 😁.

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  16. Wow, I had no idea Waraick was so beautiful! I had never really thought of going there, but now you convinced me! The Baddesley Clinton house looks fantastic and I wonder how it was to live in such a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw so glad you like it Juliette – and yes I agree Baddesley Clinton is just beautiful and it must have been incredible to live there. Thanks so much for reading, have a good afternoon 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Loved this, Hannah. Warwickshire is a lovely county and the idea of spending a weekend in Warwick itself – which I have only briefly visited a couple of times – really appeals. I want to get to Lord Leycester Hospital – sounds and looks amazing. I loved Baddesley Clinton and Kenilworth is a favourite – both places have wonderful stories to tell. Great words and pictures as usual!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh so glad you enjoyed it Mike, I really appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment. Lord Leycester was the highlight of the visit for me, I absolutely loved it so I hope you get to see it one day 🙂 Have a great afternoon!

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  18. England certainly has the most beautiful old historic buildings! We went to a modern version of a Shakespeare play at the theatre in Avon and Warwick Castle. But there’s so much more… we just breezed through, I see.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes we are very lucky here to have so many historic buildings, almost where ever you go and round every corner! A Shakespeare play sounds like a great experience, I haven’t been to one since I was a teenager but remember them being great. Thanks so much for reading Ruth, and have a great day.

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  19. Lovely article and gorgeous photos! Warwick is another place that I will now certainly add to the bucket list! Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Makayla, I’m glad you enjoyed the tour of Warwick. Thanks so much for reading and have a great day 🙂

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

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