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Coventry

Mural at 2-Tone Village, Coventry Music Museum, Coventry

Coventry

The birthplace of two-tone music and the British motoring industry, Coventry is a cultural hotbed, rebuilt from the ruins of the Second World War.

Coventry at a glance

  • The UK’s City of Culture for 2021, Coventry is packed with history and heritage, not to mention modern art venues, buzzing bars and cutting-edge theatre.

  • Explore the 14th century Coventry Cathedral, largely destroyed during the Second World War, but rebuilt and now home to a show-stopping 25-metre stained glass window.

  • Tune in at the Coventry Music Museum, which delves into the history of two-tone and the region’s influences on sound.

  • Unleash your love of the open road as you learn about Britain’s motoring heritage at the Coventry Transport Museum.

  • Are you a sports fan? Coventry Building Society Arena will host rugby sevens, judo and wrestling at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

  • Did you know? Coventry Cathedral was once voted Britain’s most popular 20th century building.

  • Did you know? Sir Henry Parkes, founder of the modern New South Wales, was born a few miles from Coventry in 1815.

  • Coventry is just over an hour by train from London.

Coventry Cathedral in the county of Warwickshire, England
We love

Mix the old with the new at Coventry Cathedral, basking in the colours of its stained glass window before climbing the tower for panoramic views of the city. Dig into musical heritage in the surrounds of 2-Tone Village and the Coventry Music Museum, or take in the ever-changing exhibitions of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, host of the renowned 2021 Turner Prize. Wander through the Canal Basin to discover the city’s industrial past, or travel back in time while exploring the medieval buildings of Spon Street and Bayley Lane. Feast your eyes on ancient art at St Mary’s Guildhall, which will reopen in late 2021 after a transformative restoration, or discover the wonders of the modern age at Coventry Transport Museum, home to the world’s largest publically owned collection of British road vehicles. Venture south to Kenilworth Castle to explore the vast medieval ruin and walk in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I, or head further afield to wander 500 acres of landscaped gardens at Coombe Abbey Park, all designed by the legendary Capability Brown.

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Where is Coventry?

Located in the West Midlands, Coventry’s is just 11 miles (18km) from Birmingham Airport. Around 50 airlines operate to over 150 direct destinations, with hundreds of connecting options available. Trains from the airport to Coventry take around 15 minutes, with the journey taking 20 minutes by car.

Getting around Coventry

Coventry is easily accessible from destinations across Britain. Direct trains run from London Euston, taking around 70 minutes, as well as from key cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Alternatively, Coventry is well connected to the road network, with the M6, M6 Toll, M40, M42, M5 and M69 all providing routes into the city. The centre can be easily explored on foot, while excellent public transport connections make it simple to navigate once you arrive.

  • Visit Coventry have a range of maps which can help visitors plan their trip.
  • Numerous taxi companies operate in Coventry. These can be booked in advance for private hire, while Hackney Carriages can be found at taxi ranks or flagged down if their ‘for hire’ light is on.
  • Curious About Coventry offers guides for several self-guided walks which take in many of the city’s key attractions.

BY FOOT

It takes just 20 minutes to walk through the city centre, meaning the main Coventry attractions can all be easily accessed on foot.

BY BUS

National Express Coventry serve routes across the city, with contactless payments accepted on all routes for quick and convenient travel. Tickets can also be purchased in advance with the mTicket app.

BY BIKE

West Midlands Cycle Hire operates in the city, providing a number of locations from which to unlock a bike and discover Coventry’s attractions on two wheels.