Those headed to the football (or soccer) matches at the City of Coventry Stadium in Coventry, England (about an hour by train from London) will have plenty to see and do while in town. Courtesy of VisitBritain, here are a few suggestions…
1.) Godiva Festival
The Godiva Festival has been held in War Memorial Park since 1998, although the beginnings go as far back as 1190 when monks cast from Coventry Priory told the story of their benefactress, Lady Godiva. An array of rock, pop, hip hop and acoustic artists, orchestras, comedy acts, a human circus and entertainment attracts more than 80,000 visitors each year.
2.) Coventry Cathedral
Coventry has had three cathedrals in the past 1,000 years: the 12th century Priory Church of St. Mary, the Medieval Parish Church Cathedral of St. Michael and the modern Coventry Cathedral, also named for St. Michael. Coventry Cathedral has beautiful modern stained glass windows and plenty of history.
3.) Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden
The medieval fortress of Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Castle, one of the most spectacular castle ruins in England, is one of the largest historic visitor attractions in the West Midlands. The ruins are best known as the home of Robert Dudley, the great love of Queen Elizabeth I. Dudley created an ornate palace here to impress his beloved in 1575. Lost for 400 years, the newly re-created Elizabethan Garden is once again open to visitors. A paradise for garden lovers, visitors can wander through this sumptuous landscape as Queen Elizabeth I would have done herself.
4.) Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry is the birthplace of the British cycle and motor industry. The Coventry Transport Museum’s collection has over 240 cars, commercial vehicles and buses, 94 motorcycles, 200 cycles, 25,000 models and around 1 million archive and related items.
5.) The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum
Located in Coventry’s city center, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum has undergone a major re-development and has eight permanent galleries displaying its collections. The space is also home to the History Centre, media suites, a shop, café and four temporary galleries displaying large-scale touring exhibitions from around the world.