England – Leamington Spa (En)

Leamington Spa is a city in central England located on the winding River Leam, it is known for its wide boulevards, stunning architecture and award-winning parks. The city centre combines a treasure trove of independent boutiques and various dining experiences.

What to see

Before heading to Leamington, we stopped to see Chesterton Windmill, one of Warwickshire’s most famous landmarks, which has stood on the top of this hill overlooking the village of Chesterton for almost 350 years. It is a 17th-century cylindrical stone windmill with an arched base.

From there we went to the city of Leamington where the first thing we found was All Saints Church. A fine example of the Gothic revival, this is one of the largest parish churches in the country. The church was expanded in stages between 1843 and 1902. A small monument in front marks the site of the original well erected over the town’s first mineral spring.

On the bridge across the River Leam on the left side you come across The Royal Pump Room and Baths, this prestigious bathhouse, destined to be one of the best in the country, opened in 1814 and expanded in 1861. The ornate assembly hall is now used for public events. The spa’s saline water can be obtained from a source within the building’s annexe. When we visited there was a second-hand brand clothing market, and I bought a sweatshirt!

Then we walked along the main street of the city called The Parade, this great wide street was the first street to be built in 1808 in the new spa town north of the river; older buildings such as the Town Hall are located opposite the Regent Hotel. Today The Parade is the main shopping area with many national chain stores, independent boutiques, and Regency Arcade and Royal Priors shopping centre.

We then saw the famous Jephson Gardens, they were given to the city in 1843 by Edward Willes as public gardens and dedicated to Dr Jephson in 1846. The gardens contain a large collection of mature trees, many not native to this country, as well as several fountains and monuments.

What to eat

We went to lunch at a typical English pub called The Pug where dogs are welcome inside and on the terrace. We shared a basket of the typical scampi with fries and chicken wings. The scampi were delicious!

See our next blog for our next beautiful place in England!