Complete Guide to Visiting Kenilworth
Historical pubs, medieval castles, picturesque market towns steeped in history, quaint afternoon teas, hearty pub food and beautiful countryside walks. There are so many fun things to do in Kenilworth. Read on to discover more and everything you need to know to visit Kenilworth.
Kenilworth is a quaint picturesque market town in Warwickshire, best known for its monumental castle ruins.
I (Helen) grew up in Kenilworth and as a teenager, I remember thinking it was pretty boring without a lot to do. Now I’m older, that opinion has definitely changed.
I always look forward to a visit home and escaping the busy city life in London for a few days. Kenilworth is full of medieval charm, beautiful countryside perfect for walks, historic pubs lovely for an afternoon drink, gin distilleries, Shakespeare’s birthplace on your doorstep and so much more.
In this guide, we’ll share the top things to do in Kenilworth as well as the best places to visit near Kenilworth, exactly where the town is, how to get there, where to stay and everything else you need to know to visit Kenilworth.
If you’re short on time, Kenilworth is a great day trip from London.
Contents
Best Things to do in Kenilworth
Kenilworth Castle
We’ll kickstart our list of things to do in Kenilworth off with what the town is so famous for; Kenilworth Castle.
Kenilworth Castle holds so many fond memories from when I was a child! A Saturday or Sunday afternoon was spent playing hide and seek amongst the ruins and racing each other to the top of the walls (health and safety were more lax in those days!).
Set amongst the gentle Warwickshire countryside, Kenilworth Castle is a fine example of Norman and Tudor architecture.
Walk in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I through the tranquil Elizabethan Garden. Admire the impressive Norman keep which was the heart of Castle life for 500 years and still remains a dominant feature. Explore John of Gaunt’s Great Hall which was one of the finest of its kind and the cutting edge of architectural design in the 14th century.
Once you’ve spent a couple of hours ambling about the impressive ruins, why not head to the Stables Tearoom for a delicious cake or light lunch?
Our Top Tip: the castle grounds are a lovely place for a walk around the outside of the walls.
Countryside Walks
Always one of my favourite things to do in Kenilworth is go for a countryside walk. There’s no better way to work up an appetite for a hearty meal in one of the many historic pubs or charming restaurants.
There are numerous trails around Kenilworth surrounded by beautiful greenery and countryside and you’ll probably also stumble upon some wildlife.
My favourite walk is along the Millennium Way. The entire Millennium Way is 100 miles, however, it’s made up of around 44 smaller Circular Walks.
A gentle 10-kilometre Circular Walk starts at Kenilworth Castle and you’ll pass through wide-open countryside, flat farmland and even an alpaca field!
Our Top Tip: some of the best views of Kenilworth Castle are seen on the Millennium Way!
Kenilworth Greenway is also lovely for a walk. This is an old railway line that ran from Berkswell to Kenilworth from 1884. The tracks were lifted in the ’60s and since then the area has been reclaimed by nature and wildlife.
Eating and Drinking
After working up an appetite and a thirst ambling about the countryside, you’ll be spoilt for choice with your options for eating and drinking in Kenilworth.
From casual cosy pubs offering hearty massive portions, to upmarket Michelin-star restaurants, there’s something to suit every taste. Below are some of our favourites:
Queen and Castle
The Queen and Castle is an upmarket pub, bar and restaurant located in historic Kenilworth overlooking the castle ruins. In the winter, it’s the perfect cosy setting for generous portions of premium pub food while in the summer, enjoy lighter bites in the huge outdoor beer garden.
Whatever the occasion, The Queen and Castle will serve your needs in beautiful surroundings and a warming atmosphere.
The Abbey Field
The Abbey Field is a firm favourite for all your much-loved pub classics. Packed with 16th-century charm, and idyllically placed in the heart of historic Kenilworth, a visit here is just what you need after a stroll around the castle grounds.
