The 10 best things to do in Coventry
A recently regenerated city centre, globally renowned universities and an international population have all helped shape this city’s unique cultural identity. And in 2021, Coventry celebrates its well-earned status as the UK City of Culture. To experience the very best it has to offer, here's a list of the 10 ultimate things to do in Coventry, as selected by born and bred local Ross Darragh – as well as where to eat and, once you're done, which day trips to take from there.
Enjoy craft beer at an indie brewery
A cluster of micro-breweries and tap houses have opened in Coventry over the past few years. At Dhillon's Brewery, find award-winning ales including locals' favourite Red Rebel IPA, a malty, vegan beer. Bask in the sunshine at the Castle Yard Taproom, right in the city centre, which has a courtyard and a big selection of locally brewed beers. For social butterflies, the lively atmosphere at Twisted Barrel Brewery on Far Gosford Street is the best bet – there are 23 beers on tap and plenty of room to dance, especially on its long bierkeller-inspired tables.
Top tip: Dhillons Spire Bar is a unique spot a short walk from the train station where beer-lovers sip expertly crafted beer in the city’s oldest church spire.
Andrew Brooks and British CouncilImmerse yourself in Coventry's creative crowd at FarGo Village
Explore the entrepreneurial smarts of 42 independent business owners at this artistically repurposed industrial space. Grab an ethically sourced pour-over at Commonground café as you thumb through colourful displays of artwork celebrating Coventry's finest homegrown artists. There are a handful of niche stores, including Sixties-inspired interiors shop Auntie Olive's Attic and Sgt Bilko's Vintage Emporium, which is stuffed with film collectables and memorabilia. Plus, the international street-food stalls will satisfy your appetite: we rate BIB Noodle Bar for its silky hand-rolled noodles and plump dumplings.
Top tip: Visit Factory on the weekends to try other street-food favourites – from award-winning burgers and wood-fired pizzas to brownies and cocktails.
Getty ImagesAdmire the beauty of Coventry Cathedral
Visit the impressively preserved cathedral ruins and engross yourself in its past as you navigate around the stone and brick remnants, each displaying information about the 1940 Coventry Blitz. Just a few yards along the cobbled path is the grand St Michael's Cathedral, which was rebuilt alongside the bombed ruins and opened in 1962. The cathedral is often celebrated as the nation's favourite 20th-century building and is a must-see for those with any interest in architecture.
Top tip: There’s a selection of irresistible homemade cakes and pastries to choose from during a breather from exploring, at the Rising Cafe in the cathedral's basement.
AlamyLearn about the city’s automotive legacy at the Coventry Transport Museum
Next to the modernist Whittle Arch, the Transport Museum houses the largest collection of British-made vehicles in the country and is a car fanatic's dream. There are 14 informative exhibits, displaying the fastest car on the planet, the ThrustSSC, as well as some of the most innovative and luxurious vehicles of the past 200 years. The museum is also geared up for children, with three 4D simulator rides and plenty of interactive activities.
Top tip: Get to the museum early to fully appreciate all 14 galleries. Or if you're visiting later in the day grab a drink from its award-winning Esquires Coffee and watch the Whittle Arch light up as the sun sets.
Tune into history at the Coventry Music Museum
This dinky museum is the brainchild of journalist Pete Chambers, who has packed the unusual gallery full of intriguing memorabilia from famous local musicians past and present, including The Enemy, The Specials and The Selecter. As you explore the space, take full advantage of the staff's historical expertise and quiz them on everything from the development of 2 Tone to John Lennon's visit to Coventry.
Top tip: The museum's Band/Artist of the Month showcases the best musical talent in the city. Watch them perform at Knights, a live music venue directly below the museum.
AlamyGet lost at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
A short walk from Coventry Cathedral, at the heart of Coventry University, the Herbert Art Gallery is a fine collection of enlightening spaces. It has one of the best views of the adjacent cathedral, as well as exhibits showcasing Coventry's historic and archaeological past, including a portrait of the renowned Lady Godiva.
