Kenilworth is home to one of England's most romantic ruins Kenilworth Castle. It was here that Queen Elizabeth 1 was lavishly entertained by her favourite, Robert Dudley. The high point of Kenilworth Castle's history was under the ownership of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. He was the favourite of Elizabeth I.

Robert Dudley made elaborate extensions to the castle. The towering apartments he constructed, Leicesters Building, were somewhat like a great hotel overlooking the lake.

Elizabeth's visits culminated in her visit of 1575. This visit included a firework display and elaborate water-borne pageant on the great lake. The visit is believed to have been seen by the young Shakespeare, and is believed to have been an influence on Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream. It also forms the background to Sir Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth.


The main street of the original town of Kenilworth ran from the Castle Green, just outside the castle, shown left below, and along the High Street. High Street forms the direct straight-line route between the castle and Coventry, and this was the principal road in Kenilworth in medieval times.