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Coventry
Two cathedrals side by side, Lady Godiva and the UK's big road transport collection
Coventry was one of the wealthiest cities in medieval England and later the centre of Britain's bicycle and motor industries. That made it a target in the Second World War: the air raid of November 1940 destroyed much of the historic centre, including the cathedral. The ruins were kept, and the new St Michael's Cathedral, consecrated in 1962, was built right beside them.
The cathedral quarter holds most of what survived: the ruins and spire, Holy Trinity Church, the medieval St Mary's Guildhall and the remains of the priory. The Herbert and the Coventry Transport Museum are a few minutes away, Lady Godiva rides in Broadgate, and Spon Street and the almshouses keep some timber-framed buildings. Coventry had about 345,000 people at the 2021 census and was UK City of Culture for 2021.
- Train from LondonJust under an hourAvanti West Coast from London Euston, according to Visit Coventry
- Birmingham AirportAbout 20 minutesBy train via Birmingham International, according to Visit Coventry
- PopulationAbout 345,0002021 census
- New cathedralConsecrated in 1962Built beside the ruins of the cathedral bombed in 1940
Zonas
Where to begin
The Coventry city centre guide has 14 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay.
Lugares de interés
Highlights across Coventry
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Coventry Cathedral
St Michael's Cathedral, consecrated in 1962 right beside the ruins of the old cathedral; Jacob Epstein's St Michael sculpture is on its east wall.
Old Cathedral ruins
Shell of the 14th-century church of St Michael, a cathedral from 1918, bombed in the Second World War; its 87-metre tower and spire survive.
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
Museum, art gallery and records archive on Jordan Well, next to the cathedral quarter.
Coventry Transport Museum
Large public collection of British-made road transport: more than 240 cars and commercial vehicles, 100 motorcycles and 200 bicycles.
St Mary's Guildhall
Grade I listed medieval guildhall on Bayley Lane, open for visits, with a tea room and restaurant.
Holy Trinity Church
Parish church beside the cathedral, known for the doom wall painting above its chancel arch.
Lady Godiva statue
Bronze equestrian statue of Lady Godiva, titled Self Sacrifice, on a Portland stone plinth in Broadgate.
St Mary's Priory remains
Excavated remains of the medieval priory and first cathedral of Coventry, destroyed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Fotos
1 / 6Cómo llegar
Arriving in Coventry
Coventry station is on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Birmingham. Visit Coventry gives London as just under an hour by train and Birmingham Airport as about 20 minutes. Check operators for times and fares.
Tren
Avanti West Coast links Coventry with London Euston in under an hour and Birmingham International in under 10 minutes, according to Visit Coventry, which also says trains from London run every 20 minutes.
Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport is about 20 minutes away; trains from Birmingham International reach Coventry in under 10 minutes.
Buses and coaches
Pool Meadow bus station in the city centre is the main departure point for local buses, according to Visit Coventry.
Journey times are Visit Coventry's figures, checked on 3 November 2026. We do not publish timetables or fares.
A pie
The cathedral quarter, Broadgate, the Herbert and the Transport Museum are close together inside the inner ring road; Spon Street is just west of it.
Autobuses
Pool Meadow bus station is the main departure point, with stops across the city.
Mejor época para ir
Coventry through the year
The cathedral and museums are open all year. Wikipedia lists the Godiva Festival, the Coventry Caribbean Festival and the Coventry Jazz Festival among the city's events; check Visit Coventry for dates.
Festival season: the Godiva Festival and the Coventry Caribbean Festival are held in War Memorial Park.
Quieter for the cathedral, the Herbert and the Transport Museum; Visit Coventry lists guided walks of the Cathedral Quarter.
Preguntas frecuentes
Conviene saber antes de viajar
Can you visit the old cathedral ruins?
Yes. The ruins of the old St Michael's Cathedral stand beside the new cathedral, and the 87-metre tower and spire survived the 1940 bombing.
How long is the train from London to Coventry?
Visit Coventry says under an hour from London Euston, with trains every 20 minutes.
Is Coventry near Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon?
Yes. Warwick is about 10 miles south; see our Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire guide for Warwick, Kenilworth and Leamington.
Nearby places
Guides near Coventry
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Créditos fotográficos
- Coventry (header): Andrew Walker (walker44), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Coventry city centre: Cmglee, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Coventry Cathedral: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Old Cathedral ruins: Andrew Walker (walker44), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Herbert Art Gallery & Museum: E Gammie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coventry Transport Museum: Jim Linwood from London, CC BY 2.0, source
- St Mary's Guildhall: Snowmanradio, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Holy Trinity Church: Kanyocsaba, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lady Godiva statue: Cmglee, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- St Mary's Priory remains: E Gammie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Spon Street: habiloid, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Belgrade Theatre: Herry Lawford, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ford's Hospital: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0, source
- Bond's Hospital: Paul Coles (Wikipedia Takes Coventry participant), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Cook Street Gate: PAUL FARMER, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- The Charterhouse: Carmen McLean-Ellmann, Oliver Ellmann (Wikipedia Takes Coventry participant), CC BY 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Planifíquelo bien
More guides for Coventry
- Where to stay in CoventryQué zona conviene a qué viajero, con todos los alojamientos que hemos revisado.
- Getting around CoventryCon y sin coche, según las páginas oficiales de transporte.
- When to go to CoventryEl tiempo, la luz diurna y qué llevar, mes a mes.
- Rainy-day ideas in CoventryPlanes en interior, por zonas.
- Events in CoventryFestivales, mercados y eventos de temporada según los organizadores.
- Attractions in CoventryLugares de interés y museos con indicadores de entrada y acceso cuando están verificados.
Siga explorando