Coventry is a city that people either love or hate, personally I love it, I find the people friendly and a cosmopolitan attitude missing from many other areas I have lived.
Many of the residents have written in this column about the city, and if you are visiting for Business or Pleasure, ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Branded and standard service Disadvantages: Their best prices are well hidden
Coventry is a city that people either love or hate, personally I love it, I find the people friendly and a cosmopolitan attitude missing from many other areas I have lived.
Many of the residents have written in this column about the city, and if you are visiting for Business or Pleasure, you will probably need somewhere to stay, so check this out.
Britannia have three hotels in Coventry
The Britannia Hotel, ... ...pleasure of staying at the Coventry Hill, although I would say it is convenient for Motorway link ups, the NEC and Birmingham, but situated just off the main A45, it is not particularly convenient for much else and has little social activity close by, save for a few other hotels, hence you would have to drive or get a taxi to see any real life.
========================
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The Britannia Hotel, ... more
Coventry is a city that people either love or hate, personally I love it, I find the people friendly and a cosmopolitan attitude missing from many other areas I have lived.
Many of the residents have written in this column about the city, and if you are visiting for Business or Pleasure, you will probably need somewhere to stay, so check this out.
Britannia have three hotels in Coventry The Britannia Hotel, City Centre, the Royal Court in Keresley, and the Coventry Hill, Allesley. - This op now covers the first one thanks to an independent listing of the Royal Court on Ciao, I haven't had the pleasure of staying at the Coventry Hill, although I would say it is convenient for Motorway link ups, the NEC and Birmingham, but situated just off the main A45, it is not particularly convenient for much else and has little social activity close by, save for a few other hotels, hence you would have to drive or get a taxi to see any real life.
================== LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION The Britannia Hotel, Coventry (previously the De-Vere) is situated on the edge of the city centre, approximately 2 minutes walk away from the Old and New Cathedrals, and literally a stones throw away from the Main Bus Station. Pubs, Club and restaurants abound are a short walking distance away from the hotel. It is adjacent to Coventry University (might be worth avoiding during Freshers Week), ideally placed for a good night out in this ever developing and improving city.ENTRANCE Reception in common with the other Britannia Hotels, is a rather grand marble style affair, more reminscent of what you would expect in an upmarket overseas hotel.
Check-in was slow despite not being busy and being well staffed. Be prepared, if paying by Credit Card, to have a pre-authorisation taken of your card, and unlike any hotel chain I have visited, be prepared to sign for an amount which will be substantially more than your room rate, although they guarantee that no money will be deducted from your card until you check out. This is little different to other hotel chains, except that you actually see the amount they are pre-authorising.
RACK-RATES I will give you the rack-rates as advertised in the hotel, but before you all pass out with shock, take a tip and book via the internet, it is much much cheaper.
**TWIN/DOUBLE ROOM - £130 per night **EXECUTIVE DOUBLE - £140 per night **FAMILY ROOMS - £170 per night **JACUZZI ROOMS - £170 per night
I visited their web-site at www.britanniahotels.com and input my requirements, I was offered an Economy Double Room for £45 per night including breakfast. A standard double room was £70 (this quote was for one person). I contacted the hotel directly to compare rates, and was quoted £65 B&B. I queried the difference between an economy and standard double room and was advised that the economy rooms were not as nicely decorated. As I was paying for it myself on this occasion even though travelling on work business I opted for the cheaper room and booked over the internet.
I have checked randomly other dates on their web-site to determine whether these prices were because it was a last minute booking, but can confirm the price was the same for all dates, and £55 for weekends (min stay req'd).
THE ROOM Twin Beds, En-Suite - with power-shower and bath, complimentary Shower Gel, Shampoo and Soap, Heated towel rail, 4 towels, 4 pillows, complimentary tea tray, no biscuits, Trouser Press, Colour TV (remote control missing), but as I was going visiting for the evening let that go this time, Desk area, telephone, hairdryer, comfy chair, coffee table, thermostatically controlled radiator. (design - very flowery and old fashioned wallpaper). Double Glazed -The room was very warm, and because of this naturally the windows were left open, which offered something of a shock at 6am in the morning, when all the buses in Pool Meadow opposite started to come to life.
