The city of Coventry is rich in history, museums and legends. It is surrounded by the countryside, towns and tourist attractions of the West Midlands. And, since it was UK City of Culture for 2021, it has been reinventing itself as a destination for tourists and culture-lovers. I’ve rounded up some of the best things to see and do in Coventry.
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Why Visit Coventry?
The first thing to note is that Coventry has had a long and varied history. Its roots stretch back into the Middle Ages, and even to the Romans (although there is little to be seen of the Roman period now). It was once one of the richest cities in England, as attested by the finery of those medieval buildings that still remain.
Coventry later became a centre for the car industry. However it suffered extensive bomb damage in World War II. Recent regeneration of the city has seen it enter a new phase of its history, as a historic and cultural destination.
Today visitors will find a mixture of old and new. There is a wealth of historic buildings, including two cathedrals (one old and one modern). There is a vibrant modern city centre with numerous opportunities for eating and shopping. And you will find museums, galleries and theatres. You can escape to green spaces around the edge of the city, and a stay in Coventry offers the chance to explore further afield.
Coventry UK City Of Culture 2021
Being chosen as a UK City of Culture is a way of “shining a spotlight on the culture, people and stories of a UK city”. Coventry was chosen in 2021 because it was seen as a symbol of rebirth, of overcoming the devastation of the Second World War. During this year there were numerous cultural events, encouraging visitors to see the city as a destination for music, theatre and other performances.
This activity has continued and the city has started to regenerate itself in other ways. For instance, the new Friargate development on the edge of the city centre is an ambitious mixed use scheme incorporating green space with business and residential development.
Previous Cities of Culture were Londonderry (2013) and Hull (2017). And Bradford was the UK City of Culture for 2025.
What To See And Do In Coventry
Coventry city centre is compact and walkable. Most visitors will start their exploration at the Cathedral, and explore the cobbled streets and the remains of the medieval city. As you walk, note the pleasing juxtaposition of the very old and the very new.
Coventry Cathedral, New And Old
Unusually, Coventry has two cathedrals, side by side. The old cathedral (a parish church that became a cathedral in 1918) was mostly destroyed by bombing in 1940. However, the tower and other ruins remain, and visitors can walk around the site and imagine how the church would have looked in the Middle Ages. In one corner is a small Blitz Museum with artefacts from the war years.
Directly next to the ruins is the new cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence and opened in 1962. This was deliberately modernist in its design, and was intended to be seen as a whole with the ruins of the old church. It is a large, light-filled area with five chapels and lots of artworks. Pride of place goes to the massive tapestry of Christ in Glory designed by Graham Sutherland, but you’ll also see stained glass, sculptures and the dramatic West Screen, a glass window etched with images of saints and angels.
The Medieval City
You will find medieval buildings dotted around the city. Some have been incorporated into modern houses and businesses, while others are now visitor destinations. Look out for medieval alms houses at Ford’s Hospital and Bond’s Hospital, and for the old Chylesmore Manor House (now the city’s registry office). And just outside the ring road are the remains of the old Whitefriars Monastery.
St Mary’s Guildhall
Built in the 1340s, St Mary’s Guildhall looks back to a time when the wool trade made Coventry very wealthy. The Great Hall and surrounding rooms are regarded as one of the best medieval interiors in the country. Don’t miss the Coventry Tapestry, dating from the Tudor period, and possibly the oldest tapestry still in its original location in Britain.
Holy Trinity Church
The 12th century Holy Trinity Church is the only complete medieval church remaining in Coventry. It is notable for its Doom Painting, created in the 1430s and depicting the Last Judgement.
Opposite Holy Trinity are the Lychgate Cottages, a row of timber framed houses from around 1415. And nearby are the gardens of the Priory Visitor Centre with the ruins of the old priory.
Lady Herbert’s Garden And City Walls
Lady Herbert’s Garden holds the remains of Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate, the last two remaining gatehouses from the twelve that were once to be found around the medieval city wall. A small part of the wall itself can also be seen here.
Small fragments of the city walls can also be spotted elsewhere in the city, most notably close to the Salvation Army building in Upper Well Street.
