Stand on Bayley Lane and you can take in three centuries in one turn of the head: the sandstone tower and empty shell of the old cathedral, the concrete and glass of the new one beside it, and the timbered front of St Mary's Guildhall across the way. Few city centres in England hold their history so openly, and fewer still do it while a market trader calls out prices a street away.
Coventry suits travellers who care about the Second World War, post-war architecture, transport history, or the way a city rebuilds itself. It also works well for a short break, since the historic core is compact and walkable, with the museums and cathedral quarter close together.
This guide covers the sights and experiences in and around the city, with a one-day plan at the end.
Top things to do in Coventry
1. Coventry Cathedral
The medieval Gothic Cathedral of St Michael was built as a parish church in the late 14th to early 15th century and largely destroyed by the Luftwaffe on the night of 14 November 1940. Only the tower, spire and outer walls remain, and the ruins now form a memorial. Beside them stands the new cathedral, built between 1956 and 1962 to a design by Basil Spence, known for its post-war modern design, the large tapestry of Christ enthroned, its stained glass and its sculpture, including St Michael's Victory over the Devil by Sir Jacob Epstein on the façade.
Archaeological digs have uncovered the remains of the original monastic settlement founded by Lord Leofric in 1043; these have been incorporated into the priory gardens, and an interpretive centre exhibits some notable finds. Entry is free. Give yourself time for both the old shell and the new building, since they are experienced as a pair.
2. St Mary's Guildhall
A medieval guildhall built in the 14th century, standing across the way from the cathedral ruins on Bayley Lane. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed here when she was detained in Coventry in 1569, and the room she was traditionally thought to have stayed in is open to visitors.
Opening is March to October, Sunday to Thursday, 10AM to 4PM. Entry is free, with donations welcome. The Godiva Café, a café-restaurant, is open 11AM to 4PM year-round, which makes the guildhall an easy pairing with the cathedral quarter.
3. Coventry Transport Museum
A museum on Millennium Place, Hales Street, hosting the largest collection of British road transport in the world, with over 230 cars and commercial vehicles, 250 cycles and 90 motorcycles. It is the natural stop for anyone interested in the city's motor industry past.
It opens 10AM to 5PM, with last admission at 4:30PM, and is closed 24 to 26 December and 1 January. Adult tickets are £14, concessions £10.50, juniors aged 5 to 16 £7, with special prices for families and free entry for Coventry residents. The Whittle Arch stands adjacent on Millennium Place, so combine the two.
4. Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
A moderately large local museum on Jordan Well with exhibits on local and natural history, including displays related to Lady Godiva and the Coventry Blitz. Entry is free, with donations welcome.
It sits close to the cathedral quarter and the transport museum, so it fits neatly into a walking route through the city centre.
5. Spon Street
A historic street that was once part of an important trade route from London to Shrewsbury and Holyhead, and in the 18th century one of the world's major centres of watchmaking. Since the end of the Second World War the street has halved in length because of the construction of the city's ring road, and some historic buildings that survived the Coventry Blitz were relocated here in the 1960s.
Today it is home to 26 shops and forms a large concentration of the city's medieval structures. Walk it slowly and look up at the timber framing rather than treating it as a shopping stop.
6. Lunt Roman Fort
In the nearby village of Baginton, this is a partial reconstruction of a Roman fort that stood on the site from around 60 to 80 CE, erected in response to Boudicca's revolt. Exhibits include a museum of Roman period life based on finds excavated at the site between 1965 and 1973, a model of the fort, and occasional full costume re-enactments of Roman military manoeuvres.
Adults £2, concessions £1. It is outside the city centre, so plan it as a separate outing rather than something to squeeze between city stops.
7. Midland Air Museum
Also at Coventry Road in Baginton, with star exhibits including the Avro Vulcan bomber and a heritage centre dedicated to the work of Coventry-born Sir Frank Whittle, the pioneer of the jet engine.
Adult tickets are £7.75, concessions £7.25, children £4, and under-fives free. Because it shares the Baginton area with Lunt Roman Fort, the two make a sensible pairing for a half day out of the centre.
8. Coventry Canal Art Trail
A set of 39 pieces of art inspired by local history and contemporary culture, forming a 5-mile outdoor gallery. Start at Coventry Canal Basin and follow the canal northwards to Hawkesbury Junction.
