Essential Hotels > England > Warwickshire > Kenilworth

Although the town was built before the Domesday Book was compiled, Kenilworth's name is invariably linked with its castle. Today the remains of this castle stand as England's finest and most extensive castle ruins, dramatically ensconced at the western edge of the town.

Kenilworth Castle's red sandstone towers, keep and wall are particularly beautiful in the sun and look most impressive at sunrise and sunset. Here you can learn about the great building's links with Henry V (who retired to Kenilworth after the Battle of Agincourt), King John, Edward II and John of Gaunt. The amazing tales of this great historical edifice have been immortalised in Sir Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth - if exaggerated - and are many and varied.

The remains of Kenilworth's abbey can be seen in the churchyard of the Norman parish church of St Nicholas in the High Street. Much of interest was discovered during excavations and there are many relics on display in the church, including a pig made of lead. It has been suggested that this formed part of the roof at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, but was then melted down and stamped by the commissioners of Henry VIII.

The small town of Kenilworth is found in Warwickshire, on the outskirts of the West Midlands and is near to neighbouring towns and cities such as Leamington Spa, Coventry and Warwick. So, after your visit to the castle and Kenilworth’s other attractions, you can use the town as a base to explore the surrounding countryside and settlements. In the market town itself there are bars, restaurants, shop, hotels and pubs as you might expect of a traditional English destination.

In 2005 the town revived the historic Kenilworth Festival that had not been held for some 70 years or so. Since 2008 the event has gone from strength to strength, welcoming many visitors from the region to enjoy its various delights. Other focal points in the town include its theatres – the Talisman Theatre and the Priory Theatre – and the Two Castles Run which sees participants run the distance between Warwick and Kenilworth Castles.