The town that gave the world its most famous sport — Rugby School, Coombe Abbey, Stanford Hall and the beautiful Draycote Water make Rugby and its surroundings a fantastic destination.
Rugby is world-famous as the birthplace of rugby football, but there's far more to discover — from a beautiful Tudor abbey and grand estates to reservoirs, country parks and vibrant independent shopping.
In 1823, William Webb Ellis supposedly picked up the ball during a football game at Rugby School and ran with it — creating rugby football. Visit the school's stunning Gothic buildings, the Close where the game was born, and the Rugby Art Gallery & Museum to discover the sport's full history.
A fantastic free attraction in the heart of Rugby town centre, featuring local history collections, fine art, the story of rugby football, rotating exhibitions and a welcoming café. An excellent starting point for any visit to the town.
A stunning 500-acre country park centred on a magnificent 12th-century Cistercian abbey, now a luxury hotel. The park offers beautiful woodland walks, a lake, formal gardens, an adventure playground and excellent birdwatching. Free to enter the park — a genuine hidden gem.
One of the largest man-made reservoirs in the Midlands, covering 600 acres near Rugby. A fantastic destination for cycling, walking, windsurfing, sailing and trout fishing. The 5-mile perimeter trail offers stunning views and is perfect for an active family day out.
A beautiful William & Mary house built in the 1690s, set in lovely grounds beside the River Avon just across the Leicestershire border from Rugby. The hall houses collections of Stuart portraits, motorcycles and an aviation museum on the estate where Percy Pilcher made early flying experiments.
Rugby's award-winning town centre park, featuring beautiful formal gardens, a bandstand, bowling green, tennis courts, a children's play area and the Grade II listed War Memorial. A lovely green space for a relaxing stroll right in the heart of town.
Rugby's compact town centre has a great mix of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. The historic Clock Tower is a focal point, and the regular market brings a lively atmosphere. The Clock Towers Shopping Centre provides covered shopping for all the high street favourites.
The Oxford Canal passes through Rugby and offers beautiful towpath walks and cycling routes through the Warwickshire countryside. Follow the canal south toward Braunston — a famous canal junction — through stunning rural scenery and traditional canal villages.
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