Spon Street
Spon Street was one of the original streets of the city, leading to what became known as the Spon Gate. Today it is full of medieval buildings but, curiously, they are not all original to their current location. Many of them have been moved there from elsewhere in Coventry, making this a sort of living museum.
Today Spon Street contains many shops, cafés and other businesses. Not to be missed is the Old Windmill Inn, which has stood here since the 15th century, and is the oldest pub in Coventry. Beyond the ring road, on Upper Spon Street, is the Weaver’s House, which has been restored to show how a trader’s house and garden would have looked in the 16th century.
Museums, Galleries And Theatres
Coventry is home to a growing number of museums and other cultural attractions.
Herbert Art Gallery And Museum
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has extensive collections of art and artefacts chronicling the history of the city. You’ll find the story of Coventry’s industries and its people here (including a whole section devoted to Lady Godiva). And there is an exploration of the effects and aftermath of the Second World War. The art collection features 6,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures from the 1500s to the 20th century.
The museum also hosts frequent events and special exhibitions.
Coventry Transport Museum
In keeping with a city that has been long associated with the motor industry, the Coventry Transport Museum is home to the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles in the world. It features 14 galleries of cars, bicycles and commercial vehicles, as well as books and associated memorabilia.
The museum is family friendly and has regular events.
Theatres
The Belgrade Theatre is a major performing arts centre with a varied programme including musicals, plays, music and local productions. Whereas the historic Albany Theatre, housed in a 1930s Art Deco building, is a more intimate space for all types of performance.
On the outskirts of the city, on the University of Warwick campus, is the Warwick Arts Centre. Here you can enjoy a packed programme of events, with plays, concerts, cinema screenings and much more. The centre also has a bar and restaurant.
Green Spaces And Parkland
Because the city centre is small there isn’t much in the way of open spaces. However it is easy to walk to the basin of the Coventry Canal, or to the gardens of the old Charterhouse. A more surprising recommendation for fresh air and greenery is the vast London Road Cemetery. This was built as a garden cemetery and is now an arboretum. It also has some impressive architecture.
Exploring Further Afield
If you are staying in Coventry for more than a few days you will find lots of opportunities for exploring further afield. Nearby attractions include Stratford-upon-Avon (30 km), Royal Leamington Spa (18 km) and the medieval castles of Warwick and Kenilworth.
A little further away, but still easy to reach, are Leicester (54 km), Worcester (81 km) and the villages of the Cotswolds.
Eating And Drinking In Coventry
There are lots of restaurants around the central Broadgate Square and Cathedral Lanes area. You can find just about any cuisine but note that most of these restaurants are part of the big chains. For a more boutique experience you could try the restaurant at the Telegraph Hotel or the Cogs Restaurant at the Hotel Indigo Coventry.
Two pubs vie for the title of oldest pub in Coventry, and both are worth visiting. The 16th century Golden Cross, on a cobbled street near St Mary’s Guildhall, retains Tudor features and sells a wide range of drinks and pub food. This is a good place for the health conscious, catering for those with dietary needs and offering a whole menu of alcohol-free drinks.
On the other side of town, on Spon Street, is the Old Windmill. This claims to go back to the 15th century and boasts several separate bars with original features. You can enjoy a cheeseboard or pork pie with your drinks.
Where To Stay In Coventry
Part of the regeneration of Coventry has involved the building of new hotels. I stayed in the elegant Hotel Indigo (you can read about my visit here), and in the Telegraph Hotel, housed in the offices of the former city newspaper. Both were excellent choices, but you can find more options on booking.com.
For something a bit more quirky have a look at the self catering options offered by Coventry Heritage Trust. These include the Lychgate Cottages next to Holy Trinity Church and the two gatehouses within the medieval city wall. Details are on the Trust’s website. For another slightly unusual stay, try the 12th century Coombe Abbey, a historic house surrounded by 500 acres of parkland around 8 km from Coventry.
How To Get To Coventry
- Coventry’s central location makes it very easy to reach, and it is just one hour from London by train
- It has good transport links to the surrounding areas, including Birmingham (34km away)
- The nearest airport is at Birmingham (16 km away)
- Coventry is also within two hours’ drive for 40 million people in the UK.
This article is now featured on GPSMyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours in Coventry.
