• Arts Centre [15]. Second largest arts complex in the UK, regular leading theatre, cinema, comedy tours, classical, dance etc.

• British Transport Museum, in the city centre.

• Helicopter lessons

• Coventry Godiva Festival [16]. The Godiva Festival is surely and event pencilled in any true Coventrian's diary. The blossoming Coventry music scene means that the calibre of the bands scheduled each year seems to be getting higher and higher, and therefore, the Festival is steadily making a name for itself. Not only that, but it is also free.

• Coventry Cathedral Quarter, [3]. The medieval Gothic Cathedral of St Michael was built in the late 14th-early 15th century, but largely destroyed by the German Luftwaffe on the night of 14 November 1940 in an incendiary bombing raid - only the tower, spire and outer walls remained... A new cathedral was built 1956-1962 next to the old (which now forms a memorial garden) to a design by Basil Spence. The cathedral is noted for its striking post-war modern design, the large tapestry of Christ enthroned, its innovative stained glass windows and various items of sculpture. These include (on the facade) the striking sculpture of St Michael's Victory over the Devil by Sir Jacob Epstein.

Recent archeological digs have uncovered the remains of the original monastic settlement founded by Lord Leofric in 1043, these have been incorporated into the priory gardens and an interpretive centre exhibits some notable finds.

• Lunt Roman Fort, Coventry Road, Baginton, near Coventry, tel (024) 7630 3567, [4]. Admission adults £2, concessions £1. A partial reconstruction of a Roman fort that stood on the site from c. 60 - 80 CE, erected in response to Boudicca's revolt. Exhibits include a museum of Roman period life (based on finds excavated at the site between 1965 and 1973), a model of the fort and occasional full costume re-enactments of Roman military manoeuvres

• Midland Air Museum, Coventry Road, Baginton, near Coventry, tel (024) 7630 1033, [5]. Admission adults £4.25, children £2.50 concessions £3.75. Star exhibits include the Avro Vulcan bomber and a heritage centre dedicated to the work of Sir Frank - pioneer of the jet engine.

• Coventry Transport Museum, Millennium Place, Hales Street, tel (024) 7623 4270, fax (024) 7623 4284, mailto:museum@transport-museum.com, [6]. Daily except 24-26 December 10am-5pm, last admission 4.30pm, admission free. - the largest collection of British road transport in the world with over 230 cars and commercial vehicles, 250 cycles and 90 motorcycles

• Lady Godiva Statue and Peeping Tom clock, Broadgate.

• Christmas Lights Switch-On, City Centre. This annual event is usually around mid-November, and features a line-up of music acts, presenters, fireworks and various other things. There is also a parade through the City Centre, with businesses and schools alike contributing to the floats that that travel through the streets.

Sports

• Sky Dome Arena, Croft Road, Coventry, tel (024) 7663 0674, [7]. A multipurpose centre for public ice-skating, ice dancing and home to the Coventry Blaze [8] and Coventry Phoenix [9] ice hockey teams. Also houses a multiplex cinema [10].

• Brandon Stadium Home of the Coventry Bees [11] speedway team and weekly greyhound races [12].

• The Ricoh Arena Home of Coventry City Football club [13].

• The Butts Park Arena Home of Coventry Rugby Football Club [14] and the Coventry Jets American Football team.

By road

Coventry is conveniently situated at the centre of the UK Motorway network. The M6 passes the north of the city. The M1 is easily accessible via the M45 towards london and the M69 northbound. The M40 is accessed along the A46.

To enjoy the drive into Coventry approach along the A46, exiting at Kenilworth. Drive through central Kenilworth and past the Abbey Fields park before turning right towards Coventry. The broad tree lined Kenilworth Road offers a beautiful boulevard into the city.

The city also provides a Park and Ride facility, see National Park and Ride Directory

By rail

Coventry is on the main London to Birmingham rail route operated by Virgin. There are up to four trains to and from the capital every hour. The journey takes about one hour five minutes. Trains to central Birmingham are even more frequent, with a 25 minute journey time. Birmingham International, serving the NEC and Birmingham Airport take just 10 minutes. It will cost you around £30 for a saver open return.

By air

Coventry AirportBaginton.

Birmingham International Airport is closer to the centre of Coventry than it is to central Birmingham and a drive should not take much longer than 30 minutes depending on the traffic situation. A taxi costs £20.

Coventry has a variety shopping complexes in and around the area. These range from retail parks, to the pedestrian Coventry City Centre -one of the first of its kind. Shopping in Coventry mainly consists of the high street chain stores, although there are independent record shops and clothes shops dotted about here and there and there is also the large indoor Coventry Market, which are well worth the visit.

• The Lower Precinct [17], found in the City Centre.
• West Orchards [18], an indoor department store, with multi-storey parking. Also in the City Centre.
• Coventry Market [19]
• Arena Park Shopping Centre [20]

Coventry is host to a range of award-winning eateries. From cafés to restaurants, and from thai to italian, all can be found here.

Here's a pick of some of the best:

• Blue Orchid 14 Butts, Earlsdon, +44 2476 231 799, [21].
• Eden 1-3 Ryley St, +44 2476 551 234, [22].
• Flamingo Priory Place, +44 2476 555 557, [23].
• Kakooti 16 Spon Street, +44 2476 221 392, [24].
• MYO, +44 2476 553 551, [25].
• My China
• The Gallery Restaurant
• Turmeric Gold

Sky Dome Complex, Croft Road, Coventry. A flagship mixed-use urban entertainment complex, featuring:

• Multiplex cinema [26]

Night Clubs

• JJ's
• Lava
• Ignite

Bars

• Old Orleans
• Mortimer's
• Chicago Rock Cafe

• Flamingo, Priory Place. bar & grill

• 1481, Medieval Spon street.

• Glass House, Bull Yard.
• Inspire
• Varsity
• Escape
• Dogma
• The Tin Angel
• Yates's
• Lloyds No. 1 Bar
• Wetherspoons