Coventry Area Guide

What’s it like to live in Coventry? Well, read our Coventry area guide to find out more.

Coventry is a city in the West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne, which is largely hidden by infrastructure, although the canal can see it. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries. However, it was not founded and given its city status until the Middle Ages. The conurbation consists of the Coventry and Bedworth Urban Area, the 20th largest in the country; Coventry City Council governs the city.

Historically part of Warwickshire, Coventry had a population of 316,915 at the 2011 census,[6] making it the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom.[7] It is the second-largest city in the West Midlands, after Birmingham, from which the Meriden Gap separates it.

The city of Coventry is 19 miles southeast of Birmingham, 24 miles southwest of Leicester, 11 miles north of Warwick and 94 miles northwest of London. Coventry is also the most central city in England. It is only 12 miles southwest of the country’s geographical centre in Leicestershire.

The Cathedral was built after most of the 14th-century cathedral church of Saint Michael was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the Coventry Blitz of 14 November 1940. Coventry motor companies have contributed significantly to the British motor industry. The city has three universities, Coventry University in the city centre, the University of Warwick on the southern outskirts. As well as the minor private Arden University, with its headquarters close to Coventry Airport.

Places to eat

There are some brilliant restaurants in Coventry, here are just a few.

• Ristorante Da Vinci: Upscale venue with an understated but elegant dining room, serving classical Italian cuisine.
• Selminas Restaurant & Bar: Funky, brick-clad eatery serving Hawaiian & Mexican cuisine such as tacos plus festive cocktails.
• The Artisan bar and grill: Bright, casual bar/restaurant with exposed beams and a beer garden, serving a British grill menu.

Alternatively, for the tourist Coventry area guide, click here.