With such a great location in historic Kenilworth and on the edge of the Abbey Fields (see later) why not book a room here? It’s the ideal base for exploring the area!
The Cross
The Cross Kenilworth is a gorgeous Michelin-star restaurant where the service and creativity are next level! They haven’t lost sight of the fact they’re a pub, with a cosy snug and wood-burning stove, but they’ve taken the hearty pub classics and re-mastered and refined them to an outstanding level.
Our Top Tip: if you want to watch the chefs prepare your dishes, sit in the back room where you can see the kitchen in action.
Lil Greens
Lil Greens is located in the newer part of Kenilworth and is buzzing from the minute it opens to the minute it closes. The food is absolutely delicious! From handcrafted quirky burgers to a range of sharing platters and a wide selection of breakfast options, all locally sourced, there’ll definitely be something that tickles your taste buds.
For those of you who enjoy a cocktail, the cocktail bar opens at 5pm and offers over 60 concoctions all hand-crafted and expertly mixed. There’s also a great selection of beers, wines and soft drinks.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
One of the best places to visit near Kenilworth is Stratford-Upon-Avon; a picturesque, medieval market town on the banks of the River Avon, steeped in culture and history and is the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Start your day with a visit to the birthplace of the world’s most famous playwright where you’ll learn about Shakespeare’s childhood and hear tales about his life and the influence he’s had over the centuries.
Next, head to the 600-year-old cottage that once belonged to Anne Hathaway where you’ll be captivated by the stories the guides share about the goings on of the Hathaways over the 400 years they lived here. Click here to buy tickets for Anne Hathway’s Cottage.
Your last stop on your Shakespeare journey will have you travelling back in time at his mother’s Tudor farm where you’ll see what country life was like for Mary Arden and Shakespeare. You can buy tickets online here.
If time allows, we’d definitely recommend seeing a play at the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company.
Stratford is also a wonderful place to stay. If you’re visiting Warwickshire as part of a longer trip, we’d recommend spending a couple of nights here.
After you’ve had your fill of Shakespeare, mosey down the historical Henley Street. As well as being the location of Shakespeare’s birthplace, it’s also home to an array of shops, cafes and restaurants.
If you’re here between March and October, a great activity is taking to the River Avon. Choose between pedal boats, canoes and motorboats; or, if you want someone to do the hard work for you while you soak up the atmosphere, rent a private gondola.
Stratford-Upon-Avon is also a great day trip from London.
Shakespeare Distillery
For something a little different and probably not what you’d expect to do when you visit Kenilworth, check out the Shakespeare Gin Distillery.
Established in 2015, the Shakespeare Distillery is an artisan spirit producer. Being based in Stratford, the owners wanted to create something authentic to the area so they took a look at the Tudor period when Shakespeare lived and they’ve brought the essence of this into their spirits.
During the time of the Tudors, Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and this became a time of great discovery within spirit production. It wasn’t just good for medicinal purposes but was actually quite nice to drink!
At Shakespeare Distillery they fuse traditional and sometimes forgotten ingredients with modern techniques to try and recapture this time of innovation.
To see the entire operation, you can visit the distillery on a tour, or you can go to Gin School where you actually make your own gin!
They also distil, bottle, label, seal and distribute everything by hand meaning everything is done with an incredible amount of care and attention.
Warwick Castle
The renowned Warwick Castle is one of the best places to visit near Kenilworth where you’ll discover over 1100 years of rich English history.
Get involved in one of the castle tours to learn about the different areas of the castle and the history that lies within the walls. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the 64 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that immerse the castle and keep an eye out for the resident peacocks!
If you’re feeling brave, why not head down to the dungeons? Here, you’ll embark on a gruesome journey through 300 years of Warwick Castle’s darkest history.
We’d recommend spending a few hours here to fully absorb the grandeur of the castle and grounds.
Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey is a gorgeous 4* hotel immersed in 500 acres of stunning parkland, bird hides, woodland and lakeside walks. You could easily spend a whole day here exploring the gardens, having a picnic and relaxing by the water.
Coombe Abbey is also the perfect place for an elegant afternoon tea. We had the Knight’s Afternoon Tea which was absolutely delicious. We definitely should have stopped eating way before we did but it was so yummy we couldn’t!
Presented beautifully on a decorative picnic bench, are some of your British favourites. Little shepherd’s pies, scotch eggs, pork pies, scones (savoury and sweet!), carrot cake, cakes I don’t know the name of and more!
Our Top Tip: for the ultimate treat, add on a glass of bubbles.
We’d recommend making an afternoon of visiting Coombe Abbey as it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit near Kenilworth. Enjoy your afternoon tea and then amble about the charming grounds. If you have kids or you’re feeling a bit childish, there’s also an adventure playground.
Located a 20-minute drive from Kenilworth, Coombe Abbey is also a great base for a few days if you’d prefer to stay surrounded by nature rather than in a town.
Old High Street
It’s virtually impossible to visit Kenilworth and not see the Old High Street at all, however, make sure you spend a bit of time here as it’s the most beautiful area of town in my opinion.
It’s actually called the High Street but most people refer to it as the Old Town or historic Kenilworth. Warwick Road, which runs through the heart of the newer part of town, is known by most to be the High Street.
One of the best things to do in Kenilworth is to stroll along the Old High Street where you’ll see several stunning listed buildings all in very good condition. These buildings are home to shops, art galleries, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cafes and beauty parlours.
Our Top Tip: sit outside The Abbey Field with a spritz watching the world go by around you.
Another key attribute of the Old High Street is its proximity to Kenilworth Castle.
The Abbey Fields
At the heart of Kenilworth is The Abbey Fields; another place that holds fond memories for me when I was younger. If we weren’t climbing up the castle walls we were playing in this park (or drinking as we hit our mid-teenage years…).
There’s a children’s playground, some historic buildings, Abbey ruins, large stretches of grass perfect for a summery picnic, a stream and a lake full of ducks.
The Abbey Fields is placed with the Old Town on one side and the newer part on the other side so one of the best things to do in Kenilworth is to walk through the park between the two parts of town. It also boasts wonderful views of Kenilworth Castle.
To Know Before You Go
Where to stay in Kenilworth
Kenilworth has some gorgeous boutique hotels that would be the perfect base for your trip. We’d personally recommend The Abbey Field as it’s ideally located on the Old High Street in the heart of the Old Town; the most beautiful area of Kenilworth.
The 31 rooms are beautifully decorated and elegantly blend medieval architecture and features with stylish, modern furnishings. The bar is the perfect place to unwind after a long day of exploring.
If you’d prefer to stay in the newer area of Kenilworth, 61 Warwick Road is an elegant boutique hotel dating back to 1600 and offers incredible standards of service and facilities. The rooms are modern and luxurious and the hotel has an award-winning cocktail lounge!
Alternatively, use the map below to browse hotels in and around Kenilworth.
Getting to Kenilworth
Wherever you are in the country, Kenilworth is super easy to reach.
By train, there are regular services between Coventry and Leamington Spa that take around 7 minutes. There are direct trains from London to Coventry and Leamington in around 1 hour and from Birmingham in 30 minutes.
Do I need to rent a car?
If you plan on filling your days enjoying the top things to do in Kenilworth and not travelling farther out then you don’t need to rent a car. Kenilworth is very walkable between the Old High Street, the New High Street, Kenilworth Castle and the surrounding countryside.
If you plan on venturing further out to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Coombe Abbey and Warwick then we’d recommend renting a car as buses can take a while, timings are unpredictable and taxi costs will add up. A one-way Uber to Stratford-Upon-Avon costs around £25 ($31).
We hope you’ve enjoyed this post on visiting Kenilworth. If you have any other questions feel free to leave us a comment or get in contact.
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