Coventry has plenty to offer visitors and locals in terms of shopping (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
In the heart of England lies a city which is often overlooked. It might not be one that Brits turn to for a day trip or a weekend away, but it is home to a thriving and bustling centre that locals love.
Once known for its industrial roots, Coventry has now become a hotspot for students who have brought new life to the area. Even on a dull and windy day, there are hundreds of people out enjoying lunch or wandering around the shops.
One of these locals is Robert John-Scott, 61. He says: “It’s on the way up for sure. I think it’s pretty good here.
“I think they’re definitely trying to do something with the city and I think the it can overcome any problems to get there.
“Coventry seems to get hit hard by any sort of recession but it’s a good city. I’ve read a lot that it is a place to come to for visitors.”
Coventry Cathedral is one of the most famous places in the city (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
He adds that its central location helps its cause and he says there’s a huge range of places to eat and drink.
Coventry City Centre is home to around 240 independent businesses, across retail, hospitality and professional services.
Coventry BID has been operating in the city centre for 23 years. The BID works with its levy payers to make the city centre a vibrant and safe place to live, visit and work. A total of 75 BID levy-paying businesses in the city centre are classed as independent.
Joanne Glover, chief executive at Coventry BID, said: “We have a wonderful community of independent businesses in the city centre and each brings its own strengths to our local economy.
“These businesses have an important role in the identity and culture of the city centre and the public really value the experiences that they offer whether that is the retailer with specialist knowledge and stellar customer service or the cosy café offering locally sourced produce.
“While you’ll find independents throughout the city centre, there is a strong concentration in West Orchard’s Shopping Centre, Sherbourne Arcade and over in the creative quarter at FarGo Village, which is home to more than 45 independent shops, cafes and creative businesses.”
It’s lunch time and the city centre is busy with people. Through the crowds, benches are filled with people watching the world go by.
Churchill visiting Coventry Cathedral after the Blitz (Image: Getty Images)
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Hazel Stones enjoys the sense of community in the city (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
Hazel Stones, 76, is enjoying a rest after doing some shopping. Sat in her bright red coat, she says: “It’s homely here, it’s like a village. I think people would like to see some better quality shops here rather than all of the cheap ones but other than that it’s pretty good here.
“Having the university students around keeps the city lively and keeps it going, otherwise it would have been more or less dead here by now.”
Hazel says that she has seen plenty of changes take hold over the last 20 years or so.
“It’s a very different place to what it used to be. On the whole the changes that have happened here have been largely good,” she adds.
“I’ve lived here for over 40 years now and there’s a lot of rumour-mongering about things being bad but I think people make it worse by saying things are bad when they’re not.
“My favourite thing about the city is that there’s always a great mix of people. You can come and sit here and you’ll see older people who are out because they don’t want to be in the house all day, there’s people who just sit around and talk to each other.
“I just like it that you can always find someone to talk to if you want to.”
Hazel says she thinks more people should have a positive attitude towards Coventry which she believes will make people feel more like it is improving rather than deteriorating.
Residents say the city could use some updates to bring Coventry up to date with other cities – one place which has been updated is the train station.
Coventry’s new railway station opened in 2022 after months of delays, the £82million project has added to the city, say locals.
On its website, Coventry City Council addresses financial challenges it has faced. It says: “For a long time, we have been open and transparent that Coventry City Council – like many other local authorities of all political colours across the country – are facing severe financial challenges.
“These challenges have been caused by the collective result of severe cuts in funding, rising demand for services such as social care and homelessness, and the more recent impact of inflationary pressures.”
Jeremy Hall and his dog, Coco (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
For many residents, the city is special to them. Jeremy Hall, 68, has always retained a relationship with Coventry after studying there decades ago.
As much as he enjoys visiting, he recognises that the city would benefit from a couple of improvements.
Jeremy is sitting on a bench with his dog, Coco – he is visiting Coventry on a day trip from Solihull.
He says: “I came here for university a long time ago and it hasn’t changed a lot. It’s one of those places where it just doesn’t seem to know where it is going.
“It’s under reconstruction now, I can see that. The people here are very nice, but I just think it hasn’t found its way since it was bombed during the war.
“The university has got a lot bigger, it’s about double the size which is good to see. But as for other areas, it seems much the same as all those years ago.
“I have noticed a few new things like some new bars and an ice rink but it hasn’t changed much overall.”
Jeremy says the city has struggled to catch up with other places in terms of regeneration and development and its not an uncommon feeling amongst others in the city.
However, the city does have a plan for regeneration – the City Centre South project. Plans were approved by Coventry City Council in march 2024 and the vision is an exciting one for the future.
Plans for the section of the city include new homes, a new covered servicing yard for Coventry Retail Market and new pedestrian-friendly routes connecting the quarter to the city centre.
It will also see transport initiatives including cycle parking, new cycle hire docking stations, car club spaces and working with the CCC Very Light Railway and much more.
Yaser Javid has a stall selling jewellery in Coventry (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
The city has become a much loved home for its residents who are proud to live there (Image: Getty Images)
But for business owner Yaser Javed, 42, he says the city has a lot to offer already.
He says: “I live in Birmingham, but I come here for work. It’s quite good here, it’s a small center and a lot of people come here.
“The city is very attractive, a lot of people who come here like it and they say it’s a bit different to other places. It’s not boring and there’s plenty of things to do.
“I think there’s not much more that could be done to improve Coventry, 99% of the things here are good.”
Coventry is a city that’s known for its vibrant atmosphere and it’s a place which locals are passionate about.
Residents are optimistic about the future of the city and with the sense of local pride – it’s a sign the city can not only survive but thrive.
Coventry City Council have been contacted for comment.
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