Warwickshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Royal Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa but commonly just Leamington, (pronounced Lemmington — IPA: [ˈlɛmɪŋtən]) is a spa town in central Warwickshire, in England. According to the 2001 census the town had a population of 45,114. It is named after the River Leam which flows through the town. Leamington lies near the centre of England - indeed, a young tree called the Midland Oak, at Lillington, just to the north-east of the town centre, is marked by a plaque claiming that it marks the very centre of the country.
Leamington is the most populous town in the southern half of Warwickshire (the county is almost split in two by the West Midlands). The town is split north and south by the river Leam, which can flood at times (notoriously so around Easter 1998). The town is extending rapidly, particularly to the south. Industry in the town is light to medium and is concentrated along the route to the M40, south of the town. Many people commute from Leamington to Coventry, 10 miles north and Birmingham, 25 miles northwest. As a result of the commuter rush, traffic during rush hour can be quite heavy in the town.
Map sources for Leamington Spa at grid reference SP3165
The town is noted for its parks and gardens, particularly the Jephson Gardens, close to the Royal Pump Rooms and next to the River Leam. These were seriously damaged in the floods of 1998, but have been restored, and even improved with funding from the National Lottery. The other side of the River Leam, on Priory Terrace close to the Parish Church, features a 19th century slipway down to the river which was specifically constructed so that circus elephants in winter quarters in Leamington could be watered. The central part of the town is the Parade, a street which hosts the Royal Priors shopping centre and a wide range of high street chains.
A large number of students and staff of the University of Warwick, which is on Coventry's southern outskirts, reside in Leamington, which as a result has a vibrant nightlife with a wide range of restaurants and bars, ranging from cheap to extravagant.
There is much Georgian and early Victorian architecture, including numerous Georgian townhouses, giving Leamington a somewhat grand appearance. Population growth has led to Leamington forming a small conurbation with the the neighbouring town of Warwick.
Leamington is the most populous town in the southern half of Warwickshire (the county is almost split in two by the West Midlands). The town is split north and south by the river Leam, which can flood at times (notoriously so around Easter 1998). The town is extending rapidly, particularly to the south. Industry in the town is light to medium and is concentrated along the route to the M40, south of the town. Many people commute from Leamington to Coventry, 10 miles north and Birmingham, 25 miles northwest. As a result of the commuter rush, traffic during rush hour can be quite heavy in the town.
Map sources for Leamington Spa at grid reference SP3165
The town is noted for its parks and gardens, particularly the Jephson Gardens, close to the Royal Pump Rooms and next to the River Leam. These were seriously damaged in the floods of 1998, but have been restored, and even improved with funding from the National Lottery. The other side of the River Leam, on Priory Terrace close to the Parish Church, features a 19th century slipway down to the river which was specifically constructed so that circus elephants in winter quarters in Leamington could be watered. The central part of the town is the Parade, a street which hosts the Royal Priors shopping centre and a wide range of high street chains.
A large number of students and staff of the University of Warwick, which is on Coventry's southern outskirts, reside in Leamington, which as a result has a vibrant nightlife with a wide range of restaurants and bars, ranging from cheap to extravagant.
There is much Georgian and early Victorian architecture, including numerous Georgian townhouses, giving Leamington a somewhat grand appearance. Population growth has led to Leamington forming a small conurbation with the the neighbouring town of Warwick.