Warwick Uni and Coventry sightseeing suggestions please.

[Pippyls67]

Off to Warwick for a look see. What’s worth a gander? Uni offer holders open day on Saturday. Dh and I are driving Dd. What’s nice for us to do or see in the near by area. Fancy visiting Coventry myself. Medieval quarter perhaps? Where is most attractive. Any suggestions welcome please.

Definitely the cathedral - one of my most favourite buildings and very impressive

Stratford is nice - famous chap was born there so there is quite a bit to do with him I believe. About 30 mins drive (not sure how far you want to go).

Coventry cathedral – bombed out one and modern rebuilding next to it – is interesting. Coventry itself not wonderful IME.

Coventry cathedral and the canal basin.
The transport museum is quite good.

or go Warwick and visit the castle?

I really like the old bit around St Michael Field/Cuckoo Lane. As well as the lovely cathedral ruins with the tower climb there's another large old church right next to it called Holy Trinity, plus the 50s cathedral. I like the Golden Cross pub there (16th C) and St Mary's Guildhall.
It's a short walk from the shopping centre. There's a transport museum and the Herbert Museum with Dippy the Dinosaur on loan. I like that it's very walkable. We visited the Warwick Row Espresso nearby
We've also been to Warwick which is lovely and Leamington. The Jephson Park is nice. Dd lives in Earlsdon but many live in Leamington which is next to Warwick town.
The Campus is on the very edge of Coventry, a bus ride from the centre. We really liked it and dd put it as her firm.

Another who would say the Cathedral is definitely worth visiting.

This is so informative. Thanks x

Dd is at Warwick. I was 'allowed by dd' to stay for the offer holders day. It was actually really useful as dd didn't have a clue what she was looking for on accommodation and we saw about 4 different types of room and asked questions that dd now says we're very helpful.
There was also a session run by the faculty for parents whilst dd went to a taster lesson.
We got there at 10 and left at 4 having also walked the campus, seem the sports centre, walked (so she would appreciate how far. It was) to Tesco and grabbed some lunch.
Obviously you may be happier letting your dd get on with it, but I was not the only parent tagging along by a long way!

Absolutely this. Also the motor museum is very good. (As is the cafe) although it no longer free.

I had to stay in Coventry for 4 days while DD did a course,hated it.
There must be nice bits but I didn't find them

Kenilworth Castle is much better than Warwick Castle which is basically an expensive theme park now

What did you think @Pippyls67 . We plan to go to an open day at Warwick with DD.

Oh come on. There’s just no comparison.

I agree. Which is why I'd always recommend Kenilworth over Warwick for someone who wants to visit a castle.

Warwick is one of our best preserved castles. It’s commercialised of course but it is in a much better state than Kenilworth. Both are worth visiting but saying that kenilworth is better is very misleading.

Don't miss the fantastic Herbert Art Gallery and Museum which is conveniently situated near the stunning cathedral. Absolutely love Cov. DD and I both went to Warwick.

I find Kenilworth a much better experience. Without all the theme park shit and the attendant entry price. Horses for courses.

My daughter is at Warwick and loves it. Definitely worth spending time in Leamington Spa as that is where a majority of students live after first year. She spends very little time in Coventry, if any. So would be a good idea to see if she likes Leamimgton.
Hope you have a lovely time.

Oh my goodness - we were thoroughly impressed. We stayed over in the Uni conference centre which was helpful. Meant we were nice and fresh for the early morning exhibition on campus and talks. Dd could take a plus one so I stayed with her during the day. Everyone seemed to bring a parent so that was fine. What a beautiful campus! The taster lectures were great and the staff extremely engaging. We found the whole experience extremely positive. Dh explored the surrounding areas. Leamington Spa was a big hit. Fantastic student friendly feel. He also went into Coventry and checked out some suggestions posted here. He had a grand day. We plan to stay over for a few more days in October if Dd does get in and we will check out more of the suggestions here. The castle in particular. I hope your Dd likes it as much as ours did x

I had to spend some time in the area last year and was pleasantly surprised. Coventry Centre is quite buzzy because Cov Uni is centrally located and there are a lot of students about. The cathedral is not to be missed.
I had imagined that the whole city was flattened in the war but in fact there are quite a lot of surviving historic buildings - it was equal to Norwich or somewhere before the Luftwaffe paid a visit. St Mary's Guildhall is a beautiful survival but see also the sites now run by The Historic Coventry Trust (link)
Warwick Uni is not in Warwick of course, but Warwick itself is a very pretty little place with lots of cafes. Warwick Castle may be too commercialised for some but the town is nice for a mooch, especially on market Saturdays.
Kenilworth Castle is ruined but very picturesque. Also try Hatton Locks cafe, a popular tearoom on the canal between Kenilworth and Warwick. Plenty to fill weekend.

My dad spent his career as a professor at Warwick. Many students tend to live in Leamington Spa when not living on campus. My niece is a third year and spent a year on campus and two years now in Leam. She loves the student life there. There are good bus connections to Uni from Leam.

Enjoy the visit day and all the best with exams.

@Pippyls67 , glad you had a good time. I'm a parent and also stay at the conference centre on campus and have visited Leamington and Kenilworth over the years. There is an active Facebook page for parents called Warwick University Parents Group that is helpful for restaurant / pub suggestions plus uni life.

I went to Warwick Uni and my parents loved coming to visit me there. They always took me to nice restaurants for a good meal and I agree the canal is beautiful to walk.

Don't like Coventry at all Stratford upon Avon is lovely though

I have links with Cov, Warwick and I know Stratford fairly well. Cov is horrible. Don't bother with it. Warwick town is nice, the castle is a theme park now. Stratford upon Avon is nice but expect to be fleeced on the Shakespeare bits. The walk down to the church is lovely.