Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Warminster, PA

  • Published 2022/10/09

Located less than an hour from Philadelphia, Warminster is a small Bucks County township home to over 30,000 residents.

Named after Warminster in England, English and Scotch-Irish colonists used to reside in town, which was also the site of one of the battles during the Revolutionary War.

Moreover, Warminster started as a farming community, priding itself on designing the first steamboat model.

Today, Warminster serves as a small-town getaway from metropolitan Philadelphia and its neighboring cities, offering a sleepy suburban vibe mixed with fun activities.

Here’s a list of the best things to do in Warminster, Pennsylvania!

Get Active at Warminster Community Park

Playground at Warminster Community Park

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At Warminster, you can find plenty of community parks to provide residents with fun recreational activities.

However, Warminster Community Park is the biggest of the township’s parks, with over 240 acres of playing courts, walking trails, nature areas, and more.

Go on a leisurely walk or jog on its walking trails, play a game of soccer or basketball with the locals, or sit back and have a relaxing picnic.

The grounds of Warminster Community Park

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If you’re traveling with a dog, you’ll be glad to know that Warminster Community Park has a fenced-in, off-leash dog park where your furry friends can run free and play with other dogs.

In addition, the park also hosts outdoor movie nights, markets, and concerts depending on the season.

Paved trail at Warminster Community Park

Dough4872, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hit the Ice at the Revolution Ice Gardens

Lace up your skates and have a blast at the Revolution Ice Gardens, Warminster’s local ice rink for ice hockey and ice skating.

Whether a beginner or a pro, you’re welcome to join the establishment’s public skating sessions.

On the other hand, you can sign up for their Learn to Skate program and participate in 30-minute skating lessons guided by an expert instructor.

Take private lessons to improve your goaltending and freestyle skating abilities if you’d like to brush up on your hockey or figure skating skills.

Are you celebrating your birthday in Warminster?

The Revolution Ice Gardens also offers birthday party packages that include two hours of skating sessions, skate rentals, and food (with additional cost).

Sip a Beer over Live Music at Crafty’s Taproom Warminster

After a day of exploring and touring, unwind and have a beer or two at Crafty’s Taproom Warminster.

Located at the heart of Warminster, this is the perfect place to hang out and enjoy a bottle of ice-cold beer paired with freshly-cooked bar chow.

The bar has 20 beers on tap from local microbreweries, letting you discover rare and exciting flavors.

Aside from its extensive beer menu, the taproom is also popular in town for its chicken wings, cheese steak, and other appetizers with tasty dips.

Crafty’s Taproom Warminster also has live music nights featuring local bands where you can sit back, enjoy the music, and socialize with the friendly locals.

Play a Round of Bowling at Thunderbird Lanes

Thunderbird Lanes has operated for 50 years, offering residents and tourists of all ages a family-style bowling center.

The bowling alley has 32 lanes with a snack bar, grill, and full-service bar—an all-in-one destination for fun yet competitive bowling sessions.

The alley becomes a neon paradise past its regular hours, and you can enjoy a different kind of bowling experience with its Glow Bowling sessions.

Aside from the usual bowling game, you can also join bowling leagues and get a chance to meet and play with others.

Thunderbird Lanes also offers kids’ birthday party packages, including two hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and more.

Learn Local History at Warminster Historical Society

Warminster Historical Society aims to promote, preserve, and educate the masses about the town’s history.

As a non-profit organization, you can find various artifacts, photos, and other memorabilia related to Warminster that families and residents usually donate.

In addition, the organization works with other historical societies for more in-depth documentation of the township’s history.

Visit Warminster Historical Society and learn more about the community’s origins through its exhibits and seasonal events.

The historical society also participates in craft and vendor events to promote homegrown and medium-sized enterprises.

Take a Tour of Craven Hall and John Fitch Steamboat Museum

Exterior of Craven Hall

User:Dough4872, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Craven Hall is a Greek Revival building located near Warminster Community Park that dates back to 1780.

The building was a unique structure at the time, as rural buildings back then weren’t adapted to Philadelphia’s high style of architecture.

Join a guided tour of Craven Hall and learn more about the families that once resided here, including those prominent in the state’s history.

On the other hand, the John Fitch Steamboat Museum serves as a memorial to John Finch, who operated the first steamboat service in the country.

By visiting these two sites, you’ll gain a deeper insight into Warminster and learn more about what makes this town significant to Pennsylvania.

Feast on the Best Sandwiches at Steak and Hoagie Factory

There’s no need to travel to Philadelphia to taste a delicious cheesesteak sandwich!

Steak and Hoagie Factory has existed since 1990, opening its first branch in Warminster.

Since then, the humble restaurant has expanded into different locations in Pennsylvania.

Try their classic cheesesteak, pizza steak, or special cheesesteak and hoagie fusion; all made to order using the best ingredients.

If you’re in the mood for a loaded sub, don’t miss the chance to try their Italian, chicken salad, turkey, or roast beef hoagie served with lettuce and tomatoes.

Aside from cheesesteak and hoagie, Steak and Hoagie Factory offers healthy salad, wings, wraps, burgers, and other quick-service meals.

Put Your Skills to the Test at Five Ponds Golf Club

Near Thunderbird Lanes, Five Ponds Golf Club takes pride in being the best public golf course in Bucks County and one of the best in Pennsylvania.

The facility offers 18 holes with five sets of tees, perfect for those who want to play a round of golf in the middle of their Warminster vacation.

For beginners, you can start slow and enroll in 45-minute learning sessions guided by PGA Professional instructors.

After a satisfying round of golf, stop by the in-house restaurant and bar for burgers and slides, fish, chicken, and other seasonal dishes.

The Backyard Bar & Grille at Five Ponds Golf Club also has live music events to cap off the day.

