WEBLINKS
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 |  | Guide by Faye, web producer
Royal Leamington Spa calls itself "the fashionable experience", so I went for a day out to see what's on offer for those of us not so comfortable with the catwalks of Milan!
| Ìý |  | One of the fashionable shop windows!
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One of the best discoveries of the day was that this rather self-conscious town has a sense of humour as well as a sense of style. As one resident told me giddily, "It's a cracking place to live!"
I have to say I agree it's a great place, and here's why:
ÌýThe new botanical garden
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| Ìý |  | The park's new hot house
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Jephson gardens is so good, we've given it a whole page to itself.
Follow the Outdoor Index link on the left to find out why this is fast becoming Leamington's favourite chill-out place, for strolling pensioners, playing kids, botanists and fashionable restaurant-goers.
ÌýThe pump rooms and art gallery
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| Ìý |  | The Turkish bath area of the Royal Pump Rooms
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Not everyone would fancy the idea of an art gallery as an attraction, but this place is so friendly that it's a worthy stop-off even for philistines. The gallery isn't an intimidating size and has the library, an interesting local history section and an excellent café, to sweeten up the culture.
Of course, it's also a very important site for Leamington and a must for - literally - tasting why Leamington is such a fashionable place.
Taste the spa water
| Ìý |  | Leamington's spa water
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Before my visit one resident told me I had to try the water available outside the pump rooms, she said: "The spa water tastes like clean sea (yuk) but that's what Leamington built it's fortune on so you have to try it!"
I did and I have to say her description wasn't unkind!
To find out more about the pump rooms and the wonderful Turkish bath area still in the building, follow the virtual tour link on the left.
Ìý| Ìý |  | Posh shop display
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Shopping is great in Leamington because it has an unusual number of small shops and isn't as dominated by predictable High Street stores as many other towns and cities.
Strolling and spending
A stroll down Regent Street reveals the town's tradition of personal service shops, like Tustains the jewellers, F Hazell Smith, Cologne and Cotton and Blackies craft shop.
For the really posh shops, fashion and interior design devotees would head for Park Street, but I was just as happy with the selection at the end of Warwick Street, with shops like Jade, Legends and Sisley.
On the cheap
| Ìý |  | One of the charity shops
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There are plenty of charity shops in Leamington in addition to the glory hole that is Mosley trading, at the back of Woolworths. Not for the faint-hearted, this is the place to bag a bargain.
Next to Mosley trading is Kong, a small but sweet skate shop, rivalled only by Legends on Warwick Street and Under Ground on Parade.
Ìý| Ìý |  | The Jephson's balcony restaurant
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All that shopping's bound to wear your batter down a bit. For a great view up Parade and tea on a first floor terrace, a top tip is Jephson's restaurant on a sunny day.
Alternatively head to Rhubarb behind Next on Parade for good grub at reasonable prices.
For a full-on fuel stop during a shopping extravaganza, the Oriental Star at top of Parade provides a serious re-charge. You simply buy a plate and eat what you want from a great selection of Chinese food and curry.
Woodward's and House of Fraser have that 'Grace Brothers' department store feel. If you want a fag with your grub, go to trendy Toyk in Warwick Street and relax inside on the black leather sofas alongside the beautiful people wearing shades.
Ìý| Ìý |  | Leamington Town Hall
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Leamington has a number of architectural gems, which make perfect backdrops for tourist photographs. Lansdowne Crescent is magnificent as is its neighbour Lansdowne Circus. The town hall also has about every style of architecture you can think of, with an Addams family scaly roof, Cleopatra's needle, Roman bits and marvelous Victoriana.
It's not all historical, though, as the 1960s Leamington testifies. The sight of Dr Jephsons house, Beech Lawn, and the fire station in Warwick Street would make classical fans weep!
ÌýIf all this has whet your appetite for more, a really good tip for making the most out of Leamington is to take one of the summer tours. Civic guides, who are all volunteers, can take you on evening tours. They know a lot about the history and show you parts of the town you might otherwise have missed, telling you how it developed along with fascinating anecdotes.
The town hall can tell you more.
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