Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Lord Leycester Hospital is a cluster of timber-framed medieval buildings beside the West Gate on the High Street in Warwick. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, turned it into an almshouse for injured soldiers in 1571, and it still serves as a home for former servicemen today. It is one of the most atmospheric sights in Warwick.

The story behind it

The hospital was founded in 1571 by Robert Dudley, a favourite of Elizabeth I, as a place of care for servicemen hurt in battle. Its crooked, half-timbered buildings are older than the almshouse itself, and the tradition of sheltering old soldiers has carried on for centuries. Today retired servicemen still live here, so this is a working community and not just a museum.

Like many old Warwick buildings it has a ghost story. Local legend tells of a headless figure in knight's armour who wandered the corridors looking for something. The tale goes that his remains were later found walled up near the chapel above the West Gate and given a Christian burial, after which the sightings stopped. Treat it as a legend, but it is a good one to have in your head as you stand under the timbers.

What to look for

• The galleried, timber-framed courtyard, where the wooden beams lean and curve with age.
• The chapel of St James perched above the West Gate, which sits right beside the hospital.
• The bear and ragged staff emblem, linked to the Dudley family and to Warwick, which you may spot on and around the buildings.
• The jumbled roofline of the street front, best seen from the pavement on the High Street.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you go inside, less if you only want the view from the street. Check current opening hours before you go, as parts of the site are not always open.
• The street front is easy to admire at any time, but a quiet morning gives you the best chance of a clear photograph without crowds.
• It is a short walk from Warwick Castle and the market square, so it fits easily into a day on foot in the town.
• Remember that people live here, so keep your voice down and respect any private areas.

See it on a quest

The Dark Warwick: Ghosts, Crime & Legends Walking Tour & Escape Game is a good match for a place with a ghost story like this one. You reach the hospital on foot as one stop on a longer route through the old town, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers your whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.