Coventry. The second-largest city in the West Midlands with a history dating back over a thousand years, and having been granted city status in 1345. Known for its history in the motor manufacturing industry, the city was ravaged in the Blitz during the Second World War, but has since been regenerated. Coventry was also designated as the UK City of Culture in 2021. Coventry is twinned with a number of cities worldwide, with one particularly notable fact being that the ward of Wyken is twinned with three towns in the USA called Coventry (Tolland County in Connecticut, Chenango County in New York, and Kent County in Rhode Island).

Image Credit: Jobin Bennykutty | Unsplash

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Coventry is easily accessible by train. There are frequent services from both London and nearby Birmingham, with longer-distance connections available from Manchester, Scotland, Bournemouth, Southampton, and Reading. It's also conveniently located for international flights, with a direct connection to Birmingham Airport that transports people between the two stations in as little as ten minutes.

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Getting around Coventry

• Walk/cycle. Coventry's city centre is relatively compact, and is thus easy to get around on foot. This can make the city an attractive option if you're on a more limited budget or are happy to get some exercise in during your city break. There are also a number of walks you can go on around the local area, and further information about these can be found HERE. If you want to spend some time in Coventry cycling, then this is also possible. There are some traffic-free areas where cycling is recommended, and further information on cycling in Coventry in general can be found here.
• Bus. There are a number of buses available in and around Coventry, with connections into the wider West Midlands Network. The focal point for bus services in Coventry is Pool Meadow Bus Station on Fairfax Street, which is just a short walk from Coventry Cathedral. Additional information on the bus network in the West Midlands can be found HERE.
• Taxi. Taxis can be a really convenient way of getting from place to place if you have a sizeable amount of luggage or have restricted mobility. One thing which is worth bearing in mind regarding taxis is that the cost of them can add up if you plan on taking a few of them.

So just what is there to do in Coventry? Well, read on, and you'll be able to find out.

Sport

There's a lot going on in Coventry in terms of sport. Perhaps the most well-known is football, with Coventry City playing their home games at the Coventry Building Society Arena (nearest station is Coventry Arena), with their former home being Highfield Road to the east of the city centre which they vacated in 2005. Arguably their most famous moment is when they won the 1987 FA Cup Final, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in extra time at Wembley. The bus on which the team went through the city following their victory is now at the Coventry Transport Museum. If you would like some additional information on Coventry City FC, their website can be found HERE.

Image Credit: Mark Hornby | Coventry City Football Club

Also of note in the city is rugby union, with Coventry RFC playing their home games at Butts Park Arena to the west of the city centre. Another sport with a presence in the city is ice hockey, with Coventry Blaze playing their home games at the Coventry Skydome on the western side of the city centre. Some famous sportspeople from Coventry include footballer Callum Wilson, MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow, and sprinter Marlon Devonish.

History

One of the most well-known stories about Coventry is the legend of Lady Godiva, who allegedly rode naked through the streets of the city in a protest against taxes levied on the people by her husband Leofric, Earl of Mercia. It is disputed as to whether or not the story is true, but there is a statue dedicated to her in the city centre.

Image Credit: JR Harris | Unsplash

Furthermore, there's an exhibition on the subject at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in the east of the city. The museum opened in 1960 following a lengthy construction period which was interrupted by the Second World War, and has many other exhibits, including archeological items dating back to the Roman period and even further, a vast collection of items from natural history, a social & industrial history collection (including some items about George Eliot, the pen-name of Victorian author Mary Ann Evans, whose most famous work is the novel Middlemarch, published in eight volumes between 1871 and 1872). Another well-known museum in the city is the Coventry Transport Museum, which is in the north of the city centre. The museum hosts a sizeable collection of vehicles, including the two fastest cars in the world (Thrust 2 and ThrustSSC), a Ferguson TE20 tractor which was the 500,000th TE20 to be built at the factory on Banner Lane, an Austin Metro previously owned by Lady Diana Spencer, and many more. There's a particular focus on vehicles produced in and around Coventry, reflecting the city's history of motor manufacturing.

Image Credit: Coventry Transport Museum | Coventry Transport Museum

Also of particular note is Coventry Cathedral just to the east of the city centre. The first cathedral in the city (St Mary's Priory and Cathedral) was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1500s, and some of its remains can be found on Priory Row. The second cathedral was built in the 14th century and raised to the status of cathedral in 1918, but was destroyed during the Blitz in 1940. Its remains are still considered to be sacred ground, and are next door to the present cathedral, which was consecrated in 1962. As a result, Coventry Cathedral is considered as one of the youngest Church of England cathedrals in the country. Both the second cathedral and the present one are dedicated to St Michael. One of the most distinctive features of the new Coventry Cathedral is its stained glass window towards the rear of the building.

