Southam - Warwickshire

Southam is a small historic coaching and market town situated in the heart of rural Warwickshire serving as a local centre for the surrounding villages. Sitting on the crossroads of the A423 and A425 between Banbury and Coventry it is well-placed for access to the towns of Leamington Spa, Stratford and Warwick, and just 3 miles from the old Roman road the Fosse Way leading south to the Cotswolds and north to Leicester. It is within easy reach of the M40 for access to Birmingham, Oxford and London, and rail links run from Leamington, Rugby, Stratford and Banbury which provides connections to London in less than an hour. Birmingham Airport is 25 miles.

Local amenities include three excellent primary schools plus a secondary education college. Southam is in the catchment area for the Rugby Grammar Schools and the renowned Schools of Rugby and Warwick are close by.

A vibrant shopping centre provides a selection of small supermarkets with many individual stores and the town is well served by a range of good English and ethnic restaurants and public houses. The weekly Tuesday market provides many interesting stalls and goods and the popular, monthly farmers market a wonderful choice of locally grown and reared produce.

Local services include a large park, library and a very active Community centre and for those who enjoy sport, the town has Football, Cricket and Rugby clubs with a Leisure Centre, Gym and a recently refurbished and extended swimming pool. Sailing is available at Draycote Water and there are quality golf courses at Hellidon and Staverton.

Twinned with Marolles-en-Hurepoix in France, the town offers a mixture of interesting architectural styles and the centre (including Masters Orchard) has been designated as a conservation area. Southam has a wealth of historic places of interest. Enjoy a drink at The Old Mint Inn, a stone building dating from the 14th century where Charles 1 is said to have minted coins for his troops after the nearby battle of Edgehill in 1642, or sample the waters of the Holy Well, an ancient well reputedly offering special healing powers. Southam has Britain’s first provident dispensary founded in the early nineteenth century and St James’ Parish church dates back to 1294.