Long stays for work in Warwick

The M40 serves the town at three junctions, 13 to 15, with the A46 linking it to Coventry and Stratford-upon-Avon. Both of its stations are on Chiltern's line: Warwick, just north of the centre, with trains to Leamington Spa, London, Birmingham and Stratford. Warwick Parkway opened in 2000 on the western edge of town.

The town was largely bypassed by the Industrial Revolution, with little more than hat making in the early 19th century, so most of today's long contracts are in offices, research and the business parks. Birmingham Airport is about 20 miles by road from the centre.

Humber Hub is about 11 miles by road from Warwick, Stoke Lodge and Stoke House about 12 miles and Sullivan Heights about 14 miles. On a stay of several months the details count: a washing machine, a kitchen, a sofa in the evenings and free parking.

Growth was slow: Warwick had 5,592 people in 1801 and 10,952 by 1851. Trams ran between Warwick and Leamington from 1881 to 1930 across Portobello Bridge, a three-arch bridge of 1831.

The Grand Union Canal runs through the town for evening walks, with narrowboats moored on the restored Saltisford Arm. Warwick Hockey Club dates from 1920 and Racing Club Warwick, the football club beside the racecourse, from 1919. The Met Office station at Wellesbourne, about 6 miles south, recorded the county's highest temperature, 36.1C, in August 1990.