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Named recently as one of the richest families in British history, the Earl of Warwick had lots of
money and knew how to spend it! As wars ceased, the Earl enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, the results of
which can be seen in the elegant 17th Century Great Hall and State Rooms, home to the castle’s
most prized possessions.

A visit to the castle also takes you through the landscaped Capability Brown gardens, down into
the mediaeval vaults and into the private residence of the Earl where you can discover the reality
about the lives of the Earl, his family and their servants. For those with stamina, you can even
climb to the top of the towers and ramparts – still open to the public after 1100 years and offering
broad views of the English countryside.

You can watch a jousting tournament (in summer) or the world’s largest trebuchet launching a
fireball.

Official Warwick Castle website . . . .

To get there take the Chester to Stratford touring route

Kenilworth From medieval fortress to Elizabethan palace, Kenilworth Castle has been at the centre
of England’s affairs for much of its 900 year history. Today, you can scale the heights of the tower
built to woo Queen Elizabeth I and marvel at the mighty Norman keep. Explore the exhibition in
the Gatehouse, and imagine the majesty of the Great Hall playing host to medieval monarchs and
early Tudor kings.

Coventry

Coventry Cathedral has had three cathedrals in the past 1000 years: the 12th century Priory
Church of St Mary, the medieval Parish Church Cathedral of St Michael and the modern Coventry
Cathedral, also named for St Michael. Coventry’s fortunes and story are closely associated to the
story of its cathedrals – a story of death and rebirth.

Coventry’s earliest cathedral, dedicated to St Mary, was founded as a Benedictine community by
Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife Godiva in 1043. In 1539, with the dissolution of the
monasteries by order of King Henry VIII, the cathedral fell into decay. Only in 1918 was the
modern diocese of Coventry created in its own right, and the church of St Michael designated as
its cathedral.

On the night of 14 November 1940, the city of Coventry was devastated by bombs dropped by the
Luftwaffe. The Cathedral burned with the city, having been hit by several incendiary devices.

The decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken the morning after its destruction. The result is the
very moving juxtaposition of the cathedral ruins and the new building we see today, each in their
own way telling a story of destruction and rebirth.

Shortly after the destruction, the cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, noticed that two of the
charred medieval roof timbers had fallen in the shape of a cross. He set them up in the ruins
where they were later placed on an altar of rubble with the moving words ‘Father Forgive’
inscribed on the Sanctuary wall. Another cross was fashioned from three medieval nails by local
priest, the Revd Arthur Wales. The Cross of Nails has become the symbol of Coventry’s ministry
of reconciliation.

To get there take the Chester to Stratford touring route

Birmingham.