Photo: DeFacto (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Warwickshire
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in Warwickshire, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
🎟️ This weekend near Warwickshire
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Rugby Audio Tour: Art, Heritage & Heartbeats Trail
Rugby Theatre Society, Rugby · 13.3 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Banbury Audio Tour: Hidden Gems and Stories of Calthorpe's H...
Hunt Edmunds, Banbury · 18.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
Reel nostalgic
Onyx Bar And Restaurant, West Bromwich · 24.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
Seany Clarke
No18 Coffee House Lichfield Street Tamworth B79 7QD, Tamworth · 23.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
19.7 mi from Warwickshire
National Sea Life Centre
The National Sea Life Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon is an aquarium where you can walk through the UK's only 360° ocean tunnel, surrounded by sharks, rays and a giant turtle. You'll...
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Attractions & Visitor Centres
2 mi from Warwickshire
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a historic attraction in Warwick, Warwickshire, offering over 1,100 years of history through live shows, exhibitions and themed experiences. Visitors can watch th...
18.4 mi from Warwickshire
Cadbury World
Cadbury World is a chocolate-themed visitor attraction in Bournville, Birmingham, where you can journey through interactive zones learning how Cadbury chocolate is made, watch choc...
Museums & Galleries
1.1 mi from Warwickshire
Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum
Museum in Warwickshire, United Kingdom
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1.7 mi from Warwickshire
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
Regimental museum in Warwick, England, United Kingdom
1.8 mi from Warwickshire
The Museum of The Queen’s Royal Hussars
2 mi from Warwickshire
Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum
The Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum tells the story of the Regiment from 1794 to 1956, with collections covering the Boer War, WWI and WWII. You'll see original uniforms and personal...
2.1 mi from Warwickshire
Market Hall Warwickshire Museum
Market Hall Museum is a historic museum located in Warwick, Warwickshire, England. The Market Hall forms part of The Warwickshire Museum, which is operated by Heritage and Culture... — Wikipedia
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3.7 mi from Warwickshire
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden
Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden is a historic castle site in Warwickshire, with a story spanning over nine centuries. You can explore the Norman keep dating from the 1120s...
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5.9 mi from Warwickshire
Midland Air Museum
Midland Air Museum sits beside Coventry Airport in Baginton, Warwick, in a region known for its aviation, engineering, and manufacturing history. Created through the dedication of...
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7.6 mi from Warwickshire
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry is the perfect place to delve into Coventry's history and engage with art and culture. You can see Dippy the Diplodocus, on loan from t...
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7.6 mi from Warwickshire
Coventry Watch Museum
Coventry Watch Museum tells the story of the city's rich clock and watchmaking history, which dates back to the 17th century when Coventry became a hub for skilled artisans produci...
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7.9 mi from Warwickshire
Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry Transport Museum, in the heart of Coventry city centre, holds the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles in the world, from pioneering bicycles to the recor...
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8.2 mi from Warwickshire
British Motor Museum
The British Motor Museum in Gaydon tells the story of Britain's motor industry, home to the world's largest collection of historic British cars, with over 400 vehicles spanning cla...
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9.9 mi from Warwickshire
The MAD (Mechanical Art and Design) Museum
The MAD Museum is the UK's only permanent venue for mechanical art, based in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. You'll find over 70 interactive exhibits to explore, including marbl...
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10 mi from Warwickshire
Tudor World
Tudor World is a museum in Stratford-upon-Avon where you can explore Tudor life through interactive exhibits, including a touchscreen, videos, smells to try, a feast table, a thron...
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Theme Parks
9.8 mi from Warwickshire
Go Ape Coventry
Go Ape Coventry sits within Coombe Abbey Park, offering seven outdoor experiences including the original Treetop Challenge high ropes with zip wires and a Tarzan Swing, plus the ge...
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19.8 mi from Warwickshire
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham is an indoor attraction built around LEGO play, with build stations, a 4D cinema, two rides and a LEGO City soft play area. A highlight is t...
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22.6 mi from Warwickshire
Drayton Manor Resort
Drayton Manor Resort is a large family theme park in Warwickshire, offering over 50 rides and attractions alongside Europe's only Thomas Land and a zoo showcasing a diverse range o...
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27 mi from Warwickshire
The Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley is an open-air living history site where you can explore over 80 reconstructed shops, houses and industrial workshops spanning more than 2...
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Water Parks
7.5 mi from Warwickshire
The Wave
The Wave is an indoor waterpark in the heart of Coventry, built around six slides such as The Crestar, The Cascade and The Rapids, alongside a Wave Pool, Lazy River and The Reef sp...
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22.9 mi from Warwickshire
Bosworth Water Park
Bosworth Water Park sits in Market Bosworth, Hinckley and Bosworth, set in 50 acres with 20 acres of lakes available for fishing, water sports or just lying by the beach. You can c...
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23.2 mi from Warwickshire
Aztec Adventure
Aztec Adventure is a water park and outdoor activity centre in Dodderhill, Wychavon, built around an inflatable aqua park, lake-based boat hire and launch, kayaking, paddleboarding...
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23.3 mi from Warwickshire
Aztec Aquaglide Aqua Park
Aztec Aquaglide Aqua Park is a floating inflatable water park on a lake at Upton Warren, near Bromsgrove, featuring climbing towers, trampolines, balance bars and slides, with a de...
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Zoos & Wildlife
14.2 mi from Warwickshire
Attwell Farm Park
Attwell Farm Park is a family-run farm attraction near Beoley, Bromsgrove, offering hands-on encounters with over 80 animal species alongside a Bug Barn housing more than 40 exotic...