Top tip: The museum’s galleries have a changing roster of shows, but don't miss the 2 Tone: Lives and Legacies exhibition to mark the City of Culture celebrations, which takes place from Friday 28 May to Sunday 12 September 2021.
AlamyCheck out art exhibits, theatre productions and comedy shows at the Warwick Arts Centre
Warwick University’s surprisingly green campus is surrounded by woodland you can explore before making your way inside the Arts Centre. Walk through the hallways lined with award-winning artworks and student projects to enter one of its many impressive theatres. The venue is showcasing exhibitions inspired by famous local artists throughout the summer 2021 schedule, including a community visual arts project based on Coventry author George Eliot's novel Middlemarch, entitled Roar on the Other Side of Silence.
Top tip: Go for pre-show drinks at the popular Varsity pub on campus, a short walk from the Arts Centre.
Explore the grounds of Coombe Abbey
Coombe Abbey hotel’s enormous estate includes an 80-acre lake that’s home to a range of magnificent birds, including kingfishers. After a walk through the gardens, thrill-seekers can try a session at Go Ape to swing through tall trees, balance across tightropes or navigate assault courses. If visiting on a day trip, book the afternoon tea for fat scones topped with whipped clotted cream before taking a calming stroll to watch the sun set and the birds roost.
Top tip: Check out the enormous California redwoods, some of the oldest trees in the UK.
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Graeme PeacockPay your respects at the War Memorial Park
The city's largest park opened in July 1921 as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. Take a full day to explore the well-kept fields and meticulously arranged flower gardens and visit the striking memorial, then stop at one of the cafés in the grounds.
Top tip: The incredibly popular Godiva music festival takes place at the park every year, typically during July.
AlamyVisit the cute cafés and vintage shops on Earlsdon High Street
Kick off a day here at buzzing family-run Sage Coffee Shop with a hearty breakfast. The street is lined with florists, artisanal food stores and vintage shops to explore afterwards. As you walk further down you'll find The Royal Oak, a great pub with inviting outdoor seating. At Beer Gonzo, inspect the fine selection of independent brewery ales and beers – before heading out back to its secret bar for a few more drinks.
Top tip: Make sure to try the fantastic fish and chips at Gabriel's to soak up those afternoon beers.
The best restaurants in Coventry
Visiting a city as culturally diverse as Coventry has many advantages – especially when it comes to eating out. Here are 10 of the best restaurants to visit.
Gourmet Food Kitchen
Coventry-born Tony Davies' Gourmet Food Kitchen cooks up the perfect hangover brunch with local ingredients including thick slabs of bacon and silky smoked salmon. If you're after fine dining, book an intimate seven-course supper prepared by the city's highest-rated chef.
Selminas Restaurant and Bar
Just off cobbled Spon Street, this popular family-run Mexican and Hawaiian restaurant is known for its authentic menu inspired by chef Emina's time living in Mexico. We recommend the fajitas, while the calamari are hands down the best in the city. If you want to try something different, go for the Jäger-infused lamb chops. Tapas dishes are really reasonably priced too – three plates cost less than £15.
Habibi
Palestinian-born Manal Timraz was one of the first to introduce Coventry to Middle Eastern food in 2003 when she opened Habibi. Interior details have been sourced from small businesses in Egypt and Morocco as well as Timraz's home country, adding to the space’s authenticity. There’s traditional shisha and a cosy fire-pit in the beautifully designed Bedouin tent. Order the local favourite Habibi chicken shawarma or the flavoursome tagine.
The Old Mill
Set in the countryside, the Old Mill is a short walk from the historic Lunt Roman Fort in Baginton. After an entertaining tour of the fort, meander through the village and pitch up in the pub's pretty garden, admiring the views of the River Sowe and hills beyond. The steak and red-wine pie is a solid choice or, if you fancy sharing, try the rosemary-and-garlic Camembert with a bottle of Pinot Noir.
