Castle Hill, Kenilworth

 Castle Hill, Kenilworth

Coming into Kenilworth from Balsall Common, you can glimpse a charming piece of historic Warwickshire as you pass the castle as on the left. Directly opposite the castle, is Castle Hill, curving around and up to High Street above the Abbey Fields.

On one side of the road, leading up from the castle, is a row of quaint bow fronted cottages dating back to the 17^th century, which includes the Clarendon Arms pub, Harrington’s bistro restaurant, Time for Tea tea room and a fashion shop – all worth a visit.

 Just set back from the other side of the road is a group of quaint timber-framed thatched cottages, which were originally built for the builders and stone masons who worked on the castle. This is the restored hamlet of Little Virginia and is purported to be where the first potatoes were planted in England by Sir Walter Raleigh.

Taking a gentle stroll, you can see some interesting detail and enjoy well-kept architecture of the area; ending with a panoramic view over the Abbey Fields. Taking the steep path down into the fields and turning right around the edge of the lake will eventually bring you back to the castle via the ford.

Castle Hill is equally charming in the evenings when the businesses and cottages are illuminated to great effect and the sounds of people enjoying themselves filters outside.

Those visiting the castle will find that crossing the road can be tricky as there are no crossing places but there are wide footpaths once you have crossed over. You can glimpse the cottages and shops of Castle Hill and Castle Green from the Great Keep, when looking out over the Elizabethan Gardens.  For those travelling through the area, there is limited parking along Castle Hill and in the Abbey Fields car park further along and the area is not far from the town centre if you are up for a moderate walk.

Wellesbourne Airfield Café

Wellesbourne Airfield Café

If you fancy having breakfast in an unusual location, try the Touchdown Café at Wellesbourne Airfield on Loxley Lane.

Located just outside Wellesbourne, going towards Stratford, the café offers a good value breakfast with thick slices of bacon, cooked to order, and served on a decked terrace beside the airfield’s runway where you can enjoy your breakfast while watching the small civil aircraft take-off and land. Helicopters hover at the far end of the field and at the other is a Vulcan bomber. 

The café has a distinct aviation theme with flight maps under the glass tops of the tables and models planes suspended from the ceiling. Alongside a framed collection of cigarette cards depicting planes from the past, the noticeboard advertises headsets for sale and opportunities to ‘share an aircraft’ or organise a flight to Egypt.

If the breakfast is not your cup of tea, the rest of the menu is also good value and tea and coffee are reasonably priced. 

It is great to be able to watch the small planes up close but it does get busy. It is popular with bikers and families who come to see the planes, as well as the occasional pilot or passenger who has just flown in.

1940's Tea room in Stratford

1940's Tea room in Stratford

Great find a couple of weeks ago, down Union Street in Stratford, not far from the main road and Shakespeare's birthplace. A 1940's themed tea room with ration book covers to the menus, decoration and staff dressed appropriate to wartime Britain (including their hair tied up in headscarves) and a large china pot of real tea that comes with its own sand-timer to tell you when the tea is ready and you can take out the large infuser.  Scones, jam and cream went down well and the staff were friendly, despite all eight of us turning up just as they were closing. 


This is worth a visit, especially if you have friends visiting the town, or you just fancy something different from the Bard. I will definitely be going back, if only to have another pot of their very pleasant blend of 'real' tea.

Fourteas Tearoom, Union Street, Stratford on Avon