Atherstone

Atherstone sits in North Warwickshire where the River Anker runs through the town and the A5 (Watling Street) cuts the street pattern. The settlement grew around a medieval market square that still structures the centre, and a station on the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line provides rail links. Small industrial estates and clusters of local shops lie close to the high street, while green corridors follow the river and provide routes for walkers and cyclists.

Community life includes events and clubs centred on the market place and town hall. One long-standing local tradition takes place on Shrove Tuesday, when the Atherstone Ball Game is contested in the streets; the custom has roots in medieval records and draws participants from across the parish. Outside the centre, suburban streets give way to farmland and hedgerows, and public footpaths connect the town to nearby lanes and small natural reserves, reflecting the mix of market-town services, commuter connections and countryside access that defines the area.