How it rates

Things have never been easy for Coventry. From bicycles to motor cars, its trademark industries have gone from boom to bust. It was once one of the finest medieval cities in the UK, but large swaths of its centre were bombed in 1940. Once rebuilt, its shopping centres were cutting-edge, but now much of the city centre is in need of a refit. The Government has just announced £40 million funding for a new manufacturing technology centre in the city, which may create hundreds of high-skilled jobs.

Architectural gems

Sir Basil Spence’s beautiful Grade I listed cathedral rises up from the heart of the city. The 1960s Herbert Museum and Art Gallery has undergone a £20 million redevelopment, and the 1950s Belgrade Theatre has been given a revamp. The Whittle Arch, pictured, outside the Transport Museum, is worth a look.

What’s new?

Nearly all of central Coventry is fairly modern, but a substantial redesign of Priory Place and Belgrade Plaza is underway. A canalside development at Electric Wharf has created a number of live-work apartments. Three and four-bed townhouses, complete with solar panels, are on sale for £187,000 to £200,000.

Travel

Coventry is less than 100 miles from London and fast trains from Euston take an hour. Regional intercity connections to Birmingham and the Midlands are great. Manchester and Liverpool are a two-hour drive away, Nottingham one, and Birmingham International Airport is about a half-hour drive from the city.

Quality of life

With a population of 300,000, Coventry feels like a big town and most people can walk to work. There are lovely parks on the edge of the city and easy access to Birmingham and the Warwickshire countryside. Unemployment is quite high and the number claiming jobseekers allowance (5.9 per cent in September) is above the Great Britain average (4.2 per cent).

Smartest streets

Coventry has a lot of postwar housing, but there are some alluring suburbs. Earlsdon, near the city centre, is popular with young families. Two-bed houses cost about £140,000, while bigger homes can reach up to £800,000. On the Kenilworth Road, the “best” in Coventry, according to agents, five-bed Edwardian and Georgian houses are about £1 million. Prices have fallen sharply in the past few years. A two-bed city-centre apartment that sold for £160,000 two years ago will now fetch between £80,000 and £90,000.

Night life

In the city, Iglu is a trendy bar, while 1450 or the Old Windmill pub on medieval Spon Street are more traditional. For food, locals recommend Da Vinci’s in Earlsdon, or the nearby Gallery Restaurant.

Education

Primaries are generally good. Finham Park, a secondary comprehensive, is popular and specialises in maths and IT, and Coundon Court technology college and the Cardinal Newman Catholic School also come recommended. Among the private schools, Bablake and King Henry VIII’s are the best regarded.

Upside

Coventry has a strong sense of identity and community spirit and a good student vibe.

Downside

It will take a lot of regeneration to change the city centre, and the recession has slowed down development.

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