The Open Road - Classic Car Hire - Leisure Drives

Leisure Drive - Stoneleigh Tour

The Stoneleigh tour starts from St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick and takes you through the historic town and the north of Royal Leamington Spa. It then leads you through the rolling countryside and picturesque villages of central Warwickshire and the market town of Southam before heading north to take in Stoneleigh and Kenilworth. It returns via Honiley, Beausale and the craft and antiques centre at Hatton Country World – before bringing you back past the Racecourse into Warwick.

Total Mileage: Approx 44 miles

Description
The historic town of Warwick is well worth exploring. Here you can browse antique, china and gift shops and visit a number of museums. For refreshment there are some good pubs, fine restaurants and tearooms in the town.
Starting from the car park at St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick, turn right onto the A425 signed Birmingham.
Keep in the right hand lane as you approach the roundabout and go straight on. You immediately come to another junction with traffic lights where you turn right into Smith Street signed Coventry A429.
At the bottom of Smith Street get into the right lane and keep straight on at the traffic lights signposted Leamington A445
St John’s House is on the right as you pass the Crown & Castle Inn on your left.
St John’s House has displays of Warwickshire social history, including costume
Continue along the Emscote Road and cross the Grand Union Canal and then the River Avon
Keep in the left lane and take the left fork into Rugby Road signposted Rugby A445
At the roundabout take the 2^nd exit signposted Rugby A445
Keep straight on at the traffic lights signposted Rugby, Lillington & Cubbington
At the first roundabout take 1^st exit signposted Lillington & Cubbington
At the second roundabout take 3^rd exit onto Cubbington Road
Drive through Cubbington past the Rugby Tavern and at the mini roundabout Turn Right onto Windmill Hill signposted Offchurch
At the Stags Head in Offchurch follow the road to the left signposted Long Itchington & Southam
Keep straight on across the staggered crossroads sign posted Bascote & Southam
Keep straight on at the crossroads, crossing the Fosse Way sign posted Bascote & Southam
Pass the sign at the edge of Southam and continue past the Leisure Centre
At the T Junction our tour turns left to head North.
Should you wish to go into Southam town centre turn right
A historic coaching and market town, Southam has some interesting old coaching inns. The Old Mint Inn is a stone building dating from the 14^th century and is so named because Charles I is said to have minted coins here for his troops after the battle of Edgehill.
At the roundabout take the 1^st exit signposted Long Itchington & Coventry A423
Drive through the village of Long Itchington
Cross the Grand Union Canal with Two Boats Inn on your right
Drive through the village of Marton passing the Black Horse public house
Drive through the village of Princethorpe
At the roundabout take the 1^st exit onto A445 passing Ryton Police College
Ryton Pools Country Park is on your left should you wish to stop for a walk or a picnic. Pay for car parking at the barrier
At the crossroads turn right sign posted Baginton
At the next crossroads turn left signposted Stoneleigh
At T junction turn right opposite a large stone gateway
At the Give Way sign keep straight on over the red stone bridge over the River Stowe then immediately turn left up The Bank sign posted Coventry B4113
If you turn left before the bridge the entrance to Stoneleigh Park is 1 mile down this road. Stoneleigh Park is home to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, where the Royal Show, Britain’s biggest rural event, is staged in early July and the Town and Country Festival is held in late August.
Take the right fork up the Birmingham Road. Note the Almshouses on the left
At crossroads turn left sign posted Stoneleigh Abbey
The entrance to Stoneleigh Abbey is on your left
Established in 1154, Stoneleigh Abbey offers an insight into the last 800 years. During her stay, Jane Austen was inspired to write Mansfield Park. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also stayed her. See Victoria’s bed and bathroom, magnificent state rooms and 690 acres of parkland.
At the road junction turn left (only option)
At the next roundabout go all the way round coming back the way you have come, signposted Kenilworth.
At the large roundabout, crossing the A46 dual carriageway, take the second exit into Kenilworth.
As you approach the town centre, by the roundabout and St John’s Church, first take the right hand lane and then the left lane in the one way system and follow the signs towards town centre and castle.
As you drive through Kenilworth, if you wish to stop the car parks are signposted to the right.
With a fine selection of small shops, restaurants and tea rooms, Kenilworth is a great place to stop and explore.
