The University of Warwick is located on the outskirts of Coventry. Coventry is a large city about one hour’s train ride away from London, and is a few miles away from Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city.

(click on the map to get a bigger image)

 What does Coventry have to offer?

The University of Warwick is located on the outskirts of Coventry. Coventry is a large city about one hour’s train ride away from London, and is a few miles away from Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city.

Coventry is an under-rated city, which has much to offer both the visitor and the international student. According to Wikipedia (accessed 28^th December 2006), Coventry has a population of 305,000 (based on a 2006 estimate). This makes it the eighth largest city in England, and the eleventh largest in the UK.

Coventry, like other big cities in the West Midlands, is a multi-cultural city embracing people of all cultures and faiths.

Industry-wise, Coventry’s prosperity has been heavily derived from the motor industry (Peugeot was, until recently, built near Coventry). Coventry has a famous modern style cathedral and a good shopping centre. It has become Europe's major city of peace and reconciliation, and holds an annual Peace Month (Wikipedia, 28^th December 2006).

Coventry has two universities : Coventry University and the University of Warwick. Coventry University is situated in the centre of Coventry and is particularly well known for its automotive engineering and business departments.

 back ^

What places are near Coventry? What do they offer?

Leamington Spa is a well-known, attractive town situated near to Coventry (approximately 10 miles away) and has a population of about 45,114. Leamington is an elegant spa town, which is very popular with students. A large number of staff working at Warwick live in Leamington, and many students also live here. The town has a wide range of restaurants and bars, and there are certainly one or two good Chinese restaurants here.

Leamington is well known for its parks and gardens, particularly the Jephson Gardens, which is situated close to the Royal Pump Rooms, next to the River Leam. It has a lot of Georgian and early Victorian architecture which create an impression of grace and elegance.

If you would like to find out more about Leamington, you may like to try the ‘Leamington quiz ‘, designed by staff on Warwick’s pre-sessional course.

Birmingham, meanwhile, is about 15 miles away from Coventry. It is often described as England’s ‘second city’. It is primarily an industrial centre, and has long been famous for its metalworking and the making of jewellery. More recently, Birmingham has come to be known as the centre of the car industry (Rover cars were produced in Longbridge until 2005), and it is the place where Britain’s favourite chocolate is made – at the Cadbury’s factory at Bourneville.

Birmingham has a very large shopping centre – New Street and Corporation Street are the most well-known shopping streets. The Bull Ring shopping centre is a large, modern shopping mall that attracts thousands of shoppers every day. There is also a new area of smart designer shops in The Mailbox, a converted post office sorting office, near the canal. Just outside the central area to the north, is the Jewellery Quarter, where jewellery has been made and sold for over 200 years. In the opposite direction, behind New Street, is a small Chinatown district, with many restaurants and a Chinese supermarket. Both these areas are about 20 minutes’ walk from the main centre.

Birmingham, like Coventry, is a thriving multi-cultural city whose citizens come from many cultures and backgrounds.

This web page entry cannot possibly do justice to the rich texture of Birmingham. If you are interested in finding out more about the history of Birmingham, we recommend one of the books written by Professor Carl Chinn. Professor Chinn is a well known historian, broadcaster, newspaper columnist and author who is proud of his Birmingham (‘Brummie’) heritage. His books are available from most good libraries. Carl Chinn has written many fascinating accounts of Birmingham from different perspectives, based on personal research, and these are accompanied by often stimulating and poignant photographic material.

You may find it interesting to read more about the Cadbury factory by looking at Adrian Cadbury and Carl Chinn (1998), The Cadbury Story : A Short History.  

 back ^

What suggestions are there for travelling around in the area?

In Britain, trains and buses work in competition with each other rather than in a complementary relationship. For most city destinations, you can use either the bus or train. Bus is usually cheaper but if you book your train journey in advance, there is often not very much difference.

Here are some helpful notes for you about travelling to and from the University of Warwick. Any prices mentioned here are subject to change and variation without us being aware of them.

• The bus that goes to the University from central Coventry is the no.12. It stops outside Coventry Station and then at regular intervals between the station and the university. You need to allow extra time to travel by bus to the University in term time because the buses can be very crowded.

   

• There are two bus services between Leamington and the University of Warwick – the pink ‘unibus’ and the pale blue West Midlands no. 12 bus service.

   

• If you are travelling by train from Coventry, it is always cheaper to book tickets in advance, either 7 or 21 days before travel.

   

• There is a ‘megabus’ from Coventry to London that costs £1. See www.megabus.com for further details.

   

• STA travel in the Students’ Union can advise on student travel discounts – useful when you are booking tickets to return home at Christmas.

   

• The single taxi fare from the university to Coventry station is usually between £7 and £8 (prices can vary).

back ^

Useful links

Warwickshire County Council