Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town with more than 800 years of history, famous for being the birthplace of the world’s greatest playwright – William Shakespeare. With many buildings that would have been familiar to Shakespeare and a thriving town centre community offering a wide variety of leisure, accommodation and shopping experiences, the best of Stratford-upon-Avon can’t be seen in a day, so why not make a weekend of it.
Getting to Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a short drive from Junction 15 of the M40, giving good access to the M42, M5, M6 and M25.
Parking in Stratford-upon-Avon
There are a large number of car parks in and around Stratford-upon-Avon, including Parent and Child Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Points.
Accessible Parking in Stratford-upon-Avon
There are many parking spaces around the town for disabled drivers provided by Stratford District Council. They are free of charge when displaying a current blue-badge. Unless there is separate signage, there is no time limit. On-street parking is also free for disabled drivers whilst displaying a current blue-badge and these have no time limit. Car parks operated by other organisations make charges for disabled drivers.
Stratford-upon-Avon Park and Ride
Find out more about Stratford-upon-Avon's Park and Ride scheme.
Train Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon
Chiltern Railways runs services from London Marylebone to Stratford on Avon. Journey times are as quick as 2 hours 10 minutes, with a change of trains required at Leamington Spa.
Trains from Birmingham Moor Street to Stratford on Avon take 1 hour. This route is served by both Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Trains.
The best value tickets can be found at: Buy Cheap Tickets Online | Chiltern Railways
- Stratford-upon-Avon is 27 miles from Birmingham Airport and 60 miles from East Midlands Airport. It is also convenient for Luton, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports to the south.
- For details of local bus services from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon please call 0870 608 2608. For local bus services from Oxford call 08705 808 080.
- For national enquiries, call 08705 808 080 or visit National Express Coaches.
- Johnsons Coaches also run a regular coach service in and around the town.
Warwick
Warwick is a picturesque historic market town on the River Avon, famed for being home to Warwick Castle. The Collegiate Church of St. Mary in the heart of the town offers panoramic views and has a Norman crypt. The town of Warwick is graced with a wide variety of attractive parks and gardens, both privately and publicly owned. They range from the charming Victorian Hill Close Gardens, the Master’s Garden at the Lord Leycester Hospital and the spectacular Mill Garden to the public spaces of Priory Park, St Nicholas Park and the Pageant Garden.
Getting to Warwick
Warwick is easily accessible from the North and South via the M1, M5, M6, M40 and M42. Leave the M40 at junction 15 and take the A429 to Warwick.
Train Travel to Warwick
Chiltern Railways runs services from London Marylebone to Warwick and Warwick Parkway. Journey times take 1 hour 30 (direct).
Trains from Birmingham Moor Street to Warwick take 30 minutes (direct).
The best value tickets can be found at: Buy Cheap Tickets Online | Chiltern Railways
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is known for its connections to Queen Elizabeth I and the magnificent English Heritage site Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden. Lying in the heart of the Midlands, the town’s history goes back to Roman occupation and the town was mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086 AD. For hundreds of years, Kenilworth was a market town supporting an agricultural hinterland, as shown when Henry III and Queen Elizabeth I granted charters for its market and fairs.
Getting to Kenilworth
- Kenilworth lies just off the A46 which provides a connection to the M69, M1, M6, M40 and M42 motorways.
- From M40 (north or south) – exit junction 15 and follow signs for A46 Coventry.
- Take the 3rd junction from the A46 signposted Leamington A452.
- From M6 junc 4 / M42(junc 6) southbound – Take A45 eastbound (signed Coventry), exit first junction A452 southbound (Kenilworth Road) through Balsall Common
- From M69 – follow A46 from M69, join A45 at Coventry Airport (Tollbar End) on Stonebridge Highway, exit A45 to A46 follow signs for Kenilworth.
- The nearest mainline train stations to Kenilworth are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus Services run from close to both stations to Kenilworth. The alternative is to take a taxi to Kenilworth.
- The nearest Airport is Birmingham Airport 14 miles away.
- Most bus routes into Kenilworth stop at Abbey End near the Clock Tower, which gives you easy access to all the town centre shops.
Royal Leamington Spa
Well known as a shopping destination with a fantastic range of independent local retailers and high street brands, Royal Leamington Spa boasts dramatic Regency architecture. The town’s popularity was largely due to the natural spa springs, that were discovered and commercialised in the nineteenth century. True to its heritage, as a fashionable spa resort in the late 18th century, Royal Leamington Spa is now a thriving town of culture, leisure, gastronomy and wellbeing, all elegantly combined with a distinctive shopping experience.
Getting to Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa is located in the heart of England near major transport links and only 20-30 minutes’ drive from historical neighbouring towns, cosmopolitan cities and acclaimed universities.
Leamington is just 5 miles from junctions 13 and 14 of the M40, 4 miles from the A46 and 11 miles from the M45.
The town is easily accessible from the North via the M6 (J4a).
Once here, ample car parking is provided within the town centre, all day in Covent Garden car park.
Train Travel to Leamington Spa
Chiltern Railways runs services from London Marylebone to Leamington Spa. Journey times take 1 hour 25 (direct).
Trains from Birmingham Moor Street to Leamington Spa take 35 minutes (direct).
The best value tickets can be found at: Buy Cheap Tickets Online | Chiltern Railways
-
Regular bus services run to and from the town centre, Newbold Terrace provides a drop-off/pick up point, convenient for Jephson Gardens.
-
There are four free coach parking spaces at Newbold Comyn Leisure Centre (no overnight parking)
