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Visit Leamington - Royal Leamington Spa Tourist Information for Boaters

We visited Royal Leamington Spa on the Grand Union Canal (Main Line) as part of our 2010 cruise after leaving Warwick.

Royal Leamington Spa - There are visitor moorings both sides of bridge 40 (and winding holes at both ends of the town if you miss them). The moorings to the west of #40 abut the car park of a handy Cooperative Local shop and The Grand Union (canalside) Restaurant, the ones to the east of the bridge are between a BT vehicle depot and an AGA Distribution centre and are fully lit overnight although the ones opposite the pub Lock, Dock and Barrel are noisy at times.

There are no boater's facilities in Leamington Spa (although canal guides may show a water point at the winding hole by bridge 43, this has been disestablished).

Leamington was granted a "Royal" prefix in 1838 by Queen Victoria, who visited the town as a Princess in 1830 and as Queen in 1858. We found Leamington, as it is known locally, particularly the central area to be a great place to visit, including Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum, maintained by the Warwick District Council, and with free admission, is located in the Royal Pump Rooms, on the north side of the bridge at the bottom end of The Parade adjacent to a green space. This grand structure attracted many visitors in times gone by, expecting cures by bathing in pools of salty spa water.

Opening Times - Art Gallery & Museum - Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10.30 - 17.00. Thurs 13.30 - 20.00. Sun & Bank Hols 11.00 - 16.00. Mon Closed - Admission Free

There is a public water 'fountain' by the Pump Rooms, opposite a riverside park, where you may 'take the spa waters' - we did and the taste stayed with us for ages, slightly salty and eggy, and repeated on us for an hour or so after!

Leamington Spa, best accessed off bridge 40, around 500mtrs walk north, down Clemens Street, offers a variety of shops from some of the more common high street stores to the independent retailers. The Royal Priors is the only indoor shopping centre in the town centre is about 1km (Bus G1 every 10 mins or so) and the Shires Retail Park, very close to bridge 43 offers 'out of town' shopping including a large Sainsbury's.

The town hall is a fine looking building, as is the All Saints Parish Church. If fact the whole of The Parade area is pleasant.

Two theatres are located in Leamington: the Spa Centre and the The Loft, with outdoor productions throughout the summer in the Jephson Gardens. Leamington also has two cinemas: the Spa Centre cinema and the multiplex Apollo Cinema.

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants and takeaways within a few metres of the canal.