Out & About in Coventry

Coventry is a city located in the West Midlands, not far from Birmingham. With a population of around 303,000 people, it is the 9th largest city in England, and is emerging from its industrial past as a new centre for culture, sport, education and history. The city is situated in a great position for transport, with two big motorways, the M1 and M6, within easy driving distance and many train connections running through.

The city is also home to both the University of Warwick, one of the most pre-eminent institutions in the United Kingdom, and also Coventry University, which has world class expertise in engineering and design, among other things. Coventry City is also home to Coventry City FC, who play at the Ricoh Arena, which also hosts other events, such as concerts.

Finally, Coventry is probably most well known as a cathedral city; as the football chant goes, "we've got one to spare!" The original, which was bombed out during the Second World War by the Luftwaffe, still stands as a historical monument, whilst the new cathedral is next door.

Shopping

Coventry has a wealth of shopping centres and shops. The centre of town itself is home to a large number of high street stores, and also to the West Orchards Shopping Centre. West Orchards is located right in the centre of the city centre, and is the place most shopaholics should start from! It is a multi-storey centre, with all the department stores and shops you could want along with a food court and parking facilities, and it also has full disabled access.

Close to town too is the Central Six shopping area. Built on the old railway yard, this too has a number of high street chains and other shops, and also offers free parking. Dotted about the city too are a number of retail parks, including the Gallagher and Alvis parks. If retail therapy is your thing, then you are very well-placed in Coventry!

Food & Drink

Whether you are the ultimate fast-food fan or are looking for a more intimate meal, then Coventry has a number of different dining options. Many cuisines are represented, with Chinese seemingly a big favourite. In fact, the Wing Wah restaurant and the city centre Dragon Phoenix are both buffet Chinese's that offer quality food.

Coventry also has the normal smattering of chain stores, such as Subway, Nandos and Pizza Hut, and a number of good curry houses. There are however some places where you can get a more intimate, romantic meal too.

As for drink and fun, there is an almost surfeit of locations for the party lovers among you. The Skydome complex, which also has a cinema and restaurants, is home to three nightclubs, and the centre of town is thronged with bars that cater for every taste. The Kasbah is a great live music venue and nightclub, and other nightclubs such as Careys dot the town centre.

Arts & Entertainment

Coventry has very much come to the forefront as a cultural location in the past few years. The main theatre is the Belgrade Theatre, which hosts and is home to many important international and national shows, including dancing, theatre and plays. With its city centre location, it is very easy to reach too.

Also, the Warwick Arts Centre is often host to many different acts, with comedians such as Jimmy Carr and musicians and other, more small-scale theatrical productions put on there. There is also a cinema here that tends to show more arthouse and foreign-language films too.

If you are looking for something a bit more active in your entertainment, then a trip to the Megabowl complex in the Walsgrave area is a must. This has a large arcade and a huge bowling alley inside, as well as a Laser Quest game. There is also a large bar too, and is a massively fun place to visit.

Hotels & Travel

Coventry has a large number of hotels for a city of its size. If you are after a quick place to lay your head, there are Travel Lodges in and around the city centre, and a number of smaller, cheaper hotels just outside the city centre. There is also Hilton Hotel on the outskirts and the Britannia Hotel is the largest in the city centre.

Coventry is a doddle to move around, with taxis in abundance and an efficient bus service. Coventry train station is a mere 10 minute stroll from the centre and services from all four corners tend to run to there. If driving, there are two or three large car parks, not to mention the one in West Orchards, which can be used.