Click here for a map and property prices for Leamington Spa

How it rates

Leamington Spa grew rapidly after mineral springs were discovered in 1784 and 1810, and was granted its “Royal” prefix by Queen Victoria in 1838. It is noted for its open spaces, particularly the Jephson Gardens, and for being the geographical centre of England. Local industry has declined but “Leam” is still a prosperous community, given its proximity to Birmingham and Coventry.

Architectural gems

The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths (now a newly restored cultural complex housing the town's art gallery, museum and library); Lansdowne Circus.

What's new

Hunters Reach, 13 new-build flats by the town centre by A.C. Lloyd , from £219,950 for a two-bed to £309,000 for a three-bed (01926 334826). Saxon Court, also by A.C. Lloyd (01926 425013), is a new-build scheme of 14 flats, from £249,950 to £289,990. The Waterfront, by Gladedale (0845 1302707), is a new development of flats and houses on the edge of Warwick, which adjoins Leamington Spa.

Travel

Easy access to the entire motorway network. Birmingham and London are easily reached by the M40 and Coventry by the A46. The M1, M6, M69, M45 and M42 are all within range. Trains run to London Marylebone, Euston, Birmingham Snow Hill and Coventry.

Quality of life

Leamington Spa is popular with young professionals, middle-class escapees from Coventry and Birmingham, and academics and students from the University of Warwick, on the southern fringe of Coventry. The town's vibrant nightlife also acts as a draw. The first lawn tennis club in the world was formed here in 1872.

Smartest streets

Regency townhouses in prime central streets north of the river, such as Beauchamp Avenue and Binswood Avenue, sell for up to £1 million. Farther north are Northumberland Road and Cloister Crofts, where four and five-bed 1920s houses fetch from £600,000. Wiglesworth (01926 888998) has a four-bed Victorian house in Willes Road, in the town centre, for £499,950. Central studio flats sell from £100,000.

Restaurants

The award-winning Queans cooks modern British food and has an adventurous wine list; for modern European, try Restaurant 23 and Findons in Warwick.

Nightlife

Rio's, Smack and Evolve are popular clubs. The Apollo and Royal cinemas. Pubs and bars include the Star and Garter, Jug and Jester, White Horse, Mumbai Blue, Willoughby, Avenue and Copper Pot. The newly restored Assembly (the interior was designed by Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen) puts on gigs. The Royal Pump Rooms and the Bridge House Theatre, in Warwick, put on chamber music. The Warwick Arts Centre promotes a wide variety of music.

Working life

There is a flourishing community of computer games designers; companies based here include Blitz Games and Codemasters. Remnants of the steel and motor industries survive, including the Eagle Foundry, which makes Rangemaster cookers, and Caparo AP Braking. Dennis Eagle, in Warwick, makes dustcarts that it exports worldwide.

Education

Telford Junior School, Milverton Primary School and Arnold Lodge prep school are popular, as is Myton School in Warwick. Good independent schools include Kingsley School, for girls; Warwick School, for boys, and King's High School for girls, are in Warwick. The main campus of Warwickshire College is also in Leamington Spa.

Upside

Leamington Spa is quiet, spacious and beautiful, and has excellent transport links. Shopping has improved greatly in recent years, with the Royal Priors shopping centre and a large number of independently run boutiques.

Downside

The spa itself closed some years ago. Also, the River Leam, which splits the more well-to-do north of Leamington Spa from the south, is prone to flooding: it hit the town centre badly in 1998 and again last year.

At a glance

- 163 per cent: the increase in house prices in Leamington Spa over ten years. Source: Halifax

- £1.375 million: the most expensive house yet sold in Leamington Spa. Source: Knight Frank

- £25,000: the cost of building the Royal Pump Rooms, which opened in 1814. Source: warwickdc.gov.uk

- £7.1 million: the cost of refurbishing the Royal Pump Rooms, which reopened in 1999. Source: warwickdc.gov.uk

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