Set in the heart of England, the undulating county of Warwickshire is famous as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and today the town has a thriving industry based around its famous son. This part of Warwickshire is still largely rural today, including the area north of Stratford which was once the historic Forest of Arden. The county town of Warwick has many interesting historic features, not least its impressive castle, as do the major towns of Leamington Spa and Rugby. Coventry is historically part of Warwickshire and has been a major centre in the Midlands for centuries. This densely populated part of Warwickshire extends to Nuneaton and Bedworth and into the north-east of the county, where the last mine of the Warwickshire Coalfield closed in 2013. 50 Gems of Warwickshire explores the many places and their history that make this part of the country so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown but all have an interesting story to tell.