Arms, armouries and wartime
Warwickshire has a deep and varied relationship with military history, and the county's wartime museums and collections reflect that breadth in full. The story told here spans thousands of years and every theatre of conflict - from the plate armour of medieval knights and the blades of Japanese samurai to the Wellington bombers of the Second World War and the Cold War hardware of the jet age. Two of the county's regimental museums are housed in settings of exceptional historic character: the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick, one of the finest medieval buildings in England, and nearby Pageant House, both of which lend the collections a dignity and atmosphere that purpose-built museums rarely achieve. Elsewhere, a rural farm complex near Stratford houses one of the most eclectic private armouries in the country, and on a quiet south Warwickshire airfield, an Avro Vulcan bomber - maintained in taxiable condition by dedicated volunteers - stands as one of the most viscerally powerful reminders of Britain's 20th century military past. These are not simply places that display objects; they are places that honour the people behind them.
Stratford Armouries
Location: Stratford
Address: Pathlow Farm, Pathlow, nr Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 0JA
Speciality: Arms and armour
Set in a rural farm complex a short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford Armouries houses an extensive private collection of arms, armour and military equipment drawn from cultures across the globe and spanning several millennia. From medieval European plate armour and Japanese samurai equipment to firearms of the Napoleonic era and Cold War military hardware, the breadth of the collection is remarkable. Demonstrations, handling sessions and specialist events bring the collection alive, and the armouries attract serious collectors, historians and military enthusiasts in equal measure. The rural setting and working farm context lend the attraction an agreeably informal character that belies the quality of what is displayed inside.
Wellesbourne Wartime Museum
Location: Wellesbourne
Address: Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, Loxley Road, Wellesbourne, CV35 9EU
Speciality: WWII aviation history and the RAF station at Wellesbourne Mountford
Located in and around the original control tower of Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum preserves the history of one of Bomber Command's wartime operational training units, where Wellington bomber crews from across the Commonwealth were prepared for service. The museum's collection encompasses photographs, maps, uniforms, personal letters and technical equipment from the station's wartime years, while the airfield's centrepiece attraction - the Avro Vulcan bomber XM655 - towers nearby, maintained in taxiable condition by a dedicated preservation society. Occasional taxiing demonstrations draw aviation enthusiasts from across the country to this otherwise quiet corner of south Warwickshire.
The Queen's Own Hussars Museum
Location: Warwick
Address: Lord Leycester Hospital, High Street, Warwick, CV34 4BH
Speciality: Military history of the Queen's Own Hussars regiment
Tucked within the magnificent medieval complex of the Lord Leycester Hospital on Warwick's High Street, the Queen's Own Hussars Museum tells the story of one of the British Army's most storied cavalry regiments. Regimental uniforms, medals, silverware, portraits and personal memorabilia trace the regiment's history from its 18th century formation through to its amalgamation into today's Queen's Royal Hussars. The setting itself - a courtyard of 14th century timber-framed buildings - adds a layer of drama that is hard to match, and visitors can explore the hospital's own remarkable history alongside the military collections.
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire)
Location: Warwick
Address: Pageant House, 2 Jury Street, Warwick, CV34 4EW
Speciality: History and memorabilia of the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum traces the proud history of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from its founding in the late 17th century through to its eventual amalgamation into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The collection features uniforms, weapons, medals, documents, and personal effects spanning more than three centuries of service, including campaigns in the Crimea, two World Wars, and colonial conflicts worldwide. Managed by volunteers with genuine passion for the regiment's legacy, this is a moving and highly informative tribute to the men and women who served.
The Battle of Edgehill Radway Exhibition
Location: Radway
Address: Saint Peters Church, Tysoe Road, Radway, Warwickshire, CV35 0BS
Speciality: English Civil War
Housed in St Peter’s Church, The Battle of Edgehill Radway Exhibition explores what happened in 1642 at the first pitched battle of the English Civil War, and its impact on local people. After you’ve pored over artefacts, interactive displays and films, walk the trail across the adjacent battlefield and imagine the brutal clash of 25,000 men, then climb the escarpment for dramatic views over the site.
Warwickshire's museums - find your story
Warwickshire's museums span two thousand years of history, from Roman cavalry forts and medieval abbeys to the birthplace of rugby and the workshop of the world's greatest playwright. There is far more to explore than any single visit can cover - discover our broad choice of museums.