Atherstone’s annual Ball Game, the market square with St Mary and the Coventry Canal give the town three distinct points of interest for a trip. You can plan your stay around a cultural event held on a set date or combine historic landmarks with the market and walking routes. When choosing your travel dates, it is especially important to consider whether you want to experience the Ball Game: it takes place on Shrove Tuesday.
The Atherstone Ball Game
The Atherstone Ball Game has been played since the 12th century. It takes place every year on Shrove Tuesday in the afternoon, along the town’s main shopping streets. Hundreds of players of all ages take part; the game lasts about two hours. Both the date and the time frame are therefore clearly defined for planning purposes. As the calendar date changes each year, check the date of Shrove Tuesday in your chosen year before travelling.
St Mary, the Market Square and Local History
The parish church of St Mary stands on the north side of the market square in the centre of Atherstone. It is a Grade II* listed building. The chancel of St Mary may have originated in the 12th century as a separate chapel. This possible early history gives the church an additional historical connection, while its location also makes it a landmark on the central square.
The Atherstone Heritage Centre offers a changing programme of special exhibitions on hat-making, mining, soft drink production and the overcrowded courts where workers lived. The topics range from local industries to living conditions at the time. The centre also offers guided walks through the historic market town. These depend on local arrangements, so enquire in advance about your preferred date.
A weekly market is held in the market square on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you would like to plan a visit to the market, check the current schedule before travelling. This lets you experience the market square not only as the setting for St Mary, but also as a place of regular market activity.
The Coventry Canal and North Arden Heritage Trail
The Coventry Canal runs through Atherstone. A flight of eleven locks extends for about two miles, offering a topic in its own right for anyone interested in waterways and their infrastructure, alongside the history of the market town. South of Atherstone, the towpath is suitable for easy walks and offers a variety of wildlife-watching opportunities. It is also a level, scenic route through the heart of North Warwickshire; cyclists use some sections.
The North Arden Heritage Trail focuses on heritage from the 16th century to the present day. The 25-mile circular route passes through the parish of Atherstone and has no designated start or end point. One section follows the Coventry Canal from Atherstone towards Mancetter. The trail is therefore a distinct route choice from an easy walk along the towpath: it offers a longer circular route with a historical focus, while the towpath walk offers opportunities for wildlife-watching.
What to focus on during your stay
When choosing your travel dates, you can first decide whether the annual Ball Game should be the main reason for your visit or whether your trip will focus instead on historic landmarks, the market and the canal-side routes. St Mary and the Heritage Centre offer different perspectives on Atherstone’s history; the locks, towpath and trail draw attention to the waterway, landscape and heritage. If you plan to visit during the Ball Game, its date changes each year. For the weekly market and guided walks, check the current market days or make local arrangements for a tour.
Discover more destinations: Newbold On Stour, Little Packington, Wishaw, Rugby, Lighthorne, Lea Marston, Oxhill, Kenilworth
For the wider travel overview: Warwickshire.
