Whether you’re hiking, biking or trail running, Atherstone is a hidden gem that’s perfect for adventurers of all ages. Explore trails with historic sights & beautiful nature areas.
A pleasant little Warwickshire market town famous for its felt hat making and Shrove Tuesday football game (where crowds gather to play a type of medieval ballgame). The high street (Long St) has a historical feel with some interesting listed buildings, particularly along the market square.
1. Take a walk around the town
Atherstone is a small town, but it has a number of hidden spots for visitors to enjoy. It might not be as famous as other big cities in the UK, but it has its own charm and uniqueness.
The old market town of Atherstone, known for its hat manufacturing and Shrove Tuesday football game, has a distinctive historical feel to it, especially along the main high street (Long St). It would have been a major stop for stage coaches in the 16th/17th century, as evidenced by the number of traditional coaching inns such as the Three Tuns.
The town also has some lovely canal towpaths.
2. Visit the market
The main shopping street is Long Street with a good mix of independent shops including butchers and bakers. It is also home to a 1940s themed cafe and pub.
Farmers markets are a great way to reconnect with where your food comes from. Here you can meet the local producers who grow your vegetables, free range eggs, cheese and milk.
It is thought that Henry Tudor passed through Atherstone on the way to the Battle of Bosworth, stopping at the Three Tuns inn. The town is also well known for its hatting industry. The market town is on the Roman Watling Street and is a good base for exploring north Warwickshire.
3. Visit the Heritage Centre
A volunteer run exhibition that explains the town’s history from Roman times to the present day.
The town is a centre of historic hat manufacture and has an ancient high street and market place with a large number of listed buildings. Unlike many towns Atherstone did not undergo extensive redevelopment in the 1960s, and stretches of Long St and the market square retain their Victorian and Georgian frontages.
Atherstone is also famous for Shrove Tuesday football, a local variant of the game that has been played here since medieval times. The hamlet of Mancetter adjoins the town to the east, where there is a fine early 13th-c church and row of almshouses.
4. Visit the Museum
Atherstone’s museum is a small but interesting local heritage centre. Its collection is largely from the local hatting industry and other local industries such as mining. The centre is open to the public and there are also special exhibitions on other themes throughout the year.
This ancient market town lies on the Roman road of Watling Street, midway between Tamworth and Nuneaton. It retains its medieval feel, particularly around the main high street (Long St) and market square where there are a number of traditional coaching inns.
Atherstone is a great place to go for a day out with the kids. There are lots of fun activities to enjoy and there’s something for everyone.
5. Visit the Art Gallery
The Gallery is home to many great Atherstone artists. They work in a range of mediums including oil paint, acrylic, and charcoal. The Gallery has a lot of unique things to do and see.
The town centre of Atherstone, formerly a large hat manufacturing center, has a distinct historical feel to it, especially around the open market place (Long St) and the nearby church. A number of historic coaching inns remain, such as the Old Red Lion Hotel and The Three Tuns.
The artwork will be shown in the town centres of Atherstone and Bedworth where the workshops took place. It will be a light installation showing circular forms that are connected, each one representing a new mum and her family.
6. Visit the Heritage Centre
A small volunteer-run museum tells the story of the town. The exhibitions include displays on the hatting industry and the overcrowded yards where workers lived. It also covers local legends, including Queen Boudicca and King Henry VII.
A short walk away, the hamlet of Mancetter has a pretty church and a row of almshouses. Its origins are less clear but excavations for a water supply have revealed Roman blocks.
The town has a good range of shops, restaurants and bars. You can enjoy a relaxed day out and explore some hidden gems that make the town unique. You will not be disappointed! The Coventry Canal skirts the town and the towpath is metalled, making it easy to walk.