The trail is free, and there are several pubs along the route where you can stop, so it does not have to be walked non-stop. Allow a good stretch of the day if you intend to complete it.
9. War Memorial Park
A park on Kenilworth Road that opened in 1921 as a tribute to the city's fallen soldiers of the First World War. It contains a cenotaph, themed gardens, an aviary, a children's play area and two cafés, along with sporting facilities including tennis courts, football pitches and a bowls green.
The park is open 24 hours a day, all year round, with the visitor centre open 9AM to 4PM. Entry is free, though sports facilities are charged separately. The Godiva Festival, a 3-day music event, is held here in early September.
10. Coombe Country Park
A 500-acre site on the eastern extremities of Coventry, about 4 miles from the city centre, containing woodland, gardens, scenic walks, birdwatching opportunities and a reasonably priced café. Opening is 7:30AM to dusk, depending on the time of year.
Entry is free, with £3.40 for parking. It is worth the trip out if you want a half day away from the streets.
11. Allesley Park
A large park in the western suburbs which opened as a deer park in the 13th century. Facilities include a golf and crazy golf course, a children's play area and a walled garden.
Entry is free; golf is £7.50 for adults and £3.50 for seniors and juniors, and crazy golf is £2.40. A straightforward option if you are travelling with children.
12. Lake View Park
A scenic park on Lake View Road in Coundon, used for wildlife conservation. Despite its name there is no lake in the park, although the River Sherbourne flows through it.
It is open dawn to dusk and free to enter. Come for a quiet walk rather than facilities.
13. Lady Godiva Statue
A statue in Broadgate by William Reid Dick, commemorating the legend that Lady Godiva rode nude on horseback through the city in the 11th century to protest excessive taxes imposed by her husband, Leofric. The story is regarded as a myth by modern historians, but it has become an enduring part of Coventry's identity.
It is a quick stop in the middle of the shopping area, easily combined with a walk towards the cathedral quarter.
14. Whittle Arch
A pair of arches spanning 60 m across Hales Street on Millennium Place, built as part of a regeneration scheme in the area and named after the Coventry-born jet engine pioneer Sir Frank Whittle.
They stand adjacent to the transport museum, so see them on the way in or out of that visit.
15. Belgrade Theatre
A live performance venue on Belgrade Square with a seating capacity of 1,158. It was the first civic theatre to be built after the Second World War and is now a Grade II listed building.
The box office is open Monday to Saturday, 10:30AM to 5:30PM. Check what is on before you travel if you want an evening performance.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start in the cathedral quarter on Bayley Lane. See Coventry Cathedral, both the ruined medieval shell and the post-war building beside it, and allow time for the priory gardens and interpretive centre. Then cross to St Mary's Guildhall, checking that your visit falls between March and October and on a Sunday to Thursday, when it opens 10AM to 4PM.
Afternoon. Walk to Millennium Place for Coventry Transport Museum, arriving well before last admission at 4:30PM, and take in the Whittle Arch while you are there. If time allows, add the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on Jordan Well, then walk Spon Street to see the surviving medieval structures.
Evening. Head to Broadgate to see the Lady Godiva Statue, then check what is on at the Belgrade Theatre, whose box office runs Monday to Saturday, 10:30AM to 5:30PM. If you would rather stay outdoors, finish along the Coventry Canal Art Trail from Coventry Canal Basin, stopping at one of the pubs along the route.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Coventry's cathedral?
The medieval Cathedral of St Michael was largely destroyed by the Luftwaffe on the night of 14 November 1940, leaving only the tower, spire and outer walls. A new cathedral was built next to the ruins between 1956 and 1962 to a design by Basil Spence.
Which Coventry attractions are free to enter?
Coventry Cathedral, St Mary's Guildhall, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, War Memorial Park, Allesley Park, Lake View Park, Coombe Country Park and the Coventry Canal Art Trail are all free, though some charge for parking or for specific facilities.
Do I need to leave the city centre for any of these?
Yes. Lunt Roman Fort and the Midland Air Museum are both at Baginton, and Coombe Country Park is on the eastern extremities of Coventry, about 4 miles from the city centre.
When is the Godiva Festival held?
It is a 3-day music event held in War Memorial Park in early September.
Pick your dates, check the opening times for the cathedral quarter and the transport museum, and start building your Coventry itinerary around them.