Coventry Overview
Coventry is a fantastic cultural city in which students flock from all over the country to attend the two universities that are located in the city; The university of Warwick and Coventry University. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and a brilliant place to live due to the diverse culture and friendly people. The majority of the city was destroyed during World War 2 bombing raids, one of the biggest shocks to the city during the bombing raids was the destruction of the cathedral, the cathedral had already been rebuilt after being destroyed twice before that. There are several museums and art galleries dotted around the city making it a very interesting and cultural city. To learn more about the city you will be living in you are able to go on Blue Badge Guided Tours which are walking tours where you are able to discover the history of the city whilst being sociable as groups go on these tours.
Things to do in Coventry
There are several theatres in the city; the Belgrade, Criterion and Warwick arts Centre which all show a wide range of productions and events, each theatre has its own bar and are all great venues to visit. The Belgrade is the main theatre which have a hand in helping enrich the local community, they do this by encouraging people to join the performing arts. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is located directly opposite the two cathedrals in the city centre, you are able to enter the museum for free and you will be able to learn all about the history of the city you will be living in. There are only two cinemas in the city, the Odeon shows all the latest blockbusters in both 2D, 3D and Imax. Similarly, the Showcase Cinema also shows the latest films as well as offering student discounts which makes it a great hit with students. There are several shopping districts in Coventry ranging from independent boutiques all the way to huge flag ship stores such as IKEA, you will always be able to find something you like at a great price.
Sport in Coventry
There are several leisure centres in and around the city, a lot of them will offer student discounts on memberships meaning you are able to stay fit and healthy without spending to much money. There are several open to public tennis and basketball courts as well as a lot of money being funded by the council to improve local parks to encourage local people to get outdoors. Coventry City FC are the closest professional football team that play at the Ricon Arena with a capacity of 32,609. On matchday the city has a great atmosphere and watching the team play is a great day out for you and your friends.
Escape Coventry
Just a short 30-minute drive west of the city is Birmingham, there are several activities to do in Birmingham and a great place to spend the day. Just to the south of the city you have the Cotswolds which is a famous picturesque area full of meadows and hills with beautiful villages and historic monuments. The Cotswolds is a great place to spend an afternoon as it is very idyllic and peaceful making it a perfect place to escape the stresses of university.
Transport in Coventry
Due to Coventry being located in the middle of the country you are able to access the national motorway network which gives you access to all the major cities located in the UK. You are able to get a direct train to London in just over an hour, you are also able to get direct trains to Manchester and Liverpool in just over 2 hours. You are also able to get coaches to most major cities with Birmingham Airport being nearby which makes it perfect for students who have families that live far away whilst you are at university.
