As the leaders in care homes in Nuneaton, we’re crazy about our city! Besides being the largest town in Warwickshire, Nuneaton is also known for other notable things, among them being the birthplace of renowned novelist Mary Anne Evans who wrote under the pen name of George Eliot. Nuneaton was vastly featured in her novels as the Milbury. The town was formed around a small Benedictine Abbey of Nuns hence its name.

Until the 20th Century, Nuneaton relied on mining and quarrying economically. Evidence of this exists to date in the form of Mount Judd, which is a 158-metre-tall mountain.

Nuneaton was adversely affected during World War II, and most of it had to be rebuilt. The town is soaked in history with plenty of exciting events that have taken place in years past. Still, there’s plenty to see and do in Nuneaton for families and individuals looking for information and fun.

  1. Arbury Hall

Arbury Hall is one of the best places to start your tour of Nuneaton. The hall is on the site of the dissolved Augustinian Arbury Priory. It has a blend of Elizabethan and 18th Century gothic revival architecture. It sits on 300 acres of idyllic parkland.

One of the estate’s farms on this land is the birthplace of George Eliot. This fact makes the Arbury Hall a must-visit for fans of the renowned novelist’s work.

  1. Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery

If you’re a fan of museums or a historian, you can follow up your experience of the Arbury Hall with a visit to the Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery. The flower garden in Riversely Park is an excellent place to start.

The Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery also has a gallery dedicated to George Elliot, her early life in Nuneaton and her career. There’s a writing room here for budding storytellers, complete with a George Eliot board game. There are colouring-in areas, a puppet theatre, and playable musical instruments to keep the kids busy while you marvel at the history inside the museum.

  1. Ace Karting

Ace Karting is a fun-filled and adrenaline-parked adventure for kits and young adults. The park is a family-friendly indoor go-karting venue with a junior track. It also has a main track. For extra cautious parents, all the junior karts on the track can be remotely speed restricted for the safety of the riders. It’s perfect for kids ages 5-12. Ace Karting is an excellent location not only for visits but also for birthdays.

  1. Triumph Motorcycles Visitor Experience

For some big boy fun for motorheads and lovers of cycling, the Triumph Motorcycles Visitor Experience is the best place for you.

Triumph is a treasured British marque that was founded in 1902 by a German immigrant. The original company went into receivership, but Triumph continued making motorcycles under new owners at a new site in Hinckley, which is now the home of the UK’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer.

While here, you will be taken on a tour of the factory and a rare chance to go behind the scenes and witness its precision engineering and get the chance to learn some privileged insights as you go.

You can also dive headfirst into the company’s history at the exhibition, which recalls all landmarks of the company’s history dating back over 120 years. There’s also a sleek 1902 café that serves artisan coffee where you can refuel as you chart your next stopover.

  1. Hartshill Hayes Country Park

For that serene and peaceful getaway, Hartshill Hayes Country Park is the perfect place. The park has over 130 acres of open fields and woodlands on a hilltop. The park has dream views of the Anker Valley. You can just sit and soak in the magnificent landscape from a bench.

It’s an amazing, family-friendly place to be. There is a playground where youngsters can play and a café that is usually open during school holidays. It’s convenient if you intend to stay for a long time.

On quiet days, you can catch a deer in the woodland, and during springtime, the forest floor is covered with bluebells. The trails in the park are signposted and laid with gravel or tarmac, making them pushchair and wheelchair accessible.

  1. Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

The Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre is a one-of-a-kind museum that uses technology to take the visitor back hundreds of years to witness one of the turning point wars in English history.

The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last big battle in the Wars of Roses. The war raged on for 30 years, pitting the Houses of York and Lancaster.

The Heritage Centre opened at what is thought to be the site of the battle n 1974, quickly winning awards. The centre recounts the War of the Roses and the events of 22 August 1485. The exhibitions rely heavily on visual aids and interactivity.

One of the most memorable exhibits shows how long soldiers could expect to survive in battle depending on their weapons and armour.

There’s also a café where you can get something to eat. There are also well-manicured grounds that have labelled trails that disappear into the woodlands.

  1. Mount Judd

Mount Judd is the 158 metres high bump that sits north of Nuneaton. It was a volcanic caldera. It is a spoil tip that was created from waste stone from the Judkins Quarry that processed granite. This majestic heap is now covered with vegetation. It has steeply graded slopes and stands peculiar as it is seen for miles around.

Mount Judd is the 3,306th highest peak in England. To locals, the mountain is known as “Nuneaton Nipple.” Unfortunately, Mount Judd is fenced off for safety purposes because of its precipitous slopes.

  1. Riversley Park

The Riversley Park can be seen from the entrance of the Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery. You can see the restorative view of the former flower beds and topiaries of the war memorials, now Riversley Park.

The park is bordered to the east by River Anker. When coming to the park, you can bring bird-friendly feeds like oats for the ducks and swans that frequent the park. Children are not left behind as they can play in the well-cared-for play area complete with a sandpit.

The Park is boarded by the George Eliot Memorial Gardens to the north, and to the south is the Pingles Leisure Centre. If you want a change of scenery, you have to quick stop around you.

