What's on in Coventry?

[doublexpresso]

I have enrolled my little one in a swim camp in Coventry during half term.
I've not done this before and it is too boring to explain why we have ended up in Coventry.
The end result is that I shall be spending a weekend in Coventry and I need to occupy myself.
Ok, I'm a woman, so I can shop and a swimmer so I can probably find a pool with general swimming lanes, but what else?
Useful or amusing ideas welcomed. Also restaurant ideas for a hungry swimmer and mother.

[sharkey]

Coventry Cathedral is lovely, that's well worth a visit just to look at the stained glass windows. The transport museum is also nice, and its free. I don't rate Coventry much for shopping in the town centre but there is a big complex with a big Next at the Richo Arena. Make sure Coventry FC not at home though.
We always eat at Nando's, nice wine and dip things but if it's hot make sure you don't get sitting in the glass place at the back. There are also a few nice bars by the BBC square. Just walk along from the pool and take the second left, just past the Britannia Hotel, go up some steps and there is a courtyard place, lovely sun trap. Have spent many many hours in Coventry!! I am assuming you are in the town centre?

[doublexpresso]

That is really helpful - thanks. I will be in the City Centre - well little one is at the 50m Pool and the hotel is near-ish.
Coventry City are at home that weekend - playing Colchester!! I suppose I could go watch.....

[Juicy Lucy]

Doublexpresso, you are taking your life in your hands. You still have time to cancel your trip!

Cov, as the lager-drinking, lanky, spotty oiks, hanging about inside the bus-shelters call it, resembles a war zone, irrespective of time of day.

On the stroke of six, Cov closes. In the concrete shopping centre, tacky newsagents and unhygienic food shops pull down their shutters with enormous relief at having survived another day without their windows being put in. The last of the half decent folk leave the city centre as the shell-suited, trainer-wearing pond-dwellers move in.

Yobs congregate outside the smelly fish and chip shops, vomit in the phone boxes, fight and generally make a nuisance of themselves.

The locals say that Hitler's Luftwaffe had the right idea when they bombed the city in World War Two. Sadly, for the ratepayers, Cov City Council has taken over where the would-be invaders left off and replaced the parks and trees with huge expanses of concrete open spaces.

Cov is a dump and must be avoided at all costs on a Friday and Saturday night. On the plus side, the great unwashed always attend church on a Sunday. The downside is that their ‘church’ is the city-centre MacDonalds where bored kids add to the air of gloom and violence which permeates through the establishment.

"Enjoy your trip".

JL

[Bully]

I sent one of my swimmers to Coventry last week, but I started talking to her again after a couple of days :wave:

[Speedy Gonzalez]

Went to Uni in Coventry. I wouldn't go anywhere near the football game if you value your life, same goes for city centre after dark - JL is right. I came away from Coventry more or less unscathed; many others did not enjoy the same fortune.:aarrgghh:

[Emosmum]

We do Regionals at Coventry , stay just 10 mins outside , Innkeepers Lodge at Binley ... breakfast free and next door to carvery pub for evening meals and a bevvy or two for parents...
Chinese Banquet on the Hagley Road (I think thats where it is)is v good ask locally as cant remember the name.A bunch of parents and swimmers from our club always go Sat night of Regionals.

City centre usual shops , Ok but , If youve got your car , Next warehouse and M& S Out of town shopping is near to the new football stadium.

Parking expensive opposite the pool NCP....there is a council carpark minimal day rate to the right under the road bridge....
will save you some dosh.
Cheers Emosmum

[sharkey]

oh yes EMO's mum correct about the car park. The one in front of the pool is a total rip off but if you go past the pool and right under the bridge then first left after the student union, there is a subway in there if you fancy a sarnie, that car park is £1 for the day as opposed to £6 in the one opposite the pool

[doublexpresso]

These tips are brilliant - many thanks to everyone.
We should put together for a Rough Guide to Pools around the UK.
I do feel a bit anxious now about Coventry after dark - I might spend quite a lot of time in the hotel!! May be I should be checking what's on TV.

[Juicy Lucy]

I might spend quite a lot of time in the hotel!! May be I should be checking what's on TV.

No need. All the hotel TVs have been nicked.

Let us know how your visit goes.

[Emosmum]

Youre not staying at The Britannia are you?

Its next to the pool yes , but not very nice hotel....
Innkeepers Lodge at Binley is 10 mins away , if you have the car its safe parking , free breakfast and a carvery in the pub next door , which is cheap and really nice.Cheaper than travel Lodges and much nicer rooms.Family rooms sleep 4...
Quiet area, we always take our swimmers there for Regions.

Cheers Emosmum.
ps I wouldnt stay in central Coventry myself....

[Dolphin Lover]

We are at a similar swim camp in Manchester next week for 2 days. Any comments abour Manchester particulary something for Dad and 7 year old son to do while daughters are swimming?

[EricTheRed]

Dolphin Lover

Assuming you are at or near the city centre then try:

Manchester University Museum (nearly opposite the Aquatic Centre)
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry - 15 minute walk from Aquatic Centre.
Manchester - Whitworth Art Gallery - 10 minute walk
Recently reopened Rylands Library - 20 minute walk
Urbis Museum - 25 minute walk
Further afield you could try the Lowry Museum and War Museum - 10 minute walk to the metro and a 10 minute ride.

First two will definitely keep the attention of a seven year old.

[FinswimmerJohn]

East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury.
Great for little boys from 7 to 70!
Metrolink from CC to Bury,then short walk to ELR Station.
There may even be Trains running, but even if not, bucketloads to see.

[Dolphin Lover]

Thanks everyone, some excellent suggestions :)

[sharkey]

On the subject of Manchester, how far is the Manchester Aquatic place from the train station please? Easy to get to by Public transport?

[mermaids mum]

On the subject of Manchester, how far is the Manchester Aquatic place from the train station please? Easy to get to by Public transport?

The nearest train station to the Aquatics Center is Oxford Road you turn right out of entrance, walk to the main road ahead of you( Oxford Road) and turn right it is an aprox 5 min walk to the station which is on the left hand side there is a Sainsburys Express on the opposite corner were you will walk up a small hill to get to the station.
hope you enjoy your visit Manchester is a great City.
MM:)

[sharkey]

Excellent, thanks MM.

[doublexpresso]

Just to feedback and say thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions. I had a good time in Coventry despite foul traffic up the M40 there and back.
My little one thought she had landed in heaven when she found the hotel was situated between a Primark and a TopShop with a Pizza Express round the corner - unfortunately being on the swim course from 8-6 each day meant she couldn't shop.
Didn't stay out after 8pm so missed some of the delights of Coventry but, as the hotel was noisy, got to hear some of them in the early hours of the morning.
Will just plug the course run by Total Swimming - very motivational, lots of hard work and fun (parents included) and one of the few training/practise sessions where the kids don't have to do a set of at least 400 fly.
Thanks again for the info.

[Dolphin Lover]

My kids enjoyed the Total Swimming couse at Manchester too, I echo all of the above comments :)