Warwick (pronounced 'Worrick') is the historic county town of Warwickshire England and has a population of 23,200 (2001). The town is famous for Warwick Castle which attracts huge numbers of tourists from around the world. The town also has a historic town centre, with a number of buildings dating from Tudor times.
Named after the town is the University of Warwick although this is in fact some miles away, nearer Coventry.
Due to population growth, Warwick has effectively merged with its larger neighbouring town Leamington Spa. However, the towns are administratively separate, each having its own town council. They also maintain quite separate architectural identities, with Warwick dominated by 17th century architecture due to a large building program after the town was mostly destroyed by fire in 1694, whilst Leamington is built mainly in Regency style due to its growth in the early 19th century as a spa town.
Warwick is near the M40 motorway and the A46 main road, the town also has good rail links between London and Birmingham with train services being run by Chiltern railways. The Grand Union Canal and the River Avon also pass through the town.
The town of Warwick was founded on the banks of the River Avon in the year 914 AD by Ethelfleda, sister of Mercian king Edward the Elder, When Warwick castle was first built as a defence against Danish invaders.
In Medieval times Warwick was one of the largest and most prosperous towns in central England. In the 11th century it became the shire town of the newly created county of Warwickshire, after the collapse of the kingdom of Mercia.
In 1694 a great fire destroyed much of the town. History