Image Credit: Ian Kelsall | Unsplash

Culture

Coventry has quite an interesting cultural history, being chosen as the UK City of Culture for 2021. The poet Philip Larkin was born and brought up in the city, and the writer Graham Joyce was born in nearby Keresley. In terms of the theatrical arts, the main venue is the Warwick Arts Centre on the campus of the University of Warwick to the south-west of the city, which hosts many different events across its numerous spaces.

Image Credit: Warwick Arts Centre | Warwick Arts Centre

In addition to this, the Belgrave Theatre on Corporation Street in the city centre and the Albany Theatre on Albany Road to the west of the city centre both play host to a wide variety of productions. The city has been used as a filming location as well, with the 1969 film The Italian Job having its famous car chase sequence in the sewers of Turin being filmed in some of Coventry's new sewers that were being installed at the time. There are a number of music events in the city, with one of the most well-known being the Godiva Festival, held in War Memorial Park to the south-west of the city centre and named after the famous Lady Godiva. One of the most well-known musical groups with roots in Coventry is The Specials, famed for their 1981 number 1 single 'Ghost Town'. Some other individuals from the worlds of art and entertainment with roots in Coventry include comedian Guz Khan, actress Billie Whitelaw, and record producer Pete Waterman.

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Dining recommendations

As is often the case when visiting a new place, finding somewhere to eat will often be high on the agenda. Coventry has a wide variety of places to eat, which is perhaps not surprising when there are two universities in and around the city (University of Warwick to the south-west of the city, and Coventry University in the city itself).

Cheap eats

The Old Windmill
Address: 22 Spon Street, Coventry CV1 3BA
Found to the west of the city centre, The Old Windmill is an old-school pub with a history that dates back to the 15th century. There are a number of different events on here during the year, including beer festivals and live music nights, with a beer garden which is perfect for when the weather is good. The Old Windmill is renowned for its cheeseboards, which can include a number of cheeses and charcuterie with a variety of accompaniments and artisan bread. The cheeses available include a number from the UK, such as Snowdonia 'Black Bomber' Cheddar, Bishops Cropwell Stilton, and Wensleydale, with an interesting example from further afield being Cambozola of Germany. The other thing which The Old Windmill is known for its its pork pies, with the varieties on offer including the traditional pork pie, a pork pie with Stilton, one with black pudding, and a chilli pork pie (spicy chilli jam and topped with chilli flakes). If you want a ploughmans lunch, then you're covered here as well, with the ploughmans lunch including a pork pie, cheese, cold meats, pickled egg, pickled onions, chutney, salad, and artisan bread.

Image Credit: The Old Windmill | The Old Windmill

Sultan
Address: 94-95 Far Gosford Street, Coventry CV1 5EA
There is more variety to Turkish cuisine than people may think, with influences from a wide range of regions. If you want to experience the cuisine of this intriguing country, then why not visit Sultan towards the east of the city centre? There are a number of cold starters (all of which are vegetarian-friendly), including hummus (crushed chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic), yaprak sarma (stuffed vine leaves with rice, onion, peppers, and herbs), and acili ezme (freshly-diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, parsley, and spices). For hot starters, why not choose from sucuk (beef garlic sausage), sigara boregi (deep-fried filo pastry filled with feta cheese), or the prawn tails (breaded butterfly king prawns)? For the house specials, choices can be made from the lamb beyti (minced lamb with herbs, garlic, red peppers, yogurt, and parsley, served with rice), the yogurtlu chicken shish (presented on a bed of crispy bread dressed with yogurt, tomato sauce, and butter), and the iskender (beef doner presented on a bed of crispy bread dressed with yogurt, tomato sauce, and butter). There are also a variety of other main courses, with the kebabs being served alongside rice and freshly-prepared salad.

Noodle Bar
Address: 9 Bull Yard, Coventry CV1 1LH
Chinese cuisine is arguably one of the most popular in the UK. One such example is at Noodle Bar in Coventry, found in the southern part of the city centre, and a demonstration that you don't need to spend much in order to get a good meal. The available dim sum options include spring rolls (served with sweet & sour dip), steamed prawn & pork dumplings, and steamed custard buns. There are plenty of soups to choose from as well, including won ton soup, chicken & mushroom soup, and tofu & sweetcorn soup. With regard to other dishes, there are many to choose from, including traditional Cantonese duck (with bones & specially-brewed soy sauce), the 'Noodle Bar Special' (king prawns, squid, chicken, pork), the curry beef brisket, tofu & aubergine in black bean sauce, stir-fried mixed vegetable noodles with beansprouts, and many more - if we were to list everything, this section would be incredibly long!

