Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Kenilworth is a town in Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582.

Kenilworth is perhaps best known for Kenilworth Castle, although other significant local landmarks include Kenilworth Clock and the Abbey Fields. A settlement has existed at Kenilworth since at least the time of the Domesday Book, the Book refers to Kenilworth as Chinewrde.

The first potato grown in England, brought back from South America by Sir Walter Raleigh, is thought to have been planted in the Little Virginia area of the town, near the castle.

The town was popularized in the romance novel Kenilworth written in 1821 by Sir Walter Scott.

Modern Kenilworth is frequently regarded as a dormitory town for commuters to Birmingham, Coventry and Royal Leamington Spa. In addition, its proximity to the University of Warwick has helped it build up a significant student population.

The town has good transport links - the Birmingham International Airport, several railway stations and the M1, M6, M42 and M40 motorways are within 10 miles of the centre of Kenilworth. The town's station was closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching rail cuts, but there is a regular bus service to Coventry and Leamington stations, and Warwick Parkway station is less than 10 minutes' drive away on the A46 bypass.

As it stands today, Kenilworth comprises two distinct sections. The New Town includes the high street, with a selection of shops, pubs and a supermarket, whereas the Old Town encompasses the cottage-style houses near the original centre of the settlement, by the Castle, and is separated from the New Town by the Abbey Fields.

The main street of the old town ran in essentially a straight line from Castle Green, just north of Kenilworth Castle, along the High Street. This road continues to form a near-straight road directly to the centre of Coventry.

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