Coventry is the perfect jumping-off point for a spot of active adventuring around the historic county of Warwickshire, AKA Shakespeare country. Here are some of Tranter’s highlights and hidden gems, just a pedal, run or stroll away from Coventry station.
Mixing fantastic coffee, simple food and a celebration of all things on wheels, this cafe, bar, boutique B&B and motoring art gallery mash-up is a top destination for lovers of the mechanical. Set in 12 acres of lush green space just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, it’s a brilliant spot for a Sunday ride.
Pedal it: 21.4 miles, approximately two hours by bike from Coventry station.
Ettington CV37 7NS; caffeineandmachine.com
While most visitors to this part of the world make a beeline for Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle provides a more laid-back chance to explore, with a rich 900-year history that has seen it serve as a medieval fortress and an Elizabethan palace. Steeped in tales of royal romance, you can scale the tower