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Visiting Kenilworth

The historical town of Kenilworth is the nearest major town to the University of Warwick. Famous for its castle, Kenilworth is a peaceful Warwickshire town and is home to a number of our students, staff and alumni.

Distance from campus:

4 miles (to town centre)

Entertainment:

Kenilworth is a peaceful, historical town that attracts many tourists and visitors. Kenilworth Castle hosts a number of special events throughout the year, including productions of plays, Christmas carol services and other seasonal special events such as the fireworks display on bonfire night.

Near the magnificent castle ruins are the Abbey Fields. The 68 acres of the Abbey Fields inludes a swimming pool (both indoors and outdoors), a lake, children's play area and heritage trails. In 2005, the first Kenilworth Arts Festival took place in Abbey Fields as well as many of the arts venues throughout the town. The Kenilworth Lions Show in Abbey Fields and Kenilworth Round Table's Fireworks at the Castle are great for locals and visitors.

Kenilworth has two small theatres, the self-funding Priory Theatre and Talisman Theatre and plenty of restaurants, bars and pubs.

Shopping:

Kenilworth has a shopping high-street in the centre of town. It has a number of major high-street stores but is smaller than the shopping centres of Coventry and Leamington Spa. There are a variety of restaurants close to Kenilworth Castle and in the centre of town.

Where to stay:

There are various hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts in Kenilworth from the larger hotels such as Chesford Grange Hotel and Demontfort Hotel to the smaller guesthouses such as the Hollyhurst Guest House. Details on all available accommodation can be found on the Kenilworth Town Website

Historical Interest:

Kenilworth is listed in the 1086 Domesday book as “Chinewrde” with a population of less than 100. Within 200 hundred years, the population had vastly increased and the town’s importance mulitplied.

Of the greatest historical interest in Kenilworth is the castle. Built in 1129, Kenilworth Castle was home to many lords and dignitaries, and frequented by several Kings and Queens until it was destroyed in 1649 following the Civil War.

Kenilworth Castle’s most famous residents were Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and founder of democracy in England, and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and favourite of Elizabeth I. It is also thought that Henry Bolingbroke probably spent many of his childhood years in Kenilworth castle.

English Heritage has looked after the castle ruins since 1984, and it is now popular with visitors to the area. Kenilworth itself is pretty town, with attractive buildings and open spaces. Find out more about Kenilworth on the town's website.

Access from University:

By car: Kenilworth is easy to access by a 5 minute drive from central campus. Head up Gibbet Hill Road and take a right-hand turn on to Kenilworth Road.

By bus: The Stagecoach U2, X17 and X16, as well as the National Express Coventry service number 11 travel between campus and Kenilworth Town Centre. Check their websites for more information about service times.

Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth daffodils
Shops in Kenilworth
Kenilworth Castle