Coventry
City Guide, including hotels by Maria Williams
 Coventry is a
city with a thousand years of history that has plenty to offer the
visiting tourist. Located in the heart of Warwickshire, which is
well-known as Shakespeare’s county, there are easy transport links
to historic Warwick, Rugby and Stratford-upon-Avon. Additionally, there
are many things to see and do in and around Coventry itself.
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The city has many places of
interest to the visitor. Coventry is renowned as a religious center
with many important churches within its locale. The city also has many
beautiful gardens that will fascinate those nature nature lovers
amongst you. Similarly, a number of museums are also on hand to enable
visitors to explore the city’s diverse history. Here are just a
few of the attractions:
- The medieval city wall.
Today, two of the twelve original gates are still standing, the
Priory gate and the Tower gate. Sections of the city wall itself
also survive, with the best-preserved section located within Lady
Herbert’s Garden, which is also open to the public.
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- The old cathedral ruins. German bombs destroyed
the original cathedral; however, these are some of the most
picturesque ruins you’ll see, and include the original
stained-glass windows that have remained intact, and the famous “Charred
Cross”.
- The new cathedral. This is a masterpiece of
modern, innovative architecture and has to be seen to be believed. A
centerpiece is the 72-foot tapestry of Christ.
- Coventry Canal Basin. Restored from the original
19th century wharf, this remains a popular tourist attraction, complimented
by city centre shops and the impressive canal-side art trail’.
If you’re looking for things to
do, then why not visit Coventry city centre? You’ll find it easy to get
to and parking won’t be a problem, with over 7500 spaces. Once you’ve arrived,
you’ll find plenty of activities, as well as places to shop and eat,
and more. Here are a few examples of places to visit:
- Shopping centres. A visit to Coventry would be
incomplete without a trip to one of the big shopping centres in the
city; take your choice from West Orchards, Cathedral Lanes and Lower
Precinct, all housing the biggest retailers with the best deals.
Alternatively, try visiting the independent stores found in the City
Arcade and on Hertford Street; here you’ll find fresh and
exotic foods amongst other things.
- Coventry City Farm. An inner city farm that
promotes the care of animals, with plenty to see and do.
- Millennium Place. Visit here and you’ll
witness many public works of art, by international artists and
designers.
- Priory Visitor Centre. Unleash your interest in
the past and find out the story of the cathedral built by Lady Godiva!
Also view the many archaeological finds on display here.
- St Mary’s Guildhall. Take a trip to this historic
building in which Mary, Queen of Scots was once imprisoned.
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Of course, you’re going
to build up an appetite by doing all of these things, so you’ll be
pleased to hear that eating out in Coventry is also something of an
experience. Choices range from cafés serving up the latest quick
lunches to restaurants offering exquisite three-course meals. All types
of cuisine are catered for, from Indian and Chinese to traditional
English food. Here is a selection of what you’ll find:
- Flamingo Bar &
Grill. Original Punjabi cuisine is on offer here, with everything
from curries to salads, pizzas and more.
- Cornerhaus. A lively
bar that serves a range of mouth-watering food as well as beers
and coffee.
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· The Lounge. One of the city’s most popular
eateries, where you can enjoy fine food in a relaxed atmosphere with
music playing.
- Detox Sandwich Company. All kinds of healthy food
here, from tasty jackets to ciabattas, salads, pittas and wraps.
- Café Inca. A non-smoking café with outdoor
seating. Lunchtime snacks are the order of the day.
- Mr Porky’s. As you’ve probably guessed from the
name, pork is the focus of the food offered here, from pork-based
meals to snacks like hotdogs.
Coventry boasts a wide variety
of different types of accommodation for the visitor. There are plenty of
top-quality historic hotels and guesthouses in the region, located in
diverse settings. These range from hotels in the city centre district –
for those looking for an easy walking distance to the city’s attractions
– to hotels in the surrounding villages and towns, which provide the
ideal base from which to explore the local countryside. Such hotels
supply all kinds of rooms at affordable prices. Additionally, dining
facilities range from standard bed-and-breakfast rates to room only
deals, and further options in which a full dinner is also included. For
visitors looking for less traditional accommodation, there are lots of
other options including inns, self-catering, caravans and campsites,
hostels and more.
Here
is a selection of hotels in Coventry:
- Macdonald Brandon Hall
Hotel & Spa
- Menzies Leofric Hotel
- The Courtyard By
Marriott Coventry
- Novotel Coventry
- Coventry Hill Hotel
- The Allesley
Hotel
- Quality Hotel Coventry
Stonebridge Manor/NEC
- Nailcote Hall Classic
- Macdonald Ansty
Hall
- Campanile Hotel
Coventry North
- Britannia Hotel
Coventry
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- Britannia Royal Court
Hotel
- Village Hotel &
Leisure Club Coventry
- The Chace Hotel
- Brooklands Grange
Hotel
- Strawberry Bank Hotel
- The Beechwood
- Cable & Wireless
Training & Conference Centre
- Weston Hall Hotel
- Ramada Hotel &
Suites
- Swallow Hotel Coventry
- Arena Hotel
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If you’re
looking to be entertained, then Coventry is the place to come, offering
numerous venues with a wide range of things to do. The Odeon and Showcase
Cinemas offer multiple screens showing all the latest Hollywood films,
which can be enjoyed through state-of-the-art technology. Those with a
taste for the arts will be spoilt for choice as Coventry is home to many
theaters, from the amateur-owned Criterion Theatre to The Butts Theatre,
which comes complete with a 1930s-style interior. Alternatively, visitors
looking to sample Coventry’s nightlife will discover a number of
nightclubs, including Dogma, Bonds and Ikons, that play all kinds of
music through the early hours. Sporty visitors can try out Coventry’s golf
clubs or make a booking at Planet Ice Arena; there’s also bowling on
offer at Coventry Megabowl.
Coventry
is the ideal choice if you’re looking to visit a city that offers
something for everyone. By day, you can go out shopping and sample the
food at a variety of cafés and restaurants, and later on you can try out Coventry’s
exciting nightlife. Alternatively, if you’re more laid-back, you can
visit some or all of Coventry’s historic tourist attractions, or
investigate the city’s culture spots. One thing is certain – you’ll never
be short of things to do when you take a trip to Coventry.
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