Visiting Coventry - Advice welcome

Hi everybody,

Next week I am thinking about visiting Coventry.

I will be visiting the Cathedral but I was also wondering if there are any other places, museums or tours I should know about related to the Coventry Blitz.

I have never been to Coventry so any advice would be very welcome.

Thanks.

Ross

 

hello Ross

might give you some ideas

GuidingYou - Coventry Blitz Walking tour experience with Blue Badge guide

regards
Clive

 

I await traditional vociferous defence from locals (quite rightly so), but as I said - a personal impression.

Ditto.

Warwick University is in Coventry; it is said if it was called Coventry then no one would go there.

Been there once, to The Belgrade Theatre (Shakespeare play). Is it still open?

 

I was quite surprised at the number of old buildings around the cathedral that survived the blitz. One of them has a memorial plaque for the firemen who didn't.

Did get an interesting specialist video in the Oxfam bookshop for a couple of quid - RN landing craft at D-Day.

 

Don't go.

All the best

Andreas

 

We Love Coventry | A guide to Coventry & Warwickshire

 

I note how two of the three great attractions are in Kenilworth and the third is a curry house.

I rest my case.

All the best

Andreas

 

Hmm, I have to say I am no longer feeling quite as inspired as I was

Putting Coventry aside, is there a place, museum or old site in the Midlands area that you would highly recommend visiting? WW2 related that is.

Always grateful for your time.

Ross

 

Hmm, I have to say I am no longer feeling quite as inspired as I was

Putting Coventry aside, is there a place, museum or old site in the Midlands area that you would highly recommend visiting? WW2 related that is.

Always grateful for your time.

Ross

The area around Coventry is lovely. I miss cycling through it (which is what I did when I should have spent time doing my PhD at Warwick University).

In fairness, Coventry is worth having a look at for two things, the Cathedral, and the ring-road and market set up. Once you've done that, there is Kenilworth, the Grand Union Canal locks, Warwick itself, Stratford-upon-Avon. Lots to do around there.

All the best

Andreas

 

Also been here. Interesting feature of the park is there is a tree planted (1920s?) for every WW1 casualty. Each had a small plaque next to it, but some had been vandalized or broken. I think the memorial had a remembrance book inside, but I believe it is now kept locked.It was busy when I went (to see Eric Bogle and Dave Swarbrick). But the beer tent was just bloody awful. No real ale, shed loads of lager.

Coventry War Memorial:: OS grid SP3277 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland - photograph every grid square!

 

The The Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof at Cannock looks very interesting indeed.

Are there any notable names that I should look out for?

I think I shall visit on Monday or Tuesday.

Thank you again for the link.

 

Does the Newark Air Museum have much related to WW2? I can't tell from the website.

 

There is a small WW2 display at Wellsborough airfield near to Stratford, limited opening times and only about an hours worth of viewing.

Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Enjoy your visit to a lovely part of England,

David

 

Worked in Coventry for ten years from 1960 to 1970 and after having served in the Second World War was honoured to know the city and its brave people.

I was there when the Cathedral was being built, and marvel still at the Basil Spence's concept of a modern cathedral with its enduring testimony through the finest arts of its time: John Spicer's Baptistry Window and the great tapestry. The Cross of Nails still a relevant message for all generations.

The Memorial Park with its trees planted to commemorate so many lives lost was always a joy to visit with my young family . . . and remember. Remember with pride, too, my adopted Coventry grandparents who would 'baby-sit' my young family. During the bombing of Coventry, they with quiet courage gathered their cat in their arms and walked to the safety of relatives in Measham in Leicestershire, some 30 miles.

The Broadgate and the Godiva Clock should be visited; when I last stood there a stranger but nevertheless a local citizen quietly whispered to me that Peeping Tom, who would look down on Lady Godiva as she made her appearance on the hour, was a Birmingham man. I think he was aware I was about to move to Birmingham to take up a new job.

St Mary's Hall where I would often attend dinners is worth a visit, but its historic grandeur somewhat dimmed for me when told by a fellow diner that Mary Queen of Scots had been kept prisoner in the area of the Minstrel Gallery which looked down on the Great Hall . . . that for loyal Scot was enough to sour his whisky! However, I managed to live with the knowledge and enjoyed each dram and each occasion spent there.

I had a very happy ten years managing the local newspaper; the happiest, satisfying period of a my career.

Joe Brown.

 

Joe

Just out of interest, my nephew, Mike Goldstein CBE, son of my brother Jack who was killed in Bomber Command, was for years Vice Chancellor of Coventry University.

Perchance, did you ever get you meet him ?

Ron

 

Hi everybody,

Next week I am thinking about visiting Coventry.


Ross

So, what were you thinking about yesterday ?

I think now, that next week i am thinking about last week for a brief moment.