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, City Centre, the Royal Court in Keresley, ... ...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.
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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The Britannia Hotel, Coventry (previously the ...
sue.51 27.06.2001 (29.09.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
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
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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
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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
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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)
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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)
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Advantages: Modern. Excellent road and rail links. Good universities Disadvantages: Lacking in character.
...Although actually a historic city Coventry now appears as a modern rather work-a-day city bent on earning its living. It was heavily bombed during world war II and much of the city was rebuilt during the early post war years.
Pride of place in Lady Godiva's home city has to be accorded the splendid Cathedral which is a phoenix rising from the ashes. The Belgrade Theatre is another modern building of quality and the University of Coventry in Priory ... ...the city has some character. Coventry is a good base for tours out to the lush,fertile countryside of Warwickshire and to the likes of Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle.
I lived for several years in Coventry and to be frank would not regard it as one of my favourite British cities.It is modern,down-to-earth, and has excellent road and rail links to Birmingham, the National Exhibition Centre and London. ...
ashford 23.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: centrally located - can get cheap accommodation Disadvantages: some of the old fashioned buildings
...other industries during that time), Coventry was one of the first cities to be re-built. At the time, it was one of the best. Now it is shabby, most of the buildings in the city centre are so outdated. It is currently going through a big phase of building work to make it more "modern" but as usual, Coventry City Council are botching it up, and not listening to the people of the City to see what they want.
It is a shame, because there are some buildings ... ...a lot to do in Coventry and the nightlife scene has improved since the opening of the Skydome which has a multi-screen cinema complex, Jumpin Jak's and Diva nightclubs etc.
If you are visiting places like Stratford, Kenilworth or Leamington, it is a nice base to stay as it is central to all other towns nearby. ...
anjib 31.12.2000
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Advantages: Small, Cheap and Everything is within a short bus ride Disadvantages: The reputation
...not many people know that Coventry used to be a prison, the walled city. And from what I've read on here, and in other sites, there are many who seem to think that we still are full of criminals. But then, most of those people have also been small minded idiots who have spent a couple of hours here in the city centre, and think they are qualified to judge the whole city on that basis.
I have lived here for my whole life, and i think that fact more ... ...array of shope to enjoy, Coventry only covers about a 10 mile radius, what the hell do you expect?? We're not London! And the shops that are here are modern and up to date, and easily situated making shopping a pleasure and not an arduous task. The precinct and most of the city centre are being developed as we speak to brighten up the city, and yes I am aware that the place is mainly concrete grey bulidings, but we were bombed for gods sake. and ...
lolita_bailey 15.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Great mix of people Disadvantages: Very small city for sight seeing
As a regular visitor to Coventry and not a resdent I think only people like me are able to really judge the city. I currently live in Birmigham, which has some of the best clubs in England outside of London because of the lively student community (we have three universities!). So working in Coventry was a little bit tame for me, but over the past twelve months the night life has come alive with some great new clubs and bars opening. The most lively ... ...Coupled with the fact that Coventry seems to have a lot of very cheap pubs to get (slightly) drunk in, the place makes for a lively night out for almost everyone.
I would recommend a night out in Coventry to everyone as the pubs and clubs are wide and varied and the people are great too sincve there is a large mix of people .... there is a large student population as well as an irish community and an asian community so there are also plenty of curry ...
CuttingEdge 07.10.2000
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Advantages: lots of things to do Disadvantages: There could be more transport avaliable to get there
Coventry is a clean and tidy city and probably one of the best cities in the country. I do not live in Coventry, but I live in a town nearby so I go there to do my shopping
Coventry is home to many famous things including the one and only SKY BLUES and famous Lady Codiva who walked through the streets naked. There are lots of shops there including a top of the range shopping centre. There is also Coventry Cathedral which is one of the finest in ... ...clever kids go. In the centre of the city they do have entertainment on somedays, such as a singer or a band and you can sit beside many of the water fountains to cool down on those hot days.
The city is well cared for and home to some of the most famous factories and buildings. They have a wide range of shops, most of which you could imagine. The park and statues are well looked after and its a pleasent place to be.
They are not many negative ...
Nuttytart_2kuk 06.01.2001
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Advantages: Good cinema, good shops if you can see past the concrete Disadvantages: Bad atmosphere, it looks DIRE
The problem with Coventry, as with quite a few other cities in Britain, is that it simply doesn't look very nice. In most other cities, though, the problem is confined to a few small areas where the dreaded concrete has encroached - whilst here it is the rule rather than the exception. Step into the main shopping precincts and you feel as if you have been transported back thirty years, and are standing amidst a sea of very badly designed Seventies ... ...good, varied and well-selected. You could spend quite a lot of time there visiting them - but the general feel is of an aggressive, hostile environment that you simply want to get out of as soon as possible. I have been living in the area for a year now (at Warwick University) and the only reason I have willingly gone there is to go to the cinema, which is the best for miles around. Most other needs can be fulfilled by visiting Leamington instead, ...
Alternum 15.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Theer's a road, rail station, and airport that lead out of there Disadvantages: Have you got some time?
...remind
you all this is Coventry we're talking about; not New York, or London, or Los
Angeles, or some other massive conurbation, which would take one years and years
just to get a feel for. And being Coventry, let us also remember it is an
industrial city. In fact, Coventry is Britain's only REAL industrial city left
in this age of high technology. Consequently, it will be a dirty old town no
matter how much we try to prop it up and put lipstick ... ...facilities.
Now I'm sure Coventry has nice neighbourhoods too, but where I was running
around up in the Northside in areas like Stoke, Foleshill, and Radford, they
might as well have been on the other side of the world. Let us not forget that
even toilets like Calcutta have to have a few nice areas where the rich can
safely sleep when they're not grinding the rest of us under their heels. But
then again, if Coventry has it's own version of ...
TedT 29.10.2003 (02.11.2003)
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Advantages: Used to be good Disadvantages: Architecture(?), crime, neglect
...being an ancient cathedral city Coventry has become a 50s/60s monstrosity. The centre is very run-down with many of the stores not making any effort to improve the situation. I actually went for a coffee in BHS, the window was so thick with grime (internally)that it would of been possible to write my name in it. (Who knows what the state was from the outside!)
I thought that the best place to get information about the festival would be the Tourist ... ...Coventry that weekend. With a scowl which seemed to question my sanity, I was informed that there were two concerts at the theatre. Rather disappointed at the level of the 'Jazz Festival' I asked to purchase a ticket only to be told they had sold out.!'. Ummm... big festival.
I began to meander back to the car to find two young lads walking very close behind me. Initially I didn't tink anything of it until I felt my pocket being emptied. Luckily ...
Marcia 06.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Coventry in General
Advantages: Good rail and road links to get away from it Disadvantages: Depressing, crime-ridden, booze-sodden
Coventry is an ancient cathedral city which, after its devastation in the Second World War, became a forerunner in modern city planning. Its “Precinct”, built in the late fifties, gave its name to pedestrian streets which were later to be found in most city centres. It had everything going for it, and it would be nice to say that this city (where I was born) made the most of its opportunities. However, the truth is that Coventry is a singularly depressing ... ...it was impossible to buy any other than tabloid newspapers unless one went to the newsstand in the lobby of the Leofric Hotel to buy them. It’s not as bad as that today, but the city has become perhaps what its citizens deserve, and what many of them seem to want, a place to booze on street-corners, a place without much going for it, with little culture, a town where it is unsafe to walk at night, a place to get out of as quickly as possible, preferably ...
Luke 26.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Coventry in General
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