Situated on the banks of the River Avon, Warwick is well located and steeped in history. From here one can travel south and reach the city of Coventry and to the west is another popular tourist destination, Leamington Spa. Which means you can use the town as a base to explore not simply Warwick but the many attractions that are located relatively close to it. Here we’ll take a look at some of the things Warwick can offer you.

Warwick Castle – Whilst you can treat this as “just” a castle, there is much more to it: there are plenty of activities one can get involved in during a visit. You can experience what it feels like for soldiers preparing for battle or just how much a sword really does weigh. They’ll even let you wear a battle helmet. Then after all this excitement take time out to visit the State Rooms which have been lavishly decorated and see how the household prepares for a party taking place in Victorian times.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace – Which of course is in Stratford upon Avon, a mere 8 miles from Warwick. This half timbered house was where William Shakespeare was born. The exhibitions that you walk past give you an insight into the bard’s life, including his famous writing. You’ll be drawn into the reconstructions complete with sound effects together with artifacts dating back to Shakespeare’s time mean you’ll be transported back to his lifetime.

To reach the house itself one bases through what is considered to be a traditional English garden. As you walk through it you will see flowers, herbs and trees have been planted in it which Shakespeare loved and which are mentioned in his plays. It is thanks to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust that this house has been restored to its former glory very carefully to ensure that many of its original features have been retained.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – Just a short trip from Shakespeare’s birth place is Shottery where his future wife spent her formative years. Although we now refer to it as a cottage at the time when Anne lived in it and where Shakespeare came to court her it was quite a substantial farmhouse. It was home to her descendants until the late 19th Century when it was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Although the cottage itself dates from the 16th and 17th centuries there are two curved oak beams which were erected in 1463. As you wander inside the cottage you will find that little has changed and in the living room is not only the original open hearth but paneling as well. There are pieces of original period furniture in the cottage and including the 4 poster Hathaway Bed.

Lunt Roman Fort – Well before the construction of Warwick Castle, the Roman army had constructed a fort for themselves. After painstaking research the site now features a faithful reconstruction of the original fort. You’ll get a feel for how life was for members of the ancient Roman army. The various archaeological digs here have contributed many of the museum’s pieces together with a model of how the fort would likely have looked in its heyday.

When you next visit Warwick, you can choose your Warwick hotel here.

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Keswick is located between Derwentwater and Skiddaw. It is one of the major tourist destinations in the north of the Lake District. Because of this, there are a wide variety of Keswick attractions that visitors to the town can enjoy. There are plenty of hotels and guest houses in Keswick.

The market town of Keswick was first granted its market charter back in 1276 by Edward I and even today, a market still takes place in it every Saturday. However, when the town was first being settled it was located at Crosthwaite, which is located on the western side of the town today. Originally built in 553 AD, Crossthwaite Church was initially called St Kentigern. In more recent times, the co-founder of the National Trust, Canon Rawsley, was vicar of the church between the years of 1883 and 1917.

The National Trust owns and protects much of the land surrounding Keswick. This is why Keswick and the surrounding area hasn't changed much over the years. There are many attractions across the town, including the famous Pencil Museum, as well as other attractions in the surrounding area. Here are some of the better known.

1. Ashness Bridge - this appears on all sorts of places and is probably the most-photographed place in the Lake District. From here, you can see right the way across Derwentwater to Keswick and on to Skiddaw. if you can, do your best to visit at sunrise or sunset. You'll miss most tourists and get the best views. This will provide you with a much more dramatic photograph to take.

2. Castlerigg Stone Circle - this is one of the most visited and easily accessible such circle in the Lake District. Of all the stone circles to be found in the area of Cumbria, England this is the most popular and dates from around 3,000BC. By why the circle was built is still unclear today but many people have come up with many ideas. Some believe it is a burial site whilst others believe it was built to be used as an astronomical observatory. However, the reason why most people enjoy visiting this location is because of its peace and tranquillity.

3. Derwentwater – this lake is three miles long and the shores reach up to the edge of Keswick. You can enjoy it by hiring a rowing boat or using the Keswick Launch, which acts as a bus across the lake. Keswick Launch doubles up as a tourist attraction and a local bus service. The Launch runs between Ashness Gate, Loddre, High and Low Brandelhow, Hawes and Nichol End. But if you want to view the lake from the shoreline there are plenty of relaxing walks around it one can enjoy.

Here, we'll take a look at some of the most popular tourist attractions near Keswick. However, there are plenty of other fascinating and interesting places for one to visit as well as things to do whilst staying in Keswick.

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