Culture of Coventry. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Coventry prepares an interesting entertainment for its guests; walks to historical sites and visiting museums bring a lot of experience. The oldest building of the city is the Old Grammar School. It was erected in the early 12th century; originally there was a hospital in that building. In 1557, it was decided to reshape the school, which later has operated until 1885. The edifice, which visitors can see today, is only part of the building; one of the school sites was destroyed in 1830.

Not far from the old school is a lovely St. John's Church that was founded in 1344 by the order of Queen Isabella. In the 16th century, a beautiful church has lost its religious status and was converted into a prison. Here cavalier soldiers, imprisoned in 1648 during the English Revolution, served their terms. One of the local sayings - sent to Coventry – is directly connected to this place. It literally translates as ‘commit to prison.’

Interesting historical sights are both Bablake School and Bond's Hospital located next to it. The school was founded in 1560, there only boys were taught. The school building, that has been repeatedly changing its face during a history, is an architectural monument constructed in a rare Tudor architectural style. The building of an old hospital was built a little earlier, in 1506. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Two old buildings are connected by an arched walkway. If you walk through it, you can find yourself in a landscaped courtyard, the appearance of which hasn’t changed over the past three centuries. The compulsory excursion program also has to include visit to the Ford's Hospital, which is a striking landmark of the early 16th century. For years, the hospital has remained the only refuge for lonely old people in the town; in 1940, the building was destroyed in the bombing. Through the efforts of local architects the building has been fully restored by 1952. Cook street gate remain the undisputable symbol of Coventry. It's a part of town’s fortification; ancient gate miraculously managed to survive to the present day.

Coventry boasts many interesting museums, including Coventry Music Museum, which has gathered a magnificent collection of various things one way or another related to music. These are vinyl records, clothes of musicians (both local and world-famous), musical instruments (with which you can take pictures). Coventry Transport Museum (can be visited free of charge, by the way) is one of the most famous museums outside the UK. Among its exhibits are British-made vehicles: from cars to motorcycles, here you can see the "evolution" of transport. More focused museums dedicated to particular vehicles can also be visited in Coventry: Midland Air Museum, Electric Railway Museum, as well as Shackleton Aviation Group.

The Weaver's House where one can feel the incomparable atmosphere of touching the antiquity is another excellent museum worth visiting. Volunteers will be happy to tell how the ancestors of local residents lived many centuries ago, show how the weaver's loom works, after which visitors will have a beer tasting and a walk around a beautiful courtyard. Speaking of parks, one of the most attractive natural attractions in Coventry is Allesley Park, one of the coziest places town - all thanks to its magnificent gardens and spacious atmosphere. An ideal option for a cultural pastime is watching theater performances in theaters such as the Criterion or the Belgrade Theater, as well as the Warwick Arts Center.

The city's main religious monument is Coventry Cathedral (Cathedral Church of St. Michael) whose was built in 1962 after an original religious monument was destroyed during World War II. Only the tower, a spire, the outer wall, and the first bishop's tomb have survived the bombing. Holy Trinity Church standing next to the above-mentioned cathedral is interesting from an architectural point of view. Despite being close to it, the building was not damaged during the bombing of World War II. Due to this, this church is the only medieval religious monument in town. The Gothic-style church was built in the 12-th century. In 1668, it was decided to restore the church, and in 1768 its eastern part was rebuilt - these are the changes the church has undergone.

Coventry's “hidden gem” is Lychgate Cottages - residential buildings typical of medieval Britain. This is another place that did not suffer much during World War II, despite standing close to Coventry Cathedral. Just like St Mary's Guildhall named after Marie Stuart who was hiding here during the persecution by Queen Elizabeth I. The building itself was constructed in 1342, after which it has repeatedly expanded and changed its appearance. The museum's priceless treasures are a collection of royal portraits of the 17th-19th centuries, as well as weapons and armor. As for interior decoration, of great interest are stained glass windows and tapestries whose age is about 600 years.