Leamington Spa: An overview
A vibrant, large town with Regency history and links to royalty, the circus and medicinal waters, Leamington Spa has plenty of character if you’re considering moving to the area. With a range of housing areas and styles to choose from, a busy town centre packed with cafes, restaurants, bars and popular local community events all year round, Leamington Spa offers an attractive town living opportunity no matter what your price tag is.
Homes in Leamington Spa
Leamington is perhaps best known for having some excellent examples of Regency architecture. These beautiful townhouses and the famous Landsdowne Crescent are mainly found in the centre of the town and boast classic period features, having been well preserved over the years.
Over the years, Leamington has grown as people have recognised the town for its value and desirable location. As a result, Leamington now encompasses the villages of Lillington and Whitnash, adding to the range of housing available while still retaining their community feel. These villages offer comfortable family-style homes set slightly away from the busy town centre while still close enough to benefit.
Housing in Leamington ranges from modern new builds to Regency townhouses, Edwardian terraces and post-war family homes. There is also a large selection of flats, retirement housing and luxury properties, catering to all sorts of people and families of any size.
Nurseries and Schools
With a growing population and a thriving family environment, Leamington Spa schools come in many shapes and sizes to suit a diverse population. State, private and religious-denominational schools are available at all ages, and there are a number of nursery and pre-school options as well.
For private schools, Arnold Lodge offers private education for boys and girls right up to the age of 18, with juniors, seniors and sixth form college. The Kingsley School (girls only) takes pupils from 3-18 and is right in the town centre of Leamington. Both are highly rated as independent establishments.
Leamington has a large number of primary schools right across the town, including Briar Hill Infant School, Sydenham Primary School (both rated ‘outstanding’) and Milverton Primary School and Brookhurst Primary School (rated ‘good’). For secondary schools, North Leamington School and Campion School are both ranked ‘good’.
Nurseries in Leamington are varied in size, but some of the most well-rated ones include Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre School, Emscote House Day Nursery, and Treetops Montessori Nursery.
Transport Links
As a town in the Midlands, Leamington has the advantage of great transport links while still retaining a sense of community identity. Leamington Spa train station has services that regularly run to London and Birmingham, but also further afield to Manchester and Southampton. There is an extensive local service between Leamington and Stratford-upon-Avon.
There is a well-connected bus route covering all of Leamington Spa as well as local outbound villages such as Lillington, Cubbington, Whitnash and Sydenham. There are also dedicated bus services for the Jaguar Land Rover sites.
For road, the M40 is nearby providing access to Birmingham and London, as well as the A46 linking Leamington to Coventry. The Fosse, an ancient Roman road, provides a scenic route into the Cotswolds and the countryside beyond.
Healthcare
Leamington Spa may not have a general hospital, but it does have a number of GP surgeries, dentists, opticians, podiatrists and more. The Nuffield Health Hospital is available for private healthcare patients, and the closest A&E department is in neighbouring Warwick.
Things to do
Leamington has a thriving arts and culture scene and is the site of many popular festivals each year, including the Peace Festival, the Food Festival and Art in the Park. The Royal Pump Room Museum hosts an art and history collection available for viewing with regularly rotating exhibits. Markets are popular at Christmas time and there are regular farmers markets showcasing great local produce.
There is a multiplex cinema and escape room for entertainment, alongside leisure centres and gyms (including swimming pool). Leamington has a busy high street, known as The Parade, with many popular chain shops as well as a high number of independent shops and local businesses. For further shopping, the Shires Retail Park on the edge of town offers large homeware stores and outlets.
By far one of Leamington’s biggest draws is the food and drink scene. The town is bursting with independent coffee shops, home bakeries, specialist restaurants and stylish bars. There is a great sense of nightlife centred around Bedford Street including live music performances and dancefloors. Leamington is popular with students, professionals, couples and singles looking for a sophisticated night out while staying close to home.