CAR-PARKING Unsurprisingly (after my experience with the Britannia in Manchester), there is no parking at the hotel, however, there is 24 hour open air car-parking a short walk away, cost - 50p from 6pm to 8am. I believe there is also long term parking available around the corner. The city is well-stocked with CCTV cameras and therefore there should not be any problem with leaving the car overnight.
ALCOHOL FREE ZONE Coventry city centre is an alcohol free zone, and therefore you can only buy alcohol during the evenings at pubs, restaurants and hotels, DO NOT WALK AROUND WITH A DRINK - YOU CAN BE PROSECUTED.
BREAKFAST A sumptious feast sited in Bentley's restaurant, on a self service basis -consisting of: FRUIT JUICES (in every flavour imaginable) including: Apple, Grapefruit, Orange and Tomato. FRESH-FUIT Grapefruit or Oranges in syrup CEREALS Everything from Cornflakes and Bran-Flakes to Muesli
COOKED FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST o Bacon o Sausage o Fried Potatoes o Hash Browns o Fried &/or Scrambled Eggs o Mushrooms o Baked Beans o Tomatoes o Fried Bread o Black Pudding o Toast
CONTINENTAL o Cold Meats o Cheese o Bread Rolls o Conserve o Boiled eggs available on request
All served with tea/coffee.
NEWSPAPERS These are complimentary and offered a choice between The Mirror or the Independent
BABY-SITTING/LISTENING The hotel provides a baby-listening service where you can dial into your room from any phone in the hotel free of charge. Baby-sitting is available on request.
BARS & RESTAURANTS & CONFERENCE FACILITIES Parties from 5 to 600 people can be catered for in conferences. There is a popular restaurant on site (not sampled), and a bar which had a daily happy hour @ £1.25 a pint, there is also a strategically placed piano, and on my second visit, a group of tourists decided to have a sing-song which provided some great entertainment.
LEISURE FACILITIES There are no leisure facilities at the hotel, however, it is about 2 mins walk away from the Coventry Leisure centre, which boasts a 50m swimming pool and gymnasium for the healthier amongst us. I am not aware of any special deals between the hotel and leisure centre.
CONTACT DETAILS THE BRITANNIA HOTEL Fairfax Street Coventry CV1 5RP Tel : 02476 633733 Fax : 02476 520172
Advantages: Ancient city steeped in history, if you know where to look. Disadvantages: Outsiders' perceptions
...the first to admit that Coventry is far from perfect, but I think it's failings are the same as those in most major cities.
A little bit of history to set the scene:
Coventry was awarded its Royal Charter in 1345, some 544 years before Birmingham gained City status. It's no wonder we are now a little jealous of our big brother just up the road!
In the 1920's Coventry was voted one of Europe's best preserved mediaeval cities, ahead of Prague and ... ...is the replica of the Coventry Cross, and close by is Cuckoo Lane where Mary Ball was the last person publicly executed in Coventry, in 1849 in front of a crowd of 20,000 people.
A short walk down Bayley Lane between the wall of the old cathedral and one of the few remaining half timbered buildings in the city you'll find St Mary's Hall, built in 1342 it incorporates a tower which was previously part of the 11th century Coventry Castle. Mary Queen ...
netstation 01.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Plenty to do and see Disadvantages: Lots and Lots of concrete
...so when people think of Coventry they usually think yeah ok they've got 2 cathedrals, but else do most people know about the town, not alot. However there is plenty of things of note. Ok forget the boring historical nonsense, yes we were bombed by the germans, and yes we have a proud history in car manufacture, but is that really going make people want to come i don't think so.
