Coventry

Types of trips: Industry, Museums, Historic Buildings, Heritage, Canals, Railways, Nature and Wildlife, Cultural, Sport, Music and Performance.

Best known for: Industrial Revolution, Shakespeare, Canals, Beautiful Countryside, Rural Study, History, Battles, Drama and Poetry

It is difficult to find two more contrasting types of places so close together in the United Kingdom; the rural idyll and beauty of Warwickshire, steeped in the history of Shakespeare and with many stately homes and castles, contrasted with the modern, industrial landscape of Coventry, a city rebuilt from the ashes of the Second World War bombing to produce vast numbers of cars at its Jaguar factory and a thriving population. 

There is a great variety of destinations with which to stimulate students with any interests. Check out the Fact File and relevant venues and providers below.

Fact File

Major Places: Coventry, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa, Rugby and Warwick

Weather: Typical West Midlands weather in that you never know what you're getting from one day to the next. Known to be damp in the summer but can have gloriously sunny winter days. Expect anything!

When to Go: The summer months are fantastic in Stratford and Warwick, with the towns transforming into a hive of activity as tourists pack out the streets and parks (particularly the Bancroft Gardens outside the RSC) - bookings will be essential for many venues in the summer!

Famous People: William Shakespeare, George Eliot, Sir Frank Whittle, Warwick the Kingmaker, Pete Waterman, William Webb Ellis, Ellen Terry, Nigel Hawthorne, Ken Loach

Natural Wonders/Wildlife: Brailes Hills, Ryton Pools, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust reserves at Ufton Fields and Brandon Marsh, Stratford Butterfly Farm

History: Shakespeare (Birthplace, Grave, Anne Hathaway's Cottage), Kenilworth and Warwick castles (watch jousting and the huge trebuchet catapult in action), Coughton Court, Ragley Hall, the site of Kineton Fight (the battle of Edgehill, which was the first battle of the English Civil War in 1642)

Architecture: Stratford's iconic black and white Tudor buildings, Warwick Castle, Stoneleigh Abbey

Culture: Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, Playbox Theatre group in Warwick, Shipston Proms music festival, Stratford's street performers, Ragley Hall's annual Battle of the Proms

Sport: Coventry's Ricoh Arena, Shakespeare County Raceway, rowing on the Avon, thriving athletics clubs in Rugby, Leamington Spa and Stratford

Adventure: Take a narrow boat tour down the River Avon or one of the many canals in the area, visit Hatton Country World and watch the sheep race, find your way out of the maze at Plantasia

Events: Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated with a town-wide festival in Stratford on the weekend nearest April 23rd each year

​Don't Miss Out On: Stratford Armouries, walking near Brailes hill, the Rollright Stones, canal walks or tours, cycling along the Greenway