The Jigsaw of History Tour

This tour zig-zags through the city centre away from the cathedrals, and takes participants on a walk through a city which has kept making history by inventing the future. It’s a history that fits together like a jigsaw, come and explore it with us.

Highlights include:

The industrial booms which saw Coventry as the centre of weaving, watch making, bikes and cars.

The most complete part of the City Wall, and learn where the Civil War really started.

The Royal Palace in the city centre where the King and Queen stayed when Coventry was the capital of England.

The story of the inventors who brought us the bicycle and the jet engine.

Different theories as to where the phrase “Sent to Coventry” came from.

Explanations and information about of dozens of artworks around the city centre.

Details of the rich cultural history of Coventry.

Stories of the Phoenix City, the 'City of Tomorrow', risen from the ashes of the Blitz.

Itinerary

1. Lady Godiva Statue · 15 min

   We start off the tour Broadgate around Godiva's Statue, at the heart of the 'City of Tomorrow', Donald Gibson's masterplan for the post-war reconstruction of Coventry.

2. New Buildings, Coventry CV1, UK · 5 min

   At the last surviving former ribbon weaving factory in the City Centre, hear about the rise and fall of this industry, next to the surviving wall of the original Coventry Cathedral; St Mary's.

3. Sir Frank Whittle statue · 5 min

   Next to his statue, here the story of Earlsdon born Engineer and RAF officer, Sir Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine.

4. Lady Herbert's Garden · 15 min

   In and around Lady Herbert's Garden, you'll find out about the birth of the bicycle industry and how the modern bike came into being. Turn around and we see the start of the best preserved section of the Coventry City Wall, the story of how it was built and why industrialist Alfred Herbert saved if from destruction, before hearing the tale of the one time the wall was needed, the tale of the true beginning of the English Civil War.

5. A4053, Coventry CV1, UK · 3 min

   That's right, we'll spend a couple of minutes on this tour to learn about the engineering marvel that is the Coventry Ring Road!

6. Millennium Pl, Coventry CV1, UK · 10 min

   Next to the Coventry Transport Museum, hear the story of the Coventry Motor industry; How Coventry became the motor city of England and a global centre of car manufacture, and then how it almost all disappeared forever.

7. Palmer Ln, Coventry CV1, UK · 5 min

   Very much off the beaten track see a few things in the heart of the city that many of the locals don't know are there.

8. Old Grammar School · 5 min

   On one street corner, you can see the building we shouldn't call the Old Grammar School, an artwork celebrating the Coventry motor industry, and the building names after the most famous poet from the city.

9. Belgrade Theatre · 10 min

   Walking around the outside of the Belgrade Theatre, various artworks will be used to help tell the stories of the theatre itself, the long history of plays which Coventry was famous for, Ira Aldridge who 200 years after Othello was written became the first Black man to play the led character, and the three most prominent women of the arts in the history of the city.

10. 5 min

    Here we spend 5 minutes to take in a few things including the building built in1505 by Thomas Bond, which are still used for the same purpose he intended today, over 500 years later.

11. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist · 5 min

    Outside this church, originally built as a private church for the richest in the city, your guide will explain why it is claimed to be the original of the phrase 'Sent to Coventry'.

12. Historic Spon Street · 20 min

    In and around Spon Street, we'll talk more about industries like dying, tanning, watchmaking and bicycles as well as how the street was for centuries one of the major roads in the country, and while not everything is as it may first seem in the area.

13. Coventry Market Shopping Centre · 5 min

    Just a quick pop into the market. Not on Sundays.

14. 10 min

    In The Bull Yard and Shelton Square find out more about the 'City of Tomorrow' and the stories behind some of eclectic public artworks in the area, as well as finding out what the area had been back in days gone by.

15. 12 min

    Here highlights of the story of one of the real hidden gems of Coventry, Cheylesmore Manor House, a 700 year-old Royal Palace in the heart of he city.

16. New Union St, Coventry CV1, UK · 5 min

    Hear the story of Coventry's great survivor: Greyfriars Spire.

17. Fords Hospital · 5 min

    A travel writer in 1902 said "Perhaps there is nothing so exquisite in the whole Kingdon as Ford's Hospital in Coventry"...

18. Hertford St, Coventry CV1, UK · 5 min

    To wind up, we spend a couple of minute looking at a handful of things in Hertford Street as we meander back to the starting point

What's included

• A guided historical walk with a local guide.

Meeting point

End point

Languages

In-person guide: English

Travellers

• Child (14–17)
• Adult (18–101)

Options

• The Jigsaw of History Tour

  In-person guide: English

Additional information

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• The walk is just over two miles and should take two hours and forty-five minutes. It is mostly flat with some inclines and ramps and one small area of cobbles.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.