The best city hikes and walks around Kenilworth

The Finham Brook is a lower tributary of the River Sowe, it flows through Kenilworth and Warwickshire, England, to join the Sowe near Finham. The Inchford and Finham brooks were dammed by the Tiltyard causeway to create a lake and water defence for Kenilworth Castle by King John in the 13th century.

Formerly a fishpond belonging to the Abbey of St Mary up until the dissolution, Robin Leach dates its draining to become the oxpen meadow as c1650. The meadow was first flooded for skating in 1879, and re-flooded as a wartime water supply in 1940. By 1948 it was drained again and used for an agricultural show. The decision to flood the meadow permanently came in 1997.

The church is built of local red sandstones. The main phases of building are Decorated Gothic, Perpendicular Gothic and a Gothic Revival Victorian restoration of 1864. It is a Grade I listed building. The church is a short distance south of the High Street, next to the Norman and Gothic ruins of St Mary's Abbey, over which much of the churchyard of St Nicholas now extends.

Abbey Fields is set in the dramatic valley of the Finham Brook and enjoys views of the historic town and Kenilworth castle. Grassy slopes, a lake, historic buildings and veteran trees recall Abbey Fields’ past as the farmland of St Mary’s Abbey, whose ruins adjoin the park. Because of its important heritage, Abbey Fields is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The castle was founded after the Norman Conquest of 1066; with development through to the Tudor period. It has been described by the architectural historian Anthony Emery as "the finest surviving example of a semi-royal palace of the later middle ages, significant for its scale, form and quality of workmanship". Kenilworth played an important historical role: it was the subject of the six-month-long siege of Kenilworth in 1266, thought to be the longest siege in medieval English history, and formed a base for Lancastrian operations in the Wars of the Roses. Kenilworth was the scene of the removal of Edward II from the English throne, the perceived French insult to Henry V in 1414 of a gift of tennis balls (said by John Strecche to have prompted the campaign that led to the Battle of Agincourt), and the Earl of Leicester's lavish reception of Elizabeth I in 1575. It has been described as "one of two major castles in Britain which may be classified as water-castles or lake-fortresses...

Drop down and corner past a medieval castle. Pretty cool.

One of the finest examples of a semi-royal palace of the later middle ages. Built over 900 years ago the castle has survived a six month siege, it was an important base in the War of the Roses and hosted queen Elizabeth 1st. Today it's managed by English Heritage and hosts jousts and re-enactments as well as themed days. Non members pay entry. Café and facilities on site. Open 10:00 - 17:00 mon to fri.

At the head of Warwick Road by Abbey End stands the Kenilworth Clock Tower, on the site of a much earlier market cross. George Marshall Turner, a wealthy local businessman and benefactor to the town, funded the construction of the clock tower in memory of his wife. The finished clock tower was unveiled in January 1907 and was passed on to Kenilworth council. The surrounding buildings, including the Globe Hotel, were destroyed in the blitz of November 1941. The upper part of the clock was deemed unsafe and had to be pulled down using the local fire ladder. The continued existence of the clock tower was by no means assured, despite its status as a local landmark. Even the Kenilworth History & Archaeology Society was split over its future, however, the clock tower was ultimately restored. In 1973 the stone crown was reinstated and in 1974 a local blacksmith constructed a replacement weather vane. From visit.kenilworthweb.co.uk