Warwick is one of those places that punches well above its size. A market town with a thousand years of history packed into walkable streets, it manages to feel grand and intimate at the same time. If you've never spent a weekend here, it's time you did. And if you have, you already know why we love it.
The Old Coffee Tavern sits right in the middle of it all, at 16 Old Square, between the historic market square and St Mary's Church. From our doorstep, everything is walkable.
Start with Warwick Castle. Yes, it's a major attraction, and yes, it gets busy, but it earns the hype. The towers, the dungeons, the grounds, the falconry displays, it's a properly good day out, particularly for families. Get there early to beat the queues.
For something quieter, climb the tower at St Mary's Church for one of the best views in Warwickshire. The Lord Leycester Hospital is also remarkable: a medieval guildhall turned home for retired soldiers, with beautiful architecture and a peaceful garden.
The town centre is a pleasure to wander. Independent shops, antique dealers, bookshops, and cafés line the streets. Warwick has held onto its character in a way that many English market towns haven't, which makes a slow Saturday browse feel like an event in itself.
For food and drink, the choice is good. Beyond our own kitchen and bar (we'd recommend the slow cooked Sunday lunch and a pint of local ale), the town has excellent independent restaurants, traditional pubs, and a couple of properly good coffee shops if that's your morning ritual.
Slightly further afield, Stratford upon Avon is twenty minutes by car for Shakespeare's birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The Cotswolds are within easy reach for villages, walks, and country pubs. Warwick Racecourse hosts events through the year if you fancy a flutter.
Where do you stay? Well, you already know our answer. The Old Coffee Tavern offers rooms upstairs, which means you're in the centre of everything with great food and drink steps away. Direct bookings via theoldcoffeetavern.co.uk get you the best rate.
A weekend in Warwick is the kind of trip you'll want to repeat. Start planning yours.