There has been a fortification of some description on this site since 914. The earliest military strategist to make use of the area's defensive features was Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great. It was originally built to protect the small hill top settlement of Warwick from Danish invaders threatening Mercia, the central Anglo-Saxon kingdom.It was William the Conqueror who built the first true castle here, building a motte (from the French word for moat) and bailey fort here in 1068. William appointed one of his followers, Henry de Beaumont as Castellan. At some point during this stewardship, de Beaumont changed his name to de Newburgh, and five of his descendants duly followed in their forefathers' footsteps. The Castle continued to be passed through noble families until 1978, when it was purchased from Lord Brooke by the Tussauds group.

Located in central England, the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre is within easy access of the whole of Britain via the transport network.mVersatile and Flexible, 1,645 m2 of ground floor space, 312 acre paddock area adjoining the main hall, Ample parking facilities, Mezzanine restaurant seating 200 visitors with a licenced bar, Exclusive use, Multi purpose unique venue. Endless opportunities for indoor and outdoor events, Extensive and flexible facilities, Central location with excellent road and rail links, Experienced support team, Professional and individual approach. The Warwickshire Exhibition Centre is already attracting considerable interest and organisers are becoming aware of the many advantages we have over our competitors. Growth is set to continue and with the continuous improvement works planned, the venue offers exciting opportunities for organisers.

Stoneleigh Park has two purpose-built fully serviced, high-quality exhibition halls totalling 7,852sq m. In addition, the venue offers 12,000sq m of low-cost covered display space, a variety of conference rooms for up to 6,000 delegates, over 250 acres of serviced outdoor events space and a 58-room on-site hotel. The purpose built exhibition space provides a backdrop for trade and public exhibitions, corporate events and product launches, while the diverse conference complex offers organisers a choice of facilities with exceptional access suitable for the most diverse event. Recent events include, Institute of Videographers, Concord Auction, DHL launch, Coach and Tourism.

Our Golf Club is famous for its friendliness and hospitality as well as havingone of the great golf courses in the area. The 18 hole scenic parkland course, at 6400 yards off the white (back) tees, and with an SSS of 71, provides good challenges for low handicap golfers without unfairly penalising or intimidating everyone else. Testament to this, and to the excellent bar and restaurant facilities available, is our ever increasing popularity with visiting societies as well as regular requests to host major amateur competitions such as The Midlands Open and Inter County matches.

The "Man of the Millennium" William Shakespeare, was born in 1564 in the half-timbered house in Henley Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon. This is where the young William spent his child-hood and is believed to have been educated at the local grammar school. Entrance to the Birthplace, is through The Shakespeare Centre further up Henley Street. Here in the visitor centre, you will find an exciting new exhibition about the life and background of Shakespeare, following his life and work from his birth in 1564 to the time of his death in 1616. There are specially constructed scenes, sound effects, original artefacts and books; there is also a scale model of Shakespeare's Globe.

The most romantic of all the Shakespearean properties, is Anne Hathaway's Cottage, which lies in the beautiful hamlet of Shottery, just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. The cottage can still be reached by the footpaths over the fields, as it was in Shakespeare's time, when he came to court his future wife. This is where Anne Hathaway spent her childhood and youth, until at the age of eighteen, William Shakespeare and Anne were married in 1582. Today it is called a cottage, but in the sixteenth century it was a substantial farmhouse, known as Hewlands. The cottage was owned, and lived in by the Hathaway family and their descendants, until the late nineteenth century, when it was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.