Coventry area, UK
 

Dear Fodorites, I'm taking up a job in Coventry for six months and I'm looking for information about the area. What are the high and low points? What are the desirable areas to live, either in Coventry proper or within a 20 mile commute? Thanks for the help.

The low point is probably Coventry itself. It's improved a bit in recent years, but generally it's a bit grim.
The surrounding area is fine though, particularly to the south. Some of the most desirable towns being Leamington, Warwick, Stratford, Kenilworth, which are all within 15 miles, and a host of smaller villages.
Being as it's right in the middle of the UK, access to most other places is very good, for example, London is little more than an hour away by car.

I lived there for a few months. There were 2 low points, for me.

Firstly, there is very little of the old town that the Germans didn't destroy and therefore the city centre is a visual lesson in how not to use concrete in large quantities.

Secondly, speaking as a former roads engineer, the ring road around downtown sucks. On and off ramps within a very short distance of each other equates to a significant chance of vehicular accidents every half mile around it.

I'd plump for Royal Leamington Spa is I were you.

Another vote for Leamington Spa or Warwick, failing either of those, consider Solihull or possibly Rugby.

Kert, Stellarossa, Julia, thanks for the input. I've done a bit of wikipedia research and Leamington Spa / Warwick indeed sound like good options. I wonder if you can answer some more questions. How bad is traffic? (I'll be working in south Coventry, near U of Warwick). Is life in Leamington Spa dominated by students? (I'm in my mid-30s)

Life in Leaming Spa is dominated by the geriactic folks living there in retirement homes. Warwick is a very quiet town - younger folk i think will be happier in Coventry and its university influence. I stayed in Coventry a few nights and found it rather nice, in spite of the dour concrete mass of the town center. If looking for quaint older looking towns Warwick and Leamington Spa - more youthful and vibrant Coventry.

Geriatric? That's not the Leamington Spa I know. It has quite a young sophiticate(ish)night scene, which I should thing would be a good fit for someone in their 30's. There are a lot of new bars and restaurants and the coffee shop scene has really taken off.
The car jouney to south Covetry is fine, about 15 minutes from the centre of Leamington.
Also consider Warwick, as the two towns are more or less joined up.

quite a contrast of opinions here, geriatric vs young sophisticate-ish...
I was under the impression that many people working at U of Warwick live in Leamington?

I'll have to admit it was a long time ago i was in Leamington Spa and that's what it seemed like but i defer to your more recent observations.

Hehe, palq quotes from their 'european tour: 1976' journal once again.

Leamington will suit you just fine, Eric.

Stellarosa: this time you have a valid point.

Author: Stellarossa
Date: 08/09/2006, 12:52 pm
I'm guessing it's a real slow day in the cubelife of palq, right?

Just had to post something, anything so people knew you were still around?

Flash your lights. Don't flash your lights. Do you ask people what you should eat for dinner each day? You sound like those sad people who call into Dr Laura and ask things like 'I am my mother's son, am I morally obligated to go to dinner with my husband's wife because the last Christmas but one she left my name off her christmas card?'

No one cares.

Author: Stellarossa
Date: 08/09/2006, 02:23 pm
The only song I recall with those lyrics was by PiL, a song called Rise released in 1985.

So to stop you being bored, we have to endure your banal postings on whatever pops into your head. Yeah, thanks for that.

I'm sure you expected me to post something along the lines of 'OH NOES!!!1!! PalQ is doing the opposite of what I wanted!!' No cigar, not close.

Author: Stellarossa
Date: 08/09/2006, 01:15 pm
Well some people post to give and receive useful information.

Your opinion changes during a posting because your are easily influenced which is borne out by the fact that you asked the question in the first place whereas everyone else would flash or not flash and wouldn't feel the need to ask strangers on the interwebs whether they should or not.

I don't rate Dr Laura. A blanket belief that every mom should stay home with their kids until they are of school age is rather hackneyed and simply not credible in the 21st century.

All very interesting Pal_Q, and thanks for your input. Coming back to the subject at hand, anyone has other comments?

From what I've been reading so far I'm more inclined towards Leamington. One drawback I see about Leamington is the apparently large number of drunks on weekends, another the price of housing.

Are there nice areas in south Coventry?

The University of Warwick is just off the main road between Coventry and Kenilworth. Have a look at Kenilworth; it's fairly small, quiet, pretty - generally a nice place to live. You can easily get from there into Coventry, and south to L/Spa and Warwick for entertainment. The only drawback with Kenilworth is that it's quite pricey these days.

Coventry itself has a reputation for being a bit dismal, but it's not a bad place really. I was there a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised by how well-kept it looked compared to how it used to 20 years ago.

South Coventry is the better part of town; the area around the university is quite posh. North Coventry is not great, and not as convenient for your work.

I was born in Coventry and grew up in Kenilworth (live in Canada now), so if you have other quetions, let me know.

Tania

One drawback I see about Leamington is the apparently large number of drunks on weekends, another the price of housing.>>>>>>

Welscome to Britain old bean. There are pissed people in EVERY town centre. That's why most sensioble people avoid them at weekends.

As for house prices; it's a national obsession.

Leamington Spa is pretty and quiet in a hycinth Bucket kind of way. Coventry is much more lively, for good and bad (to give you an idea of what it was like try and listen to a copy of "Ghost Town" by the Specials - it's about Coventry in the 80s)

Tania, Audere,
Thanks a lot for your input. I'll let you know if I think of other questions...

Tania, I'm going to visit the area next month and I'll take a look around. Can you recommend specific areas in Leamington where I should look, and areas where I shouldn't bother?