Off to Coventry on Saturday

[Riverman]

A completely random visit to Coventry on Saturday I've had to book a 5am train to keep the cost down as I booked last minute. The bus back leaves at 20:45, so I've got rather a lot of time to kill.


I've never been there before, so if any of you have can you advise me on ways to pass the time? I fear I'm going to end up sitting in spoons doing work on my laptop and drinking beer all day

which might cancel out savings made on the train/bus tickets.

And incase you're wondering, I'm going there to pick something up which cannot be produced and posted in time for Monday when I need to use it.

 

[BrumJim]

Transport museum. And its free. And you can spend half a day wondering around there.
Coventry Cathedral - the old bombed one is free, but there is a charge for the new one.

And that is about it, I think? Was lucky last time and saw some impromptu Parkour, but can't guarantee that you will.

 

[rh100]

IKEA?

 

[Riverman]

IKEA?

Ahh. Not ikea lol. I live about a 5 min bike ride from a massive one here. It would feel almost like I haven't left. That said their canteen is quite cheap, although more expensive on a Saturday + the coffee isn't free on the weekend which given how long I'm there for is a shame.

 

[ColinJ]

I lived there for 21 years but I'm struggling to top BrumJim's suggestions!

The fact that I don't live there now might give you a clue as to my opinion of the place... 

 

[threebikesmcginty]

IKEA?

That one in Cov is a f#cker to find and then just as bad to get get into once you do find it. Not that I wanted to go there in the first place.

 

[ColinJ]

I mean, when you think about it, Coventry's reason to exist was to allow naked women to flaunt themselves on horseback (frowned upon now), to trade cloth (not much cloth trading now) and to manufacture watches, clocks, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, fork lift trucks and so on (most of which is now done elsewhere).   

Coventry's main function now is to act as a storage area for unemployed former car factory workers who like to shop in Ikea!

 

[ColinJ]

That one in Cov is a f#cker to find and then just as bad to get get into once you do find it. Not that I wanted to go there in the first place.

How can it be hard to find - you just drive round the ring road until a massive blue box looms up in front of you!

If you think that Ikea is hard to get in to, just wait until you try and find your way out of it! 

 

[guitarpete247]

Ikea in Cov is easy to find as there are signs for "Ikea Plaza" around the place.
The market is worth a walk round.
If you go to the Cathedrals make sure you go up the tower in the old building. The views across the city are worth the climb in good weather. You go past the bells in the tower so on the hour could be interestingly loud.
The Lady Godiva clock is worth a giggle. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...ocal_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQnwIwAAGet there just before the hour.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

How can it be hard to find - you just drive round the ring road until a massive blue box looms up in front of you!

If you think that Ikea is hard to get in to, just wait until you try and find your way out of it!

That was two years ago. I'm still trying to find out how to get out!!

'posted from my mobile phone, somewhere between the smorgasbord and the Billy bookcases'

 

[rh100]

Ok, maybe this, but its on the outskirts of the town http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/ not sure how good it is though

 

[jimboalee]

http://www.coventrycollections.org/

 

[rh100]

I mean, when you think about it, Coventry's reason to exist was to allow naked women to flaunt themselves on horseback (frowned upon now), to trade cloth (not much cloth trading now) and to manufacture watches, clocks, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, fork lift trucks and so on (most of which is now done elsewhere).

Coventry's main function now is to act as a storage area for unemployed former car factory workers who like to shop in Ikea!

Not entirely true

Jaguar
black cabs were made there - are they still?
somewhere else makes electric vehicles
Rolls Royce I think (wasn't that where some early British space race engine testing took place, out the back of Cov somewhere?)

not the same as its hay day but still

 

[BrumJim]

Not entirely true

Jaguar
black cabs were made there - are they still?
somewhere else makes electric vehicles
Rolls Royce I think (wasn't that where some early British space race engine testing took place, out the back of Cov somewhere?)

not the same as its hay day but still

Jaguars are made in Birmingham and Liverpool - Browns Lane is design only, IIRC.
Modec are the electric van people.
LTI make taxis in Coventry. Probably the UKs largest wholly UK owned car maker, although Aston Martin sell fewer, higher priced models.

 

[rh100]

That was two years ago. I'm still trying to find out how to get out!!

'posted from my mobile phone, somewhere between the smorgasbord and the Billy bookcases'

LOL, bloody billy bookcases!

I bought a couple of DVD racks, a coffee table and a sideboard there, couldnt get it all in the car so had to go back up the lift to get some of it delivered, can you beleive checkout is on the 3rd floor? Oh and I found out the extra bits of shelf I need for the racks are hind to find in the right colour

Canteen may be cheap but they expect you clear your own tables - what, like a school canteen FFS?

Playing guess the lift for the right floor could keep you occupied for a while.

Anyone seen the add with the cats? They let a load loose in a store apparently.