My Dhabba
Coventry has a reputation for brilliant Indian restaurants, and My Dhabba is one of our favourites. The classics – tikka masalas, baltis, kormas – are full of fresh flavour and heady spices. But there’s also karahi, a spicy stir-fried curry from Pakistan and a vegetarian thali of paneer masala, chickpea chana and spicy sabzi.
The Artisan Bar and Grill
From the outside, this respected steakhouse – said by some to serve the best steak in the city – looks like a sweet cottage pulled from a period drama. Dishes are crafted with attention to detail and the beef burger is the best choice for extra-hungry visitors.
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Taste Vietnam
Founded by Vietnamese-born Van, this little restaurant is hidden away on Spon Street. For those who have had the unforgettable experience of tasting the banh mi, a type of baguette, in its home country, biting into one at Taste Vietnam will transport you back to the chaotic streets of Hanoi in an instant. The pho and nem (rolls) are also standouts.
Ristorante Da Vinci
This Italian spot on Earlsdon High Street has been going for more than 30 years and is an ideal date-night hangout. The Sicilian- and Tuscan-inspired menu includes an antipasto platter piled high with handkerchief-thin Italian cured meats and cheeses that are ideal for sharing. And the expertly cooked seafood dishes are arguably the finest in the city: the linguine all'aragosta (with fresh lobster in a cherry-tomato sauce) is a must-try.
Leave It To Esmie
Esmie’s authentic Caribbean family recipes are a definite contender for the best street food at FarGo Village. Her passionate cooking celebrates her cultural heritage: the bowls are full of flavour and spice, and the meat in the curry mutton bowl is fall-apart tender. This is also a great spot for those following plant-based diets, with an extensive vegan menu – try the jerk soya burger.
Jinseon Korean BBQ Restaurant
If you haven't yet experienced the satisfaction of cooking a ribeye steak to your idea of perfection while sitting in a packed restaurant and drinking sake, visit Jinseon Korean. We suggest going in a group and diving right in with a meat platter of four different cuts, including incomparable bulgogi beef – thin marinated strips flavoured with soy sauce and sesame oil. The side of KFC – Korean Fried Chicken – is for sharing, but we won’t judge if you keep it all for yourself.
The best day trips from Coventry
Coventry is the most central city in the country, making it a great base for countless day trips. These are some of our favourites.
AlamyBirmingham
England's second city is only about 20 minutes away by train. Sure, there’s the prolific Bullring and Grand Central shopping centre and the diverse, lively rag and open markets to explore, with stalls selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to quality vintage clothing – but a clutch of independent food and drink openings are also lifting the centre away from its chain-heavy past. Head to Tiger Bites Pig for pillowy bao buns bursting with braised pork belly or black-vinegar beef shin, Original Patty Men for stonking burgers that gained their reputation at street-food haunt Digbeth Dining Club, and Carters of Moseley for Michelin-starred tasting menus.
Getty ImagesStratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's birthplace is about 20 miles south of Coventry and travelling by car takes 30 minutes. The best way to get your bearings is with a pleasant walk along the River Avon – or hire a rowing boat and bob up and down it at your own pace. Visit historical landmarks including Shakespeare's childhood home before immersing yourself in acting mastery at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. For something out of the ordinary, the MAD Museum is a must, with its labyrinth of mechanical puzzles and unconventional interactive displays.
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AlamyWarwick Castle
This almost 1,000-year-old castle is easily accessible from Coventry and is a great destination for family day trips. Explore the castle grounds before taking part in activities and interactive live shows, including the UK's biggest bird of prey display The Falconer's Quest, the terrifyingly entertaining Castle Dungeon experience and an all-new 3D interactive Zog activity trail.
Getty ImagesRoyal Leamington Spa
The best way to reach this charming town is via a 15-minute train journey – the 20-minute drive can often result in a struggle to find parking. Walk through Jephson Gardens, taking in the grand architecture and beautiful grounds, then grab a coffee at one of the many cute cafés before heading along the Parade to browse its collection of high-end fashion and vintage shops selling pretty trinkets and ornaments.
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