So what is there to do or see in Coventry. In recent years Coventry ... ...little greenery, a miracle in Coventry city centre as the only area of green was ripped up years ago to make way for a new shopping centre Cathedral Lanes. We have two shopping centres offering a wide choice of different shops, West Orchards being the bigger of the two housing amongst others Debenhams, WH Smiths and of course the Sky Blue shop. Then of course there is the precinct itself offering more shops including large chains like Marks and Spencers, ...
kieransmum 12.05.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Shopping, pubs, nice atmos. Disadvantages: Too much concrete, not much choice for eating.
...this opinion, I lived in Coventry for 3 years and have grown to love it. All the same I'll try to be impartial. . . .
Coventry, in the West Midlands is a medium sized city (around 300,000 people), home to the once proud British Car Industry, to Two-tone Ska music (I.E. the Specials), and to not much else. I mean let's face it, when someone mentions Coventry, the first things into most people's head are "Ugly", "Nearly as boring as Swindon" and "Why ... ...palm-sweatingly hazardous and ugly ring-road, Coventry looks for all the world like a giant concrete pizza, but it is remarkably compact. Extensive shopping and nightlife are all crammed into a few square miles. It's so compact, in fact, that I won't even bother to mention road names - you should find most of these places quite easily. . . Shopping is surprisingly good in Cov. All the high street names you could ask for are there in the pedestrian ...
dogscoff 18.07.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Tons of history & cool places to visit! Disadvantages: It's SERIOUSLY Urban!
...;-) So what can Coventry offer you as a visitor? History! Those devilish Huns air-conditioned Coventry during the 1940's (sorry, some of us are still a bit bitter about that) and you can still see the after effects of that in Coventry Cathedral. Our old Cathedral that is. Yep, we've got 2 Cathedrals! Well at the football we do sing "If you want a Cathedral, We've got one to spare" and we can actually mean it! Actually we have 3 Cathedrals! At least ... ...behind the TRY part of Coventry though. Stories like Cofa's tree was where he sent his enemies to be executed by hanging which is where the phrase "Being sent to Coventry" alledgely comes from as your pretty damn quiet when you've just been hung. There's also a civil war version of that story as Coventry was used as a prison for that English Civil War. No-one knows if Cofa's tree did exist though. All our Cathedrals exist for sure and you can go ...
atytyut2434 31.07.2008 (19.05.2009)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: A lovely city with two magnificent cathedrals Disadvantages: None that I know of
Coventry is a lovely city situated in the Midlands just south east of Birmingham. It was badly bombed during the Second World War and so much of it has been rebuilt.
The most famous landmark, or should I say landmarks, is Coventry Cathedral. I mention the plural because technically of course there are two cathedrals. There is the new one, built in pink grey sandstone in 1962, with its beautiful stained glass and that powerful sculpture of Christ ... ...It isn’t just history at Coventry though. The shopping centre is a haven for shopaholics with its airy shopping malls and wide variety of shops. Added to this, there are plenty of cafes to provide a cup of tea and a sit down before finishing the last of the shops!
Public transport links make a visit here easy, with the London trains through Birmingham stopping at Coventry en route, every half an hour. ...
SusanLesley 21.11.2000 (03.02.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Coventry in General"
Advantages: Usually fairly on time on the West Coast off-peak Disadvantages: Fares have gone up recently
Virgin has been getting a battering recently, but ingeneral is has been OK on the West Coast Route from Coventry to London. Recently it's suffered due to Railtrack's repair programme (why didn't they repair the tracks before? But that's another question...) and so it's only running half the trains it should be and taking most of the day to get places (last weekend it took me 2 1/2 hours to get from Coventry to London, 2 hours to get back. It used to take 1h15). I think we ought to leave the big judgement until they bring in their new trains in one or two(?) years time - this is when we'll see if they can run a train service with modern trains, instead of making excuses about the old ones. ...
andrewbolton 04.12.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Virgin Trains
