A town that I just added to my 'cute English towns' list.
A
couple weeks ago my friends Jenn, Alberto and I went to spend the day
in Warwick. I'd heard about the castle and the old, typical English
landmarks, and that's all I need to know that I would love the place.
We had the best day, filled with sunshine, cute house spotting and
silly photos.
The
first thing we visited when we arrived was to visit St John's House
Museum, which is the first major place that you see as you come from
the station. It is a beautiful 17th-century house that once used to
be a school. Inside, you'll find various collections such as a
beautifully recreated Victorian classroom, old toy collections, a
Victorian kitchen, and the second floor is dedicated to the Royal
Warwickshire Regiment of Fusiliers, which contains beautiful
collections of army medals, military costumes and other objects
relating to the regiment.
The
museum is very interactive, and we had a great time learning about
the displays and trying on military jackets and hat. The staff there
is really friendly and helpful. As we were the first people who
entered the museum that day, we had the military museum for ourselves
and the curator of that part told us about the history of the
Fusiliers, giving us lots of details about the exhibition. I highly
recommend visiting St John's House if you are in the area, and don't
forget to make a donation (the entry is free, but helping small
museums is a good way to show your support so that they carry on
welcoming people and improving their displays.)
After
the visit and happy to have learnt some new things, it was time to
walk to the town centre and get some lunch. We all went for a good
full English breakfast at the local pub, which is always a treat! The
town centre of Warwick is rather small, but you'll find beautiful
buildings at every corner. It was a joy to explore the narrow streets
and peak through the windows of these old houses, pointing at our
favourites and wishing they were ours.
If
you visit Warwick, have a look at the Lord Leycester Hospital, a
beautiful set of timber-framed buildings, dating back to the 14th
century. In Elizabethan times, it was used as a place of retirement
for old soldiers. The state of preservation of these buildings is
exceptional, and you can still visit them today - in fact, you can
even hold your wedding reception there. How cool is that?
Also notice the beautiful Norman walls and gates that still surround the town...
If
you go around town a little more, you'll finally stumble upon the
most famous building in the county: Warwick Castle. It dates back to
Norman times, built by William the Conqueror in 1068. From
medieval times to the Victorian era, the castle has been preserved
and inhabited. Today, it is a major place to visit, and has been
turned into what seems like a mix between a museum and a theme park.
They seem to have made it such a big attraction, and the crowds were
a little off-putting.
If you don't have enough time to explore the castle or simply don't want to have to navigate through the numerous families and pushchairs, walk a little further away and go to the Mill Garden, a private garden located at the end of the prettiest residential street you'll ever see. It is a small garden opened to the public by the owners in exchange of a little fee. You can sit there, near the Avon, and take the prettiest shots of the castle.
Make your way through Mill Street, along the beautiful cottages. At the end of the street, spot the little pink house, and there you'll find the entrance to the (not so) secret garden.
After
having taken the perfect Instagram shots, we made our way to St
Nicholas' Park, a big park crossed by the river. You can go for a
walk, pet as many dogs and you can, have a picnic, rent a boat on a
nice day for a romantic date, or, like us, just lie down near the
river and soak up the warm spring sun. And notice how on boat dates,
it's always the guys who row row row the boat, gently down the
stream...
We
sat near bunches of bright yellow daffodils and I couldn't resist
taking dozens of pictures. They are my favourite flowers because each
year when they grow, spring comes along with them.
Before
getting back home (and staying stuck between Birmingham and
Northampton for ages - rail problems are the worst) we went back to
the pub for a little afternoon pick-me-up of brownies and ice cream.
We
had the nicest day, in the nicest little town, and I couldn't
recommend Warwick more to take a step back in time and immerse
yourself in that old-fashioned English atmosphere that I cherish so
much!
Have you ever been to Warwick? What is your favourite destination for a little day trip?
Lots of love,
Julia x
