Accommodation in Coventry - Your guide to the best Hotels in Coventry
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Places to visit in Coventry
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St. Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England.
The city has had three cathedrals. The first was St. Mary's, a monastic building, only a few ruins of which remain. The second was St Michael's, a Church of England church, later designated Cathedral, that remains a ruined shell after its bombing during the Second World War. The third is the new St Michael's Cathedral, built after the destruction of the former and a celebration of 20th century architecture.
Kenilworth CastleKenilworth Castle is in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England. Historically the Castle was contained within the Forest of Arden.
A fortification has existed on the site from Saxon times. But the current ruin is of Norman origin, a great square stone tower was built by Geoffrey de Clinton, Treasurer and Chief Justice of England to Henry I, in about 1125. Henry II took control of the castle during the rebellion of 1173-1174, giving the Clintons another castle in Buckinghamshire by way of compensation.
Henry II began work on improving the defensive qualities of the castle. Work continued during the reign of Henry III which turned the castle into one of the strongest in the Midlands. The properties of water defences had long been known but at Kenilworth a great lake was created to defend three sides of the castle. Covering over 100 acres (0.4 km²) it was an expensive endeavour, but the value in keeping siege engines further away and as a barrier to assault or mining was immense.
However after all the work to improve the castle Henry III gifted it in 1244 to Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. Simon de Montfort became a leader in the Second Barons' War (1263-1267) against Henry III, Kenilworth was the centre of his operations and Prince Edward, Henry's heir, was briefly imprisoned at Kenilworth before escaping. De Montfort was killed in battle near Evesham on August 4, 1265 facing Edward. In 1266, the rebels under the leadership of Henry de Hastings, used the castle as a refuge when Lord Edward surrounded Kenilworth. The siege of Kenilworth Castle in 1266 is the longest in English history at almost a year. The extensive water defences proved their worth, despite Edward targeting the weaker north wall, defended by only a double moat, employing huge siege towers and even attempting a night attack by barge. The siege was ended on easy terms for the defenders with the Dictum of Kenilworth. The experience gained in water defenses at Kenilworth was put to good effect at later castles built in Wales, notably Caerphilly.
Henry III bestowed the castle upon his youngest son Edmund Crouchback. The castle was inherited by Edmund's grandson Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and then passed to the Duke's son-in-law John of Gaunt.
Millennium Place
Part of the city's £50 million Millennium Project, this new public space incorporates a number of public works of art. The Francoise Schein's 24hr clock with its blue neon lights depicting the time zones of the world, is flanked by the 'Peoples Bench & Obelisk' designed by the internationally renowed German artist Jochen Gertz, who invited the people of the city to write a message inspiring friendship, that was then engraved onto oneof the hundreds of plates that make up the bench. The Glass Bridge that links Millennium Place to the Garden of International Friendship was designed by Alexander Beleschenko. The Whittle Arch - the crowing glory - celebrates the Coventry born Sir Frank Whittle whose invention of the Jet engine changed the world.
Hotels Near the Cathedral |
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Hotels Near Kenilworth Castle |
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Hotels Near Millennium Place |
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Blue Coat School |
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