Jephson Gardens

The riverside walk at Jephson Gardens pulls you straight into proper Warwickshire countryside, just south of Warwick town centre. It's not the sort of manicured Victorian showpiece you might expect - instead you get genuine woodland and meadow threading alongside the River Avon, with the gardens themselves offering a pleasant mix of open lawns and planted borders that don't feel overdone.

This is walker territory first. The paths are well-maintained and loop through for anything from 30 minutes to just over an hour depending on which route you take. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts will find it genuinely rewarding - you'll spot kingfishers if you're lucky, plus the usual Warwickshire suspects. Families with younger kids can manage the main circuit without issue, though if they're expecting theme park thrills they'll be disappointed.

Free to enter, which helps. Spring's the obvious choice when everything's coming alive, but autumn has its own appeal with the light dropping through the trees properly. It works well as a half-morning outing if you're basing yourself at one of the caravan parks near Warwick - Knight's Village or Warwick Racecourse are both within a couple of miles, making it an easy morning activity before heading into town to tackle the castle. On its own it won't occupy an entire day, but pair it with Warwick's town centre or nearby attractions and you've got a solid few hours outdoors.