Mid-range

Arco Bar & Ristorante
Address: 13 Butts, Coventry CV1 3GJ
To the west of the city centre and not too far from Butts Lane Stadium lies Arco Bar & Ristorante. As the sound of the name would suggest, Arco focuses on Italian cuisine. For nibbles while you wait for other dishes to arrive, this includes bread & oils, and also mixed olives, while also including a red pepper tapenade. The starters include the classic bruschetta (tomato, onion, fresh basil, Parmesan, balsamic glaze), rope-grown Scottish mussels (fresh mussels cooked in a choice of chilli & tomato sauce or white wine & cream sauce), and chicken liver pâté (pâté, onion chutney, butter, crostini). For pasta dishes, you're covered here with the arrabiatta (penne pasta, red onion, chilli, garlic), the gamberi (Napoli tomato sauce, king prawns, linguine pasta, chilli, fresh tomato), and the pollo pepperoni penne (chicken, pepperoni, penne pasta, creamy paprika sauce, garlic). For pizzas, there's the classic margherita (fresh dough, Napoli tomato sauce, mozzarella), the carne (fresh dough, Napoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, chicken, pancetta), and the tonno (fresh dough, Napoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, tuna, onions, chilli). There are other dishes available on the menu as well, including porchetta (slow-roasted short rib of pork, broccoli, carrots, mash, red wine jus), lamb shank (slow-roasted lamb shank, broccoli, carrots, mash, red wine jus), and chicken supreme (pan-fried chicke, broccoli, carrots, mash, creamy garlic sauce). Of note on the dessert menu is the tiramisu (saviardi biscuits dipped in coffee, layered with mascarpone cheese & whipped cream), the panna cotta (sweetened vanilla cream thickened with gelatine and served with mixed berries), and the carrot cake (carrot cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream).

Aqua Food and Mood
Address: 14 Butts, Coventry CV1 3GR
Found towards the west of the city centre and a short walk from the Albany Theatre is Aqua Food and Mood. Here, the focus is on Lebanese cuisine, with a sizeable amount of the dishes being suitable for vegetarians or vegans - this is interesting to note when a lot of Lebanese dishes are based around meat. A traditional Lebanese meal will often start off with a series of mezze dishes (this is true for a number of cuisines in the Middle East), and Aqua is no exception, with a variety of both hot and cold mezze. The cold mezze are all vegetarian-friendly, and include moutabel (baba ghanouj - grilled aubergines ground with lemon juice and tahini), tabbouleh (copped parsley, tomato, onion, mint, cracked wheat, lemon juice, olive oil), and bamia b'zeit (okra cooked with tomato, onions, olive oil). For hot mezze, the options include falafel (deep-fried balls of broad bean and chickpeas with spices, served with tahini), sambousek bil lahmeh (pastry filled with minced lamb and pine kernels), and halloumi kellaj (thin halloumi cheese with zatar spice & olive oil grilled in Lebanese bread). The main courses include options such as laham mashwi (tender cubes of lamb grilled with onions & tomato, served with spicy sauce), chicken shawarma (thin slices of chicken marinated in spices & garlic), bamia ma ruz (okra stew), and samak mashwi (fresh sea bass seasoned and grilled, topped with tahini sauce). One intriguing thing about the drinks selection at Aqua is that they have a particular focus on alcohol-free options, which could make it an attractive option if you're trying to drink less alcohol.

Bistrot Pierre
Address: Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre, Broadgate, Coventry CV1 1LL
In the Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre in the city centre and a short walk from the Cathedral is Bistrot Pierre. Serving up classic French dishes, this restaurant is sure to delight fans of this kind of cuisine. The available starters include chicken liver pâté (with sourdough croûtes, pickled red onions, pea shoots, and plum & ginger chutney), smoked salmon (confit of poached & smoked salmon, crème frâiche, tomatoes, pickled red onions, capers, dressed leaves), and fricassée de champignons (button, chestnut, and oyster mushrooms, on toasted sourdough with fresh tarragon - vegan option available). The main courses include bœuf bourguignon (marinated diced beef slowly braised with red wine, shallots, mushrooms, bacon, pomme purée and honey-roasted carrots), smoked haddock (fillet of smoked haddock, wilted spinach, pomme purée, poached egg, and wholegrain mustard with beurre blanc), and and a Moroccan vegetable tagine (roasted celeriac and squash with chickpeas, apricots, spiced couscous, harissa & mint dressing, plant-based yogurt, and clay-baked flat bread). If you fancy pushing the boat out a little more, why not consider the confit duck leg (confit Gressingham duck leg with roasted celeriac purée, winter greens, morello cherry jus, hazelnut crumble, dauphinoise potatoes)? The desserts include some French classics, such as the crème brûlée (vanilla crème brûlée made fresh every day by the chefs), the tarte au citron (with raspberry coulis and crème Chantilly), and the Paris-Brest (choux pastry with hazelnut praline, spice apple & raisin compôte, candied hazelnuts, warm chocolate sauce), and the fromage du jour (selection of French cheeses, served with grapes, rustic sourdough, and red onion confiture).

