麻豆约拍 - Coventry and Warwickshire Features

Site-user Georgina Ndlovu explores the city of Coventry

No matter who you are - part of a couple, a family or just a lone culture vulture - you are sure to find something to entertain you in Coventry.

This city once ravaged by war - and post-war planners - is now expanding to better things.

As a university student, I look for a number of different things to entertain me outside of lectures and trips to the library.

Coventry may not seem as trendy as London or other cities but I am more than satisfied with what it has to offer.

Soon it will be even better than ever when the makeovers around the city centre are complete.

Coventry has rich cultural and historical attractions and the city council is building even more but for now, I explored what the city has already and was delighted with what I found.

Chilling out in a beautiful park can be relaxing as well as fun and the fresh air can do wonders for a student's toxin-filled lungs!

The city's War Memorial Park is famous, but there are scores of smaller parks and gardens in the suburbs worth a visit as well.

I travelled deep into the heart of residential Cheylesmore to visit Quinton Pool, an oasis standing between two parades of shops. It was originally dug in 1619 and has provided a peaceful haven for shoppers and children with shrimping nets ever since! It is also home to geese, ducks and swans and is fantastic in the summer.

Other parks worth a visit include Whitley Common and Naul's Mill Park. All these show that despite being an industrial city known mainly for manufacturing and concrete, there's an awful lot of green in Coventry.

If you love water, you'll love Coventry's historical and beautiful canal, which stretches through the Midlands.

Over the years, the canal became neglected but, after some hard work, it is now a much-loved attraction.

After many years of labour by, among others, Coventry Canal Society, the Canal Rangers and the local authority, the Canal Basin is now a wonderful place to be, with bars, restaurants, businesses and the famous art trail - the city's longest park!

The trail spans the 5.5 miles between the basin and Hawksbury Junction (home of one of Coventry's finest pubs, The Greyhound) and is dotted with parks, resting places and more than 20 pieces of artwork which are relevant to the city and its history.

I found heaven while enjoying an English tea by the canal and I'm planning on joining a Canal Rangers walk, which takes you along the canal to see the art and parks and find out more about its history.

Although I didn't have any children with me on my day out, I was assured there was plenty to interest families - and it seems to be true.

The relatively new Skydome entertainment complex is home to an ice skating rink and a multiplex cinema - and has plenty of reasonably priced parking and access to refreshments.

For the more sporty little-ones - not to mention adults - the pools at the elephant-shaped Coventry Sports Centre in the city centre are well worth a visit. The Olympic-sized main pool is competition standard and is fantastic for more advanced swimmers, especially with its three diving boards.

For younger children, there is a paddling pool to help them build up confidence. For those looking for a bit of fun and not necessarily serious swimming, there's a fantastic splash pool.

If you don't want to make a trip into town, the entertainment complex at Walsgrave Triangle, which incorporates the MegaBowl bowling alley, Showcase Cinema and various refreshment outlets, is a terrific place to take the kids. Just keep them away from the large toy superstore up the road!

No trip to Coventry can be complete without a visit to the Museum of British Road Transport in the city centre, which is home to the largest collection of vehicles built in this country.

It houses 230 cars and commercial vehicles, 230 cycles, 90 motorbikes - and the place is huge! It's open every day and best of all, admission is free!

Sticking to a transport theme, the Midland Air Museum is at Coventry Airport - and is home to a magnificent collection of aircraft through the ages - including the magnificent Avro Vulcan.

The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is also a cultural-must in the city centre. It has free admission and is one of Coventry's key art and history focuses with its permanent Godiva City exhibition. I was very impressed with it as it shows 1,000 years of the city's history in a user-friendly way.

The Mead Gallery at Warwick Arts Centre - the largest arts centre outside London - is on the outskirts of the city and is home to some ground-breaking exhibitions.

The arts centre also stages comedy, music, film and theatre.

Coventry's theatrical aspirations continue at The Belgrade, one of the country's finest provincial theatres and home to many touring West End productions.

Coventry's historic buildings are stunning and the city centre is packed full of them. For almost everyone, the city's most famous structures are the ruins of St Michael's Cathedral, destroyed in the Blitz, and the new one standing next door.

The ruins of the old cathedral are now a monument to peace, but you still get a shiver down your spine when you see the damage bombs can do and it's sad when you think how beautiful it must have been.

However, the magnificent new cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence, almost makes up for the loss.

St Mary's Guildhall is opposite - and that is just one place where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

It's also worth seeing buildings like Cheylesmore Manor House and those on historic Spon Street - which is also good for shopping!

Taste Crete with the traditional Greek restauant Athenia where you can eat excellently authentic souvlaki and hummous to traditional music and dancing.

Or go Mexican at great prices at the lively bar and bistro, Carumba. For a family treat head down to Pizza Express which is firm favourite with locals.

I enjoyed excellent food at Lloyds Number One Bar. Recently refurbished and modernised, the bar provides great value cuisine in pleasant surroundings.

Browns is one of Coventry's most famous bars - and the food is superb there too! There's an excellent selection in a friendly adult atmosphere and there are plenty of musical events in the evening too.

To visit the city, follow the link on the left to our travel section for information about car parks and public transport in Coventry.

You can also take a look at the city from your computer, with our live webcam images.

Just follow the Coventry University webcam link to have a look at some of the buildings and areas mentioned on this page.

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