Situated pretty much slap-bang in the middle of Britain’s bulky bit, Coventry is a dream base for roaming the UK.
If you’re planning a full weekend getaway, don’t forget that Birmingham is right on your doorstep, with transport links to just about every corner of the country.
Day-trippers are equally spoilt for choice, though. So, if you’re itching to explore with new friends, you’ll find culture, history, and discovery just a bus or train-ride away from Coventry.
Let’s dive in!
Warwick Castle
Okay, we’re starting with the big guns (or should that be ‘trebuchets’?).
Warwick Castle is consistently named one of the best castles in England (and there are quite a few to choose from). With actors round every corner (dressed up in full historical costume, of course), exploring this sprawling, medieval fortress is the closest you’ll get to stepping into a fairy-tale.
Spend the whole day here watching live-action jousting, bird-of-prey displays, and archery shows. Or join a tour of the castle itself, discovering over a thousand years of stories.
How to get there: Catch a train to Leamington Spa, then hop on the X18 bus to Warwick Castle.
Journey time: Around 40 minutes.
Oxford
England’s famous university town is an easy train journey away – so you don’t have to be an Oxford student to make the most of it!
Gather a group and take an afternoon away from studies to clamber into a punt and drift down the River Cherwell. Or, if the spirit of learning is just too hard to resist, head to the Ashmolean Museum to discover treasures, artwork, and historic objects from all over the world.
Otherwise, simply take the day to gaze at Oxford’s dreamy architecture, get cosy in coffee shops, or wander down the river and watch the famous college rowing teams practise.
How to get there: Catch a direct train to Oxford.
Journey time: 50 minutes.
The Malvern Hills
If you’re craving green space and fresh air, plan a day out to the Malvern Hills.
These undulating slopes are recognisable by the long ridge running along their top, guaranteeing big views (so don’t forget your camera!).
With hundreds of kilometres of footpaths, a hike in the Malverns is your chance to explore a slice of classic English countryside – and to clear your mind ahead of any upcoming exams!
Pack some snacks and a picnic for lunch along the way, or finish your walk at the pretty spa town of Great Malvern and duck into a charming café for a bite to eat.
How to get there: Take a train to Great Malvern, changing at Birmingham. From Great Malvern, there are plenty of routes into the hills.
Journey time: Around 1 hour 45 mins.
Dudley
This unassuming town outside of Birmingham is hiding millions of years of history well worth exploring.
Start your day at Dudley Canal and Caverns, where you can hop onto a canalboat and head 70 feet below ground into the humongous limestone caverns beneath Dudley.
Then, just next door, spend the rest of the day wandering the streets of centuries past at the Black Country Living Museum. This huge, open-air ‘museum’ is actually an entire recreated historic village, complete with costumed actors, demonstrations, shops, and houses.
How to get there: Catch the train to Sandwell & Dudley, then jump on the number 12 bus to the Castle Hill stop.
Journey time: Around 1 hour 20 mins.
NATIONAL sPACE cENTRE
If you’re more about looking up to the stars than delving underground, you’ll want to add the UK’s National Space Centre to your bucket list.
Based in Leicester, this award-winning day out is easy to do from Coventry and boasts a world-class collection of space-related gizmos.
Think interactive galleries, actual Moon Rock, and two real-life rockets.
Oh, and it’s home to the largest planetarium in the country, so you can sit back and explore the night sky in a 360-degree adventure through the universe.
How to get there: Take the bus from Coventry to Leicester, then ride the skyline Derby bus to Corporation Road.
Journey time: Around 1 hour 15 mins.
sTRATFORD uPON aVON
Once upon a time, William Shakespeare was just a regular guy living in Stratford Upon Avon… which, coincidentally, is only a short hop away from Coventry.
Make sure you pay a visit to this characterful town – where the famous playwright was born (and is buried) – during your studies. Soak up a little of his genius to help get you through essay season, and explore the actual house in which he lived.
As you can imagine, there are plenty of Shakespeare-themed things to do here (especially during his birth month, April). But it’s also a charming place in its own right, so enjoy indie boutiques, traditional tea rooms, and strolls along the River Avon while you’re there.
How to get there: Catch a train to Leamington Spa, then take the X18 bus into Stratford Upon Avon.
Journey time: Around 1 hour.
Coombe Abbey Park
Coombe Abbey Park is close enough to Coventry that you can visit on a whim, but feels like a world away from the city.
Pick up a trail leaflet from the visitor centre and treat yourself to some time off, ambling through 500 acres of parkland, woodland, and gardens. Bring your camera to snap the local wildlife amongst the trees and around the lake, for a day getting close to nature.
After all that walking, finish with afternoon tea at Coombe Abbey Hotel – which just so happens to be an incredible, 17th-century mansion.
A blissful break from studying!
How to get there: Jump on the number 85 bus that takes you to the park gates.
Journey time: 35 minutes.
Just a five-minute walk from the train station, Vita Student Copper Towers couldn’t be better placed for adventures.
Come home after a big day out to a spacious studio, cinema room, and state-of-the-art gym, for the perfect balance between life and studies.