Image Credit: Bistrot Pierre | Bistrot Pierre

Fine dining

Gourmet Food Kitchen
Address: Far Gosford Street, Unit H2 FarGo Village, Coventry CV1 5ED
To the east of the city centre in FarGo Village (a popular creative quarter), you can find Gourmet Food Kitchen. The restaurant has an interesting concept of a small restaurant with a variety of dishes to sample just what the head chef, Tony Davies, can do. There are a number of sample menus on the website to give an idea of what might be on offer. The dishes can include celeriac veloute with GFK lardons, crab bisque, Stilton beignets, terrine of duck (with pistachio and Cumberland sauce), Chalk Stream trout (with polenta and dill sauce), beef wellington (with truffled potatoes and glazed carrots), loin of venison (with butternut squash and Chanterelle & port sauce), a 'trio of apple', and coffee & petit-fours. The typical tasting menu includes seven courses overall, inclusive of the coffee & petit-fours to finish the meal off.

There are many other things to do in Coventry. For example, if you're into aviation history, then why not visit the Midland Air Museum? Found south-east of the city centre in Baginton, and next to Coventry Airport, the museum incorporates the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre - Frank Whittle was born in Coventry, and is credited with the invention of the turbojet engine. Aircraft on display at the museum include a Vickers Viscount, an English Electric Lightning, a Westland Whirlwing helicopter, and an Avro Vulcan V2 bomber.

Image Credit: Midland Air Museum | Facebook

If you're happy to go a little further afield, then Warwick Castle can be great fun for all the family, being originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068. Originally a castle, it was transformed into a stately home with work on the gardens being undertaken by renowned English landscape gardener Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. If you want to indulge yourself in some retail therapy, then the two most well-known places in the city itself are the Lower Precinct Shopping Centre and West Orchards Shopping Centre, with many well-known chains occupying each of these. For something a bit different, FarGo Village has a number of different shops and restaurants, focusing on creative & independent businesses.

Overnighting in Coventry

Maximise your Coventry experience by extending your stay in this historic city. Whether you're drawn to its architecture, its museums, or maybe an event at the stadium or one of the theatres, Coventry provides diverse accommodation options for every preference and budget. Uncover the ideal place to unwind and rejuvenate for another day of exploration.

We very much hope that we have managed to convince you to book a city break to Coventry. If we have, then fantastic! Our website is on hand to help you book the best-value train tickets for your journey. If you have any questions about your booking, then please get in touch with our customer service team, who will be more than happy to assist you.

Looking to book your stay? Click here to explore the variety of accommodations for an overnight break. 

Getting the best-value rail tickets possible is something that we at Trainsplit are sure many people want to do. This can include booking in advance, using a Railcard if you have one, travelling outside peak times, and – of course – splitting tickets via our website. If you’d like further information on any of these, please get in touch, and we’ll do what we can to assist you. We do have a comprehensive booking guide here at Trainsplit on the booking process, which we hope will be very useful, and we’ve covered some of the main points below. 

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Our top tips and ways to cut down train travel costs on your train tickets to Coventry

Book Your Train Tickets Early

If you know when you are planning to travel, booking early can save you money on your train tickets. With Advance fares becoming available up to 12 weeks ahead, this is a great way to save on your rail travel.

Use a Railcard

Teamed up with a railcard, you can get up to a third off the cost, saving you more money on your train tickets. If you make a lot of train journeys, a railcard will pay for itself in no time.

Split Your Tickets

With Trainsplit’s unique journey planner, we search for the best-priced train tickets for your journey. You can easily discover the best split ticketing combinations that maximise your savings on train tickets, and best of all, Trainsplit will do all the work for you and doesn’t charge a booking fee.

Avoid Peak Times

If you don't need to travel early in the morning, consider traveling off-peak to save money on more expensive train tickets. Trains are also likely to be quieter during off-peak hours, which usually start from around 09:30 onwards.

Travelling with More than 2 People

Take a look at Group Save train tickets. These are a great way to get discounted train fares for groups of people traveling together.

Consider an Alternative Route

If you're travelling from London, then some alternative routes to Coventry may involve changing trains at Reading, Oxford, or Leamington Spa. Using Trainsplit’s journey planner, you can search for cheaper routes to Coventry, potentially saving you money on your train tickets.

Claim Delay Repay

If your journey is delayed, you may be entitled to delay compensation on your train tickets.

By following these tips, along with using Trainsplit’s unique journey planner to find the best train ticket deals, now is the perfect time to explore new destinations.

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