At the roundabout by the Clock Tower take the first exit signposted Stonebridge A452 in front of the De Montfort Hotel.
The Tourist Information Centre and Library are on your left.
Follow the road until you come to the car park for Kenilworth Castle on your left (just after a sharp right hand bend).
Explore Kenilworth Castle, the ruined glory of Elizabethan England. One of the greatest strongholds in England the Castle was used by Henry I, II and V. It was here, too, that Robert Dudley entertained Elizabeth I for 19 days – during which time those at the Castle consumed 190 oxen and 45,000 gallons of wine and beer!
The area around the Castle is particularly worth exploring. A circular walk around the Castle offers some magnificent views. Abbey Fields is also good for a gentle stroll – see the ruins of Kenilworth Abbey and glimpse the thatched cottages of ‘Little Virginia’ where Sir Walter Raleigh is thought to have planted some of the first potatoes he brought back from Virginia.
From Kenilworth Castle, turn left back along the main road, signposted to Balsall Common.
At the T-junction near a disused Q8 petrol station turn left towards Warwick
Pass the Tipperary Inn on your right. Excellent pub food
Turn left off the main road, opposite the Honiley Boot Hotel
Follow the road round past Honiley Hall
At the T junction turn left opposite the Paddocks Livery
At the T junction turn right signposted Beausale and Warwick
At the T junction turn right signposted Solihull A4177
As you go up the hill, a turning on the left signposted British Waterways takes you to the famous Hatton Locks – a flight of 21 locks on the Grand Union Canal. It is well worth stopping and taking a walk along the canal to see the locks. It is also a great place for a picnic and there is a canal side café for light refreshments.
Pass the Waterman public house on your left.
This overlooks the canal and Hatton Flight
Take the left fork, signposted Hatton Country World
Turn left at the crossroads signposted Hatton Country World. Take care as the road is narrow in places. Turn left into Hatton Country World.
Hatton Country World is home to Hatton Shopping Village, with England’s largest craft centre, an antiques centre, factory outlet for fashions and two restaurants. It is also home to Hatton Farm Village, with animals and adventure play.
On leaving Hatton Country World, turn left and drive with care as this is a single track lane with passing places
Take the right fork signposted Claverdon and Henley
At the T-junction turn left signposted Warwick A4189, going back over the M40.
Enter Warwick by the racecourse. There is a turning to Warwick Castle on the right which takes you to the main Castle car parks, otherwise proceed up the hill.
Enjoy Britain’s greatest mediaeval experience at Warwick Castle. Experience a mediaeval household preparing for battle. There’s also a dungeon, magnificent towers and ramparts, state rooms, mill and engine house, plus 60 acres of grounds to explore.
To take you back to the starting place of the tour, turn right at the T-junction, into Bowling Green Street signposted Stratford and Stow.
You will immediately come to another T-junction. Turn left into West Street. Pass the Lord Leycester Hospital on your left.
Robert Dudley founded the Lord Leycester Hospital in 1571 as a home for retired servicemen and it is still used as such today. This delightful group of 14^th century timber framed buildings is clustered around the original Norman gate into Warwick.
During the summer months be sure to visit the stunning Master’s Garden.
Discover another garden treasure in Warwick at Hill Close Gardens. These secret Victorian gardens are being lovingly restored.
Also well worth a visit in Market Place is the Warwickshire Museum housing collections of Warwickshire past and present.
St Mary’s Church contains the Beauchamp Chantry, the finest medieval chapel in England, with tombs of the Earls of Warwick and Queen Elizabeth’s favourite, Robert Dudley.

Keep straight on at the crossroads, crossing the Fosse Way sign posted Bascote & Southam

A historic coaching and market town, Southam has some interesting old coaching inns. The Old Mint Inn is a stone building dating from the 14th century and is so named because Charles I is said to have minted coins here for his troops after the battle of Edgehill.

Established in 1154, Stoneleigh Abbey offers an insight into the last 800 years. During her stay, Jane Austen was inspired to write Mansfield Park. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also stayed her. See Victoria’s bed and bathroom, magnificent state rooms and 690 acres of parkland.

At the T junction turn right signposted Beausale and Warwick

A historic coaching and market town, Southam has some interesting old coaching inns. The Old Mint Inn is a stone building dating from the 14^th century and is so named because Charles I is said to have minted coins here for his troops after the battle of Edgehill.