  1. Bear Rock Indoor Climbing Centre

The Bear Rock Indoor Climbing Centre is located at the University of Warwick. It’s an excellent place for kids aged 8 and over and want to try rock climbing or develop similar skills. The fun-packed activities include walls and a bouldering room. Outdoor trips are also available. If you’re looking for something slightly different but just as fun and involving, the Bear Rock Indoor Climbing Centre will be a fantastic place for your children.

  1. Sutton Cheney

Sutton Cheney is to the south of the Battle of Bosworth Field Heritage on the Ashby Canal, dating to the turn of the 19th century. Also known as the Wharf, it makes an exciting stepping stone for the Bosworth Battlefield Circular Trail. Some people prefer to idle on the picnic benches in this picturesque setting. It also has a café by the water terrace, which is quite inviting.

  1. Birmingham Airport Aircraft Viewing Area

The aircraft viewing area is an excellent place for budding pilots of all ages. The location allows you to see all the coming and outgoing flights. The experience of watching aircrafts taking off and landing is surprisingly captivating. The location offers an unobstructed view of the runaway and even has picnic benches where you can sit and watch the planes as they come and go.  When you’re looking for some family fun, the Birmingham Airport Aircraft Viewing Area should be on your itinerary.

  1. Abbey Theatre

Unfortunately, there are not many theatres in Nuneaton. The Abbey Theatre is the only one of its kind. It stages more than 50 live performances a year. The auditorium seats 250 in plush comfortable seats where you can watch local and touring musicians, plays musicals, dance companies, and improv and stand-up comedy.

There is a regular Funhouse Comedy Night that showcases four comedians from around the country. Recently, the theatre started screening films from past classics like ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and Frozen sing-along.

  1. Ropewalk Shopping Centre

There’s no tour that is ever complete without a shopping spree. The Ropewalk Shopping Centre will cover all your shopping needs. It is located in the heart of the town and possibly gets its name from the tight rope walking it will have you doing on your budget.

The centre was formally known as the Queen’s Arcade. The new shopping centre started in 2005 and features two floors with an impressive glass roof over the main walkway.

The shopping centre houses all the leading brands like H&M, Top Shop, River Island, HMV and there is a Subway and Costa branch here as well. There are more high street shops which are often taken over by a street market on Saturdays and Wednesdays just a walking distance from the centre.

  1. Hoar Park Craft Village

The Hoar park is a lovely courtyard of 17th-century barns that have been turned into craft shops and studios. It’s a fantastic place to stop over and shop for antiques, luxury confectionery, jewellery, horse-riding accessories, gifts, paintings and fresh farm produce. It is a great last stop before heading back home, where you can buy gifts for your friends and family.

You can bring the kids along without worrying about them being nagging because there is something for them as well. There is a children’s park that keeps sheep, pigs, Kune Kune, deer, chicken and ducks. The pygmy goats, rabbits and guinea pigs can be picked up and petted.

  1. Blaby Golf Centre

The Blaby Golf Centre is not your average golf course. It’s an amazing place for children and overall family fun. You can all enjoy a game of pitch and putt. There is also a fun Congo River Adventure golf course that hosts adventurous and crazy golf. The best part about this experience is you don’t have to pre-book the adventure golf. Just show up and have fun.

  1. Bosworth Water Park

If the weather is favourable or you happen to be in Nuneaton during summer, the Bosworth Water Park is a must-visit. It is a 50-acre leisure park with all sorts of activities.

Water sports like dinghy sailing, canoeing, rowing, paddle boarding and kayaking are the highlights of the water park.

You don’t have to worry about bringing your own equipment. Everything you need is available for hire. There is also a wide choice of courses if you’re sticking around for a long time and work towards getting your RYA sailing certificate.

  1. Hawkesbury Junction

The Hawkesbury Junction is an atmospheric piece of early industrial infrastructure. It is where the northern end of the Oxford Canal meets the Coventry Canal.

The junctional was completed in 1803, bringing to an end decades of legal wrangling between the Oxford and Coventry Canal companies on the right to charge tolls.

The Greyhound Inn is highly recommended while visiting this spot for its pub grub, and it has tables on the Wharf.

Watching boats attempting the tricky turn from one canal to the next without clipping the sides is quite immersive and surprisingly interesting.

  1. Anker Wood

Anker Wood features a treetop trail and a peaceful orchard that grows pears, plums, traditional apples and damsons.

It also has a maze world that features six different mazes to solve. Each maze uses region-specific plants and objects as barriers. Children can spend time with tame domestic animals like anglo-Nubian goats, guinea pigs, alpacas, and Shetland ponies.

There is also a Roman-themed soft play area, and if you get hungry, there is also a café that you can try out.

  1. Nuneaton Heritage Centre

The Nuneaton Heritage Centre offers great insight into the history of the town and doubles up as a worthwhile attraction. It is housed in an old Victorian School Building. The heritage centre has preserved some of the former school’s fittings like wooden desks and the headmistress’s parlour.

There are plenty of mementos and artefacts from days gone by, many donated by residents. The heritage centre also covers the Second World War, which saw Nuneaton suffer extensive bombing.

  1. Ashby Canal

The Ashby Canal is a 22-mile-long towpath that makes a lovely day out for the entire family. It is very attractive between Stoke Golding and Shackle stone featuring amazing birds like kingfishers, herons, water voles and other wildlife that you can enjoy along the way.