Getting To Coventry:
The archietects in the 50's came up with the brilliant idea of connecting up motorways around Coventry to the city centre. Unfortunately, they built the idiotic ringroad that encloses the city centre. "Making it out from the ringroad alive is a miracle in itself. If you are unluck enough to drive on this evil excuse of road you would see that it starts from exactly nowhere and ends in you hitting a wall. Between these events you have to manouver these oddly drawn lanes, dodging other passer bys and wondering why your you saw that sign for the fifth time. One thing that still puzzles me up to now is why did the ringroad win best ringroad in Europe?" I have to admit though, Coventry's roads are the best, it's so easy to get out the bloody city!

Shops:
Coventry has it's typical shops in it's city centre, the typical Topshop and Virgin. That's the thing though, thats all you get is typical shops. Clothes for example, the only shops I think are worth going into are Kong and Bubble (if your into the skater/alternative stuff) and Revive and Wish if you don't want to look like a typical Coventry townie. We've got too many phone shops, too many to count. We've also got too many sports shops for the catering of the townies. JJB, JB Sports, All Sports, Foot Locker to name a few.
Music:
Typical HMV, Virgin formula. We did have a good independent music shop called Spinadisc but it moved. If your after records I advise you to check out Freaky Beat on Gosford Street just outside the city centre near Coventry University.

Going Out:
Oh God! This is where Coventry really is in the stone age. Going out to eat is fine as you have Athenia and Browns to go to. There are a few others I should get up on the site.
Like I said before, 5:30 in the city centre says that it's time for change. Gone are the days when God's Kitchen was at the Eclipse then Planet and now Institute (...and now Abandon, I think). Coventry is a poor place for the clubbing vibe. Mr G's is gone, Fatty Arbuckles on Stoney Stantion is boarded up (bad rep anyway). (Note: Fatty Arbuckles now called Mirage and open for bizznis). We have Yates for those in the agressive mood and want glass bottles over their heads. We also have Ikon at the Skydome, the music is mostly commercial and is not particuarly good. The Institute (Note: also changed its name) on the edge of Hillfields (ahem!!!) is getting worse, though it flashed brief signs of hope with its brief Deviate nights (drum and bass) which disappeared quicker than it arrived. The Colosseum does have a few good nights and has live acts as well (The band "A" were there not long ago and were shot at by some kids from the flats with pellet guns). Very student friendly.
Check out Careys on Saturday's for your House music fix (recommended) and Bar Zest for the suicidal (not recommended).

Other places:
I advise people who want to see the city centre it check out these places:
Old & New Cathedral
Lady Godiva Statue(if not alredy graffitied on!)
War Memorial Park (especially at Summer)
Canal Basin
British Museum Of Road Transport
Herbert Art Gallery
Belgrade Theatre
Spon Street
Walsgrave Triange/Cross Point for Megabowl,Showcase Cinema etc

We don't advise:
Wood End (It's like a bad day in Bosnia there, calling it a dump would be giving it a good rep)
Hillfields (It's cleaning it's image up though)
Bell Green
Willenhall
Anywhere with Stoke in the name
Subways (especially at night)
Forbidden Planet (Coventry is an unforgiving place. Walk with a Forbidden Plannet carrier bag around town, expect abuse from the locals, tip is to put it into another bag when you come out).

Triumphs:
Like I said before, Coventry's finest day was the FA Cup win in 1987. Ever since it's been it's dark and depressing self.

Blur and The Prodigy have played here.

The Skydome has had a positive effect on the Coventry people, opening a load of bars with an Odeon Cinema, an Ice Rink which doubles up to a basketball court and two more night clubs.

The Cable and Wireless building has won a lot of awards that it richly deserves.

The Old Cathedral, even after the blitz in the Second World War still stands tall along with The New Cathedral which in my opinion is the most beautiful building in the city centre. Seeing it's stain glass window is awe inspiring itself.

Ringroad announced as best in Europe. I don't see it myself.

Queen came to Coventry and went to the council house. She's probably caught the plague from the city.

Special mention to the Phoenix Initiative in the city centre. Now lets see how long it will last before the Cov lot get their grubby hands on some spray paint.

Tragedies:
Coventry losing the fight to survive the Premiership and being relegated. Dark day it was.

The Hippodrome, a standing landmark thats seen so much in it's life. (I think Jimi Hendrix played there. He has definitely played in Coventry though). Now it's in rubble as the council employ a business outside the city to design our new city centre. Let's hope it was worth it Coventry City Council, after all, too many peoples memories of it was there.

That round burger bar that was in the lower precinct in my eyes and a lot of other peoples as a huge mess. Glad it's gone though.

Lady Godiva Statue being graffited is pretty piss poor. Like someone said on Knowhere about it: "Let's have some respect".

Coventry's pirate radio station Infinity was ripped off the frequency. It didn't have a long lifespan as much as I can remember (I could be wrong). Shows the DTI just want us to listen to the mindnumbing noise of Kix 96 and Mercia FM. Basically, local radio is poor.

Lonely Planet brought out the guide to Britain one year declaring how much of a mess Coventry was. They only speak the truth there.

When Coventry was officially announced as "Britain's dirtiest city" it caused a huge response city wide. The Coventry residents were angry with the council for not cleaning up the streets and people realised how much of a dump we are living in.

Year 2001 saw Coventry hold th Caribbean festival. All is well on that sunny summer Saturday as cheerful and happy people were enjoying themselves in the War Memorial Park. Didn't last long though as a shooting occurred in the park. Yes some people were shot. (Yardie related). No I won't get into detail. Just a long line of dodgyness.

(Note to self, put in new news/whatever page)
2003

HAHAHAHA! Coventry do it again and make it into the Lonely Planet's Hall Of Shame once again.

City slated for 'uninteresting' nightlife Apr 3 2003
From ic Coventry

"Coventry has been slated in a new guide to Britain - while neighbour Birmingham has been heaped with praise.

The new edition of The Lonely Planet Guide to Britain, out this week, attacks the city's "thoughtless" post-war architecture and claims the city is "plagued with uninteresting chain bars".

Meanwhile, Birmingham is praised for vast improvements made over the past decade.

One of the top bosses behind Coventry's Phoenix Initiative - set to rejuvenate the heart of the city - has hit back at the claims."

Thats got to hurt!