For a break away, Coventry really does have it all. Located in the historic county of Warwickshire in the West Midlands, close to the city of Birmingham and along the banks of the River Sherbourne, Coventry is somewhere people have been visiting for centuries.
One of the best things about Coventry, apart from its beautiful buildings, stunning scenery, and a tremendous amount of history, is the fact there are so many free things to do there. Once you’ve booked your hotel in Coventry and worked out where you’re going to eat, you won’t have to spend anything else at all if you don’t want to. If that sounds good, here are some of the best free things to do when you’re in the city.
Coombe Abbey Country Park
Coombe Abbey itself is a gorgeous stately home. You do have to pay to get inside, or if you want a traditional afternoon tea in its café, but if you stick to the ground, which consists of 500 acres of country park, you can enjoy a full day out for nothing at all, and it’s even cheaper if you pack a picnic lunch to take with you.
The park is a stunning slice of Warwickshire scenery, offering up some spectacular views of the landscape all around it, as well as giving you lots of wildlife to find out more about. This is where you’ll find one of the biggest heronries in the country, but if herons aren’t your thing you will see ducklings, cygnets, and other wildfowl too.
Coventry Transport Museum
The Coventry Transport Museum is the place to go if you love history and anything to do with transport. The fact that it’s free is definitely a bonus, but even if you did have to pay to get in, it would be worth it. Here you will be able to discover everything you need to about how road transport in Britain came to be, from its humble beginnings to today’s vast network of motorways.
If you want to know what some of the most special displays are in the Coventry Transport Museum, there are royal limousines as well as many interactive elements to play with (no matter what your age).
Coventry Cathedral
“Ruins are the cathedrals of time.” ― Marty Rubin
It would be impossible to go to Coventry to look for free things to do and not make at least a quick stop off at the famous cathedral. It is one of the most peaceful places you’ll ever come across, and after a busy few days in the city, coming here could be exactly what you need.
This cathedral sits in the ruins of a much older one, so again you’ll have plenty of history – and time, if Marty Rubin is correct – to learn about. Plus, for those in need of a little sustenance, a cup of coffee and a slice of homemade cake in the café won’t set you back too much (especially as you’ve not had to pay for anything else!)!
