Brinklow combines the history of the Fosse Way with a castle mound, a listed church and the Oxford Canal. This brings cultural and historical questions together with activities on the water; the Brinklow Festival adds a time-specific event to the village. If you are looking for a hotel in Brinklow, start by considering whether you want to focus your trip on the castle and church, the canal or a suitable event date.

Brinklow Castle and the Fosse Way

Brinklow Castle occupies a commanding position on a short, raised ridge running from east to west. It was built to command the line of the Fosse Way. Brinklow lies on the Roman road known as the Fosse Way, so the castle’s position and the route of this road form an understandable connection. The castle mound is 79 metres wide at its base and 15 metres high, with a flattened top. The base is therefore more than five times as wide as the mound is high. This connection between the shape of the land and its strategic setting makes the context more concrete. Brinklow Castle is also designated a Scheduled Monument.

Church and building history

The Church of St John the Baptist offers a different emphasis. The Grade II* listed church dates from the late 15th century and was restored in the 19th century. A carved wooden porch from the 15th century is a distinctive feature. The construction date and the date of the porch can therefore be assigned to the same period, while the restorations add a later phase. In contrast to the castle mound, the focus here is on architecture, dating and restoration rather than the setting of the land and its connection to a transport route.

Oxford Canal: on foot, by bike or by boat

The Oxford Canal offers a different focus for planning a trip. New mooring rings have been installed along the canal in Brinklow; the towpath and canal bank have also been improved to make access easier for walkers, cyclists and boaters. These improvements serve different purposes: the path and bank were improved for walkers and cyclists, while the mooring rings and berths are relevant to boating trips.

There are visitor moorings on the Oxford Canal in Brinklow, with a maximum stay of 14 days. If you plan to use these moorings, check the stay limit and current access conditions before travelling. Infrastructure and access conditions can change. This lets you plan the canal as a distinct part of your trip without losing sight of the visitor moorings’ time limit.

The Brinklow Festival as a time-specific event

The Brinklow Festival is a biennial community event for people of all ages. As dates and programmes vary, check the specific event dates and programme before travelling if you want the festival to shape your visit. The biennial schedule alone does not determine a specific day to visit; the relevant dates for that year are what matter when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kenilworth, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hatton, Aston Cantlow, Nether Whitacre, Oxhill, Brandon, Nuneaton

For the main travel overview: Warwickshire.