Getting here and getting around Warwickshire
Warwickshire sits at the heart of England - and that's not just a geographical observation. We’re a well-connected county by road, rail and two wheels, and for most visitors the journey in is straightforward. In fact, it’s easy to pass through here and not stop a while but many travellers also use the country as a place to break long UK journeys. Here's what you need to know.
By train
Rail travel makes it easy to explore Warwickshire, with strong connections to London, Birmingham and beyond.
Royal Leamington Spa & Warwick
Direct Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone (around 1 hour 10 minutes, every 30 minutes). Warwick is one stop away, with direct services from Birmingham in under 30 minutes.
Nuneaton & Atherstone (North Warwickshire)
Well-connected gateways with direct services to Birmingham, Coventry and London. Atherstone sits close to the West Coast Main Line, linking to the North West. Easy onward travel by bus or taxi, plus access to walking and cycling routes.
Rugby (West Coast Main Line)
A major rail hub with fast direct services to London (around 50 minutes), Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, offering excellent national connectivity.
The Shakespeare Line
Direct route between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon, serving towns like Henley-in-Arden and providing a scenic, car-light way to explore the county.
Stratford-upon-Avon connections
Links to Leamington Spa and Warwick (less frequent services — check timetables).
Cotswold Line (Moreton-in-Marsh gateway)
Direct services from London Paddington and Oxford. Short onward journeys bring you into Stratford-upon-Avon and South Warwickshire.
Birmingham Airport access
Birmingham International station sits on the mainline between Birmingham and Coventry. Rugby is around 20 minutes away, providing easy access to North Warwickshire.
From London
Chiltern Railways to Leamington Spa and Warwick (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes, regular services).
From Birmingham
Fast, direct services to Warwick, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon, with Birmingham acting as a key national gateway.
From Oxford
The most straightforward route is via Leamington Spa, via Banbury or travelling on CrossCountry services. Journey time is around one hour forty-five minutes to two hours. To Stratford. Alternatively, the X50 bus connects Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon.
For timetables and booking, visit:
Rail Trails
The Heart of England Community Rail Partnership also produces a series of Rail Trails - self-guided walks and cycle routes that start directly from local stations and explore the countryside and towns of Warwickshire on foot or by bike.
By road
The M40 is the main route into Warwickshire, linking London and Birmingham through the heart of the county.
M40 access points Junction 15 – Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon (via A46) and Coventry Junctions 13 & 14 – Leamington Spa
North Warwickshire connections At its northern end, the M40 joins the M42, connecting to the M6 and wider motorway network — ideal for access to Atherstone, Polesworth, Nuneaton and Bedworth.
From London M40 direct to Warwick (around 1 hour 30 minutes), slightly longer for Stratford-upon-Avon via the A46.
From Birmingham M40 or A46 southbound, or A34/A3400 to Stratford-upon-Avon (typically 30–40 minutes).
From Oxford A34 north to the M40, then Junctions 13–15 (around 50–60 minutes).
Scenic routes The A429 Fosse Way (Roman road) runs through Warwickshire, offering a slower, more scenic alternative to the motorway.
By bus
Stagecoach Midlands operates the main bus network across the county. The service between Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick runs half-hourly and takes around twenty-five minutes - a useful link for visitors combining both towns. The 15 service follows a slower, more scenic route through villages between the same two towns, running hourly. Regular services also connect Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, Rugby and Nuneaton.
- Stagecoach - Plan your journey for routes and timetables.
- Transport for West Midlands - Plan your journey
By bike
Explore Warwickshire at your own pace on two wheels, with quiet lanes, canal paths and scenic countryside routes perfect for relaxed cycling.
Leisure cycling Gentle rides through rolling hills, historic villages and open countryside Ideal for slower travel, with plenty of places to stop, eat and explore
North & south experiences
South Warwickshire – riverside routes, rolling landscapes and Shakespearean heritage
North Warwickshire – quiet lanes, Roman roads and hidden market towns
National Cycle Network routes
Route 5 – connects Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon
Route 41 – links Stratford-upon-Avon to the Offchurch Greenway through open countryside
Routes towards Cheltenham are developing, with sections open between:
- Tewkesbury and Evesham
- Stratford-upon-Avon and Rugby
Offchurch Greenway
Traffic-free, flat and easy to follow
Around 1.5 miles long
Former railway line with wide views across the South Warwickshire countryside
Ideal for families and relaxed cycling
More information can be found on our cycling pages
Getting around once you're here
Warwickshire's market towns are well connected by bus, and several of the county's highlights - Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle, the RSC in Stratford - are within comfortable walking distance of their nearest train station. For exploring the wider countryside, villages and country parks, it's perfectly possible to spend a rewarding few days using trains and buses between the main towns if you don’t have a car. You can also go slow and explore the many walking routes that cross our county.
You can use a travel planner to assist your journey here and moving round Journey Planner | Transport for West Midlands