Essential Hotels > England > Warwickshire > Warwick

The town of Warwick stands on the banks of the River Avon and is the county town of Warwickshire – Shakespeare’s County. The town grew from a small settlement, founded on the site of previous settlements in 914 AD by Ethelfleda, sister of Edward the Elder, as a strategically placed defence for the Kingdom of Mercia against the Viking invaders. Such was the strength of Warwick’s defensive position that it grew into the site for one of England’s most recognisable landmarks – the magnificent Warwick Castle.

Warwick Castle is a dramatic sight and it towers above the town. Inhabited continuously since it was built in the 10th century, and developed over the following centuries, it is one of the most complete medieval castles in the country. The home of the Earls of Warwick until only recently, Warwick Castle is now one of the country’s favourite historic tourist attractions, with hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

The town of Warwick itself also offers much in the way of historical appeal and intrigue, and is rich in medieval architecture. Due to the surrounding terrain, Warwick’s medieval core was restricted from expanding, and consequently many of the town’s buildings of historic interest are concentrated within a small area. The devastating Great Fire of 1694 destroyed many buildings in Warwick, and those which were burnt, and many which were not, were rebuilt in the characteristic style of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Several important medieval buildings survived the fire however, most notably the town's Guildhall, now the Lord Leycester Hospital, as well as a group of timber - framed buildings around Oken's House.

Intriguingly the University of Warwick, one of the UK’s top universities, is not in fact located in Warwickshire’s county town; it is positioned a little way to the north of the town on the edge of Coventry. Other places of interest in and around Warwick include the Collegiate Church of St Mary with the Beauchamp Chapel, several museums, the Mill Garden and the Hill Close Gardens. With easy access by road, via the M40 and A46 routes, and by rail and air, historic Warwick is a gem of a town waiting to be explored.