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Royal Leamington Spa earned its Royal charter for the spa waters of which Queen Victoria was fond and has wonderful Georgian and Victorian parks and buildings making this a very popular place to live.
Leamington’s range of bars and restaurants is always expanding but it is the shopping which really stands out, featuring both large department stores and also many independent shops and boutiques. It has cinemas and arts venues as well as a variety of lively pubs, bars and nightclubs.
Events
Download a flyer on events in 2008. Also see the Leamington Spa Town Council website for further details on events in Leamington spa.
History
Leamington Spa is a fairly modern town, which before the 19th century was only a small village going by the name of Leamington Priors. The domesday book of 1086 in fact records the village as Lamintone.
Leamington would have probably remained as a small village had it not been for the re-discovery of the healing properties of spa waters which had first been known about during Roman times. The first spring was discovered in Leamington in 1784, and the town quickly developed afterwards.
Attractions and places to visit
In 1814 the Royal Pump Rooms and Baths were opened close to the River Leam, which runs through the centre of the town. This grand structure attracted many visitors, hoping to soothe various aches, pains and ailments by bathing in pools filled with the salty spa water. Leamington soon became a popular spa resort which attracted the wealthy and famous, and construction began of numerous Georgian townhouses to accommodate visitors.
Leamington's reputation spread and the town gained its "Royal" prefix in 1838, following a visit by Queen Victoria to the Spa. Queen Victoria's statue still stands in the town and was almost destroyed by a German bomb during World War II. It was actaully moved by two inches on its plinth in the blast and has yet to be returned to it's original position.
Today the pump rooms act as a culture and heritage centre, featuring the Leamington Art Gallery, a museum and library as well as a Tourist Information Centre and café. Spa water can still be sampled at the museum.
The town is noted for its parks and gardens, particularly the award winning Jephson Gardens, close to the Royal Pump Rooms alongside the River Leam. The central part of the town is the Parade, a street which hosts Royal Priors shopping centre and a wide range of high street chains.
Leamington's main architectural characteristic is it's wide main streets, with elegant Georgian, Regency and Victorian townhouses, many lined with trees. Much of this architecture remains, giving Leamington a grand appearance.
The Royal Spa Centre is a lively entertainments venue right in the centre of town, that offers the best live performances from both comedians such as Jimmy Carr and musicians such as Van Morrison.
Full list of Attractions
For full details of attractions in and around Leamington Spa see our Attractions Database that lists what to see and do in Warwick District.
Enjoywarwickshire.com Gold Offers
Please also see our Attractions Database for full details on what Gold Offers are available in and around Warwick.
Nearby locations
Nearby picturesque villages and hamlets include Whitnash, Radford Semele, Bishops Tachbrook, Cubbington and Offchurch.
Tourist Information
The local Tourist Information Centre within Leamington Spa is based at:
The Royal Pump Rooms
The Parade
Leamington Spa
CV32 4AB
Tel: 01926 742762
Fax: 01926 742766
Email: leamington@shakespeare-country.co.uk
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Useful Links to Information on Leamington Spa and organisations within Leamington.
48 hours in Royal Leamington Spa
Accommodation in Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa Tourist Information Centre
Pictures of Leaminton Spa
www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk
www.shakespeare-country.co.uk/leamington-spa
Useful links to further information on Royal Leamington spa
BBC Weather forecast for Leamington Spa
Google Map of Royal Leamington Spa
Local buses serving Leamington Spa
National transport links to Royal Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa Car park locations and fees |