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18.4 mi from Warwickshire
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a unique collection of animals from across the world, including Red Pandas, lemurs, reptiles, meerkats, otters, birds, wallabies an...
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24.4 mi from Warwickshire
Twycross Zoo
Twycross Zoo is a 100-acre (40 ha) zoo near Norton Juxta Twycross, Leicestershire. It is operated by the East Midlands Zoological Society, a charitable trust, and is a founding mem... — Wikipedia
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26.8 mi from Warwickshire
Dudley Zoo & Castle
Dudley Zoo & Castle combines a working zoo, home to over 150 species, with the historic ruins of Dudley Castle on the same site. As a registered charity, it's dedicated to conserva...
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Where to stay near Warwickshire
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Warwickshire
Haunted Britain
Getting your bearings
Warwickshire works well for days out because you can mix theatre history, art, heritage houses and a splash about in the water without the planning getting complicated. Stratford-upon-Avon is the natural base for most visitors. It's the obvious starting point if you want somewhere to eat and wander between sights. Opening times and booking rules change through the year, so check each place before you set off, especially for workshops and smaller collections.
Standout attractions by type
Most of these are in the county itself. A few further afield are worth knowing about if you're happy to cross the border for a day.
Family days
- The Wave is Warwickshire's water park. It's the easy win if you have children with energy to burn. Pack towels and a change of clothes, and check session times before you go.
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham is a reasonable add-on if you're heading that way and have younger LEGO fans in tow.
Rainy days
- RSC Costume Workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon suits anyone curious about how theatre comes together behind the scenes. It's a natural fit with a day in the town.
- Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum is a good-value way to spend a damp morning. It also suits mixed-age groups who want something calmer.
- Collections Centre in Warwickshire is another indoor option. Check access arrangements in advance, as collection stores often run on set days.
Heritage
- Upton House is one of two National Trust properties on the list. It's a good choice if you like a proper country-house visit.
- Astley Castle rewards anyone interested in castles and the layers of history behind them.
- Fleece Inn is the other National Trust property, and an unusual one: a historic inn rather than a grand house.
- Berkswell Hall and Aston Hall are both stately homes that appeal if you enjoy period architecture.
Outdoors and further afield
If you want fresh air with your history, Hailes Abbey near Cheltenham makes a worthwhile day trip. Sarehole Mill in Birmingham is a gentler alternative. Closer to home, much of the outdoor appeal of a Warwickshire break comes from simply walking between sights in Stratford-upon-Avon rather than driving everywhere.
Grouping sights into a sensible day
The trick is to pair one bigger attraction with one smaller one, plus a sit-down meal, rather than cramming in four places.
- Stratford theatre day: book the RSC Costume Workshop for the morning, then have lunch at The Stratford Alehouse. Spend the afternoon on foot in Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Wet-weather day: start at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum. Add the Collections Centre if it's open, then finish with tea somewhere warm.
- Family day: give The Wave the bulk of the day. Children are usually tired afterwards, so plan an early, low-key dinner.
- Heritage day: combine Upton House with Astley Castle. Allow plenty of time at the National Trust property, as house visits tend to run longer than you expect.
Where to eat
All of the following have 5-star food hygiene ratings, which is reassuring when you're feeding a family on the move:
- The Stratford Alehouse: a pub option and a natural lunch stop on a Stratford-upon-Avon day.
- Huffkins: a tea room for a proper sit-down break with something sweet.
- Shakespaw Cat Cafe: a tea room with resident cats. It's a hit with animal-loving children, though check any age rules before you visit.
- Costa: two outlets, handy for a quick coffee between sights.
Turning it into a short break
Two or three nights is the sweet spot. That gives you one Stratford day, one rainy-day or family day, and one heritage day, with the order shuffled around the weather forecast. If you have a fourth day, use it for a trip beyond the county to Hailes Abbey or Sarehole Mill.
There are 432 places to stay on BritStays in Warwickshire. You can choose by what suits your plans rather than settling for whatever's left. A base in or near Stratford-upon-Avon keeps the theatre day car-free. Families focused on The Wave may prefer somewhere with easy parking.
Practical tips before you go
- Book timed or guided visits, such as the RSC Costume Workshop, ahead of school holidays.
- Check National Trust opening days for Upton House and Fleece Inn, as they can vary by season.
- Keep one indoor option up your sleeve for each day in case the weather turns.
- Leave travel time between sights. Unhurried days are usually the ones everyone remembers fondly.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Stratford-upon-Avon?
The RSC Costume Workshop is the standout attraction in Stratford-upon-Avon and suits anyone interested in theatre. For lunch, The Stratford Alehouse has a 5-star food hygiene rating.
Which National Trust properties can I visit?
There are two National Trust properties on the list: Upton House and Fleece Inn.
What can we do in Warwickshire on a rainy day?
Good indoor choices include Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, the RSC Costume Workshop in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Collections Centre in Warwickshire. Check opening arrangements before you travel.
What is there for families in Warwickshire?
The Wave is Warwickshire's water park and makes an easy family day. If you are willing to travel, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham is another option for younger children.
Where can we eat with a 5-star hygiene rating?
Options include The Stratford Alehouse (pub), Huffkins (tea room), Shakespaw Cat Cafe (tea room) and two Costa outlets.
How many places to stay are there on BritStays in Warwickshire?
BritStays lists 432 places to stay in Warwickshire, so there is plenty of choice for a short break.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Warwickshire.