[Shizara]

Am probably one of the newer arrivals to Warwickshire having moved after two years in Edinburgh. I have to be honest, there was much that I enjoyed about 'Auld Reekie', however, the landscape so to speak was, shall we say, interesting in that you needed to be a mountain goat to live there. Your first encounter being the Waverley steps up to Princes Street, you thought you were climbing Mount Everest. Warwickshire has it's own attractions and charms and many locals would be quick to point out those in their locality.

Since arriving in Nuneaton I have tried to find background information so that I at least know something of the town in which I live. - Am happy to be corrected by those that have more accurate details.

Known for the life and works of George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans). I was intrigued to find that it was once known as "Etone". At some point there was the arrival of nuns and an Abbey and so you had the nuns of Etone.

Historic Buildings:
Arbury Hall

Transport and Train:
Shackerstone Station (Battlefield Line)
Cadeby Light Railway and Brass Rubbing Centre

Leisure Centre:
Bosworth Water Trust Leisure and Water Park

Museum:
Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery

Parks:
Hartshill Hayes Country Park
Riversley Park - the museum is here

Walking:
Coventry Canal. Like many places canal towpaths make a relaxed walk. Where there Coventry and Oxford canals meet there is a cast iron bridge built in 1836 and don't forget The Greyhound reported to provide good refreshments along with the view. Heading further north towards Madhatter's corner of the world there is a series of locks at Atherstone.
Ensor's Pool was apparently a clay pit for a colliery and a brickworks which are no longer there. Designated a Special Area of Conservation in 2005 the water is of such clarity that rare crayfish breed there.
Barnacle Land Wildlife Pond in Bulkington.
Windmill Hill Nature Reserve. Good views to be had here after a good walk.

Town Centre:
A pleasant enough town centre where, for the most part, it is a pedestrian area though bollards allow limited entry to traffic. There is a fountain, a statue of George Eliot and of course the George Eliot Hotel, a few of the older buildings appear to have survived the last war, the usual High Street shops and it seems that the town used to suffer severe flooding. Much work was done and the River Anker now flows under the town. In recent decades there has been much reconstruction in the area and the addition of the Ropewalk shopping centre.

The ring road, a concept I haven't seen before until arriving in this part of the world, as you would expect, surrounds the town centre. Along the way you have our popular dandelion fountain on one of the roundabouts and the Coton Arches are another wellknown feature.

So, collectively, as a place to visit, Warwickshire has much to offer and obviously, whilst some places have more to offer the visitor than others, each place has it's own atmosphere, charm and attractions. There appears to be a plentiful supply of across the board accommodation depending on the budget and many places can be reached by train or bus. I chose to live here because my job is based in Birmingham, I didn't wish to live there but can commute on most days by train without the hassle of finding parking and of course having to deal with the dreadful motorway system that goes to Birmingham. Once accustomed to it, for those that are used to such congested roads then alternative routes are easier to change to, but for myself, I will make allowances for train running problems, leave earlier and go by train.