The City of Coventry lies at the eastern extremity of the West Midlands Metropolitan County and was the largest and most important town in the Midlands by the mid 14th century. Coventry grew rapidly through a trade in wool and textiles and later it became the main centre in England for the manufacture of watches, bicycles, and then cars. The City is also famous for its connections with Lady Godiva, and the Cathedral of St Michael, which was destroyed during the Blitz.

In 1940, most of Coventry's centre was destroyed in a single German bombing raid. Coventry District comprises mainly the industrial, commercial and residential areas of the City but includes some open countryside, with scattered villages and hamlets to the north-west. Coventry as a whole contains an older core of primarily Victorian housing and due to the vast devastation during the war a large preponderance of post war housing, in addition there are sporadic pockets of both Local/Ex-Local authority and modern speculatively built developments.

Subsequent rebuilding produced today's new industrial city in which well-planned shopping precincts and office blocks mix with old churches and medieval buildings. Coventry city centre offers over 400 shops. From high street chain stores to quirky independent stores, Coventry won't disappoint. It's easy to get around Coventry's pedestrianised city centre and its shopping centres, Lower Precinct, West Orchards and Cathedral Lanes - all offer excellent value and choice, including top brand names. Individual shops can be found on medieval Spon Street, Hertford Street, Sherbourne Arcade and in the City Arcade.

Whilst out and about in the city centre you will be spoilt for choice of places to eat and drink. Coventry offers an extensive restaurant and café bar scene that can cater to all tastes from award winning Indian cuisine, Chinese buffets or Malaysian fine dining to hearty, traditional pub grub and bawdy, theatrical, medieval banquets!

Coventry offers plenty on the entertainment front from internationally renowned theatre and arts to relaxing country gastro pubs or pulsating city bars. If you're looking for some action there's plenty of sport to get the adrenaline going with a First Division Football Club, the Sky Blues, an ice hockey team, the Coventry Blaze, and a basketball team, The Coventry Crusaders. As well as all this there is rugby, speedway, ice skating and horse racing to keep everybody entertained.

Coventry also offers many other attractions from castles, family attractions, Capability Brown landscapes, organic gardening, motoring heritage, medieval guildhouses or outdoor art parks, there is no shortage of things to do and see.

Communications to and from the city are extensive with a National Motorway Network that bisects the region. M6, M40, M42, M5, M69, with the A45 and the A46 being the main arterial roads into the city and its region. Coventry is on the Main West Coast Line with regular trains; networking it with other major towns and cities. Birmingham International Airport is approximately 20 minutes away from central Coventry. However, Heathrow and Gatwick are within a 2 and 2.5 hours drive respectively.