Kenilworth: Warwickshire Town Dominated by One of England's Largest Castle Ruins
Kenilworth sits in central Warwickshire, about five miles south of Coventry and five miles north of Warwick. The population is around 23,000. Kenilworth Castle, managed by English Heritage, is one of the most impressive castle ruins in England. The red sandstone fortress dates from the 12th century and was the site of the Great Siege of 1266, the longest siege in medieval English history. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, lavishly entertained Elizabeth I here in 1575 over 19 days of festivities. The castle's mere, an artificial lake used as a defence, was drained during the Civil War and is now open fields, but the castle walls and the restored Elizabethan Garden remain substantial.
The Old Town, centred on the High Street and Abbey End, has a mix of independent shops and restaurants. Abbey Fields, a park between the town centre and the castle, includes the remains of Kenilworth Abbey. The town has no railway station; the nearest is Coventry, about 15 minutes by car. The A46 bypasses the town to the east, connecting to the M40 and the M6/A45.
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Kenilworth sits in central Warwickshire, about five miles south of Coventry and five miles north of Warwick. The population is around 23,000. Kenilworth Castle, managed by English Heritage, is one of the most impressive castle ruins in England. The red sandstone fortress dates from the 12th century and was the site of the Great Siege of 1266, the longest siege in medieval English history. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, lavishly entertained Elizabeth I here in 1575 over 19 days of festivities. The castle's mere, an artificial lake used as a defence, was drained during the Civil War and is now open fields, but the castle walls and the restored Elizabethan Garden remain substantial.
The Old Town, centred on the High Street and Abbey End, has a mix of independent shops and restaurants. Abbey Fields, a park between the town centre and the castle, includes the remains of Kenilworth Abbey. The town has no railway station; the nearest is Coventry, about 15 minutes by car. The A46 bypasses the town to the east, connecting to the M40 and the M6/A45.
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