Shop for Your Daily Needs at Warminster Towne Center

Warminster Towne Center is the main shopping center in the township, housing several commercial establishments serving thousands of shoppers daily.

From grocery stores, pet stores, department stores, and local restaurants, you can find anything and everything you need at the mall.

Its location at the heart of Warminster, surrounded by banks, gas stations, and restaurants, makes it the ultimate one-stop shop for residents and tourists.

At Warminster Towne Center, shop for groceries, wines, and party needs, and enjoy a mid-day lunch.

Aside from providing day-to-day necessities, Warminster Towne Center also has one of the few electric vehicles charging stations for those with electric cars.

Taste Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Rey Azteca of Warminster

Rey Azteca of Warminster is the township’s go-to location for the best quick-service yet delicious Mexican favorites.

The restaurant has two locations in Warminster; its first branch is at York Road, and its newest is at Street Road.

Its extensive menu offers everything from guacamole salad, tacos, seafood and pork-based dishes, fajitas, burritos, and Especialidades, a combination of one or two classic Mexican dishes.

Rey Azteca of Warminster also offers vegetarian dishes like spinach quesadilla, vegetarian soft tacos, burritos, salads, and enchiladas for those with special dietary requirements.

Complete your Mexican meal with a sweet churro bowl, choco tacos, fried ice cream, and a glass of sangria or horchata.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Enjoy Seasonal Activities at Merrymead Farm

Exterior of Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Travel 3o minutes from Warminster and visit Merrymead Farm at Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a family-owned and -operated dairy farm.

Although the same family has owned the farm for almost a century, they only started selling their products directly to the public in 1971.

On your visit to Merrymead Farm, enjoy various fun activities for all seasons, including a hayride and trip down the cornfield maze in autumn and a blooming flower garden from spring to summer.

Pumpkin scarecrow at Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Then, you can try a pick-and-cut Christmas tree activity in the winter.

After some hours of outdoor fun, stop by the ice cream shop and choose among their best-selling flavors like butter pecan, lemon cookie, and whiskey coffee.

Before leaving the farm, purchase specialty items like coffee, raw honey, and freshly baked items from the market.

Clown-painted pumpkin at Merrymead Farm

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Meet the Animals of Elmwood Park Zoo

An eagle at Elmwood Park Zoo

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Elmwood Park Zoo is a 16-acre zoo in Norristown, Pennsylvania, a 27-minute drive from Warminster.

The zoo is home to around 300 animals, including zebras, red pandas, jaguars, otters, American alligators, and more.

Aside from housing animals for exhibition and educational purposes, Elmwood Park Zoo also conserves wildlife, caring for the capybara, cougar, giraffe, and jaguar under their Species Survival Plan program.

Exterior of Elmwood Park Zoo

Hshuvaeva, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Visit the zoo and join their specialty programs, where visitors can get a chance to meet and interact with their educational animals.

On select dates, the zoo hosts fundraisers and other events like Trick-or-Treat Nights, ZooSnooze, and Beast of a Feast.

A donkey at Elmwood Park Zoo

Hshuvaeva, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Explore Fonthill Castle

Exterior of Fonthill Castle

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Located 15 minutes north of Warminster, Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts.

Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a castle.

Instead, it is a house and showplace of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer.

Mercer himself designed the 44-bedroom house, using a combination of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles embellished with colorful and decorative tiles.

Interior of Fonthill Castle

christianthiel.net / Shutterstock.com

Visit Fonthill Castle and marvel at its whimsical and eclectic interiors that reflect Mercer’s style.

You can also find Mercer’s collection of Moravian tiles and prints worldwide.

Aside from Fonthill Castle, you can visit the nearby Mercer Museum to learn more about Henry Chapman Mercer’s life and his influence on the Arts and Crafts Movement in America.

The roof of Fonthill Castle

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Spend the Day with Nature at Churchville Nature Center

Daytime view of Churchville Nature Center

Noah Donohue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From Warminster, drive 11 minutes east to Churchville Nature Center, a 65-acre nature preserve located in Churchville, Pennsylvania.

The nature center is the first in the county and focuses on environmental education, outreach activities, and other programs and projects to help preserve the 800-acre Churchville Watershed.

At Churchville Nature Center, tourists can enjoy various outdoor activities: hiking, joining interpretive programs, and viewing wildlife.

There are several nature trails where you can enjoy scenic views of the preserve, the thick forests, and the nearby Churchville Reservoir (otherwise known as Springfield Lake).

Other highlights at Churchville Nature Center include the seasonal butterfly house, farmhouse, natural playground, and nature center.

See the Gardens at Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Exterior of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Jeffrey M. Frank / Shutterstock.com

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is a stunning 92-acre arboretum boasting more than 11,000 plants around the globe.

It was a former private estate of siblings John and Lydia Morris, who traveled and collected plants from different parts of Asia and Europe.

It became an arboretum after Lydia’s passing.

At the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, admire the well-manicured gardens and discover thousands of plant species.

Get a glimpse of rare conifers and dogwoods in winter; magnolias, cherry trees, azaleas, and roses in spring.

Interior of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com

See the hydrangeas, sourwood, golden-rain trees, and summersweet in summer.

Then, check out the golden-hued maple, oak, and black gum trees in autumn.

Don’t forget to bring your cameras and pose in the colorful and picturesque landscape on your visit.

You can find this place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 23 minutes from Warminster.

Swans on the lake of Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Silvia Healsworths / Shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

Aside from its legacy as the birthplace of the first steamboat model, there are other fun things to do in Warminster.

Tourists can visit historical attractions and eat at the best restaurants in the state.

Overall, Warminster is a fun, action-packed, quaint township perfect for a quick getaway from Philadelphia.

Plan your trip today and discover the best things to do in Warminster, Pennsylvania!

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