Atherstone

Atherstone in Warwickshire dates back to Roman times. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being held by Countess Godiva. This pretty little market town is famous for its felt hats. Today the town is home to several large companies who use its excellent road links for distribution purposes.

Nuneaton

Nuneaton is the largest town in Warwickshire and famous for its association with the 19th century author George Eliot whose statue stands proudly in the main street. The town is situated just 9 miles from Coventry and only 20 miles from Birmingham.

The River Anker runs through the town which gets its name from a 12th century Benedictine Nunnery of which parts of the building still survive. With close proximity to Coventry and Birmingham the town was bombed heavily during the Second World War due to having munitions factories nearby.

Nuneaton used be famous for its textile and manufacturing industries. Today the town services its larger neighbours but efforts have been made to introduce trade through the multi million pound Ropewalk Shopping Centre and improvements to the town centre which has a busy street market every Wednesday and Saturday.

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Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa used to be a village called Leamington Priors. Just like Bath and Cheltenham it owes its present day fame to its spa waters. At the turn of the 1800's salty spa water was rumoured to have magical properties and any town or village which had the benefit of this water could prosper as a result. Visitors flocked to Leamington and by 1814 the town had a pump room and baths and no shortage of people to make it popular.

Leamington Spa is a shoppers paradise. In addition to many branded good quality high street stores it is also home to many 'hard to find' unique and privately owned shops. Leamington Spa is within easy distance of Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Kenilworth and its famous castle. There is always a lot to see and do in Leamington Spa. There are also many students in the town, most of them from the nearby Warwick University. Once you have visited the Royal Pump Rooms you might take a stroll through Jephson Gardens with its boathouse and tea rooms.

Leamington Spa is home to the Peace Festival which takes place in the middle of the town. Over the course of a summer weekend there is free music, food stalls, fair trade stands and a variety of skilled artists and crafts experts. Everything is free and there is always something of interest to people of all ages.

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Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth Roman Villa is one of Britain's largest Romanco-British villas situated at Yanworth not far from Northleach, near Cheltenham. The excavations provide a fascinating insight into this period of our history.

The site was discovered by a gamekeeper in 1864 who found fragments of pottery. The remains include over a mile of walls, mosaics, bath houses and a water shrine. There are various artifacts and the visitor centre provides an audio visual presentation.

Prior to the site being acquired by the National Trust, the Earl of Eldon provided the Museum and Custodians House and the roofing for many of the structures.

This is a National Trust site so the usual shop, tea and coffee facilities etc are all available. Parking is in a country lane so you may have to walk some distance on busy days.

In Roman times this site would probably not have had the dense vegetation that it does today. This is particularly true of the trees which would probably have been chopped down for building materials and firewood.

Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL54 3LJ

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Cheltenham

The Regency town of Cheltenham is worth a visit for many reasons. The town's architecture and attractive parklands are two good examples. Cheltenham has worked hard to maintain its reputation for the quality and sheer brilliance of its floral displays which can be seen in many locations and are particularly prominent along the promenade.

Cheltenham is an old established town dating back to Saxon times. It is the most complete Regency town in England. A visit to Pitville Park and the Pitville Pump Room soon reveal its history as a Spa town. King George III visited Cheltenham in 1788 and set the trend for the drinking of the healthy water with its supposed healing qualities.

Cheltenham is excellent for shopping. The town centre features all the modern shops and conveniences you would expect and a vibrant and busy shopping arcade. The Montpellier area of town (not far from the Queen's Hotel) is a haven for the more discerning shoppers who might be looking for their next antique acquisition.

The restaurants and facilities at Cheltenham are excellent. The town has its own very well known racecourse, an impressive Town Hall and an abundance of attractions and places to visit literally on its doorstep. Cheltenham is the gateway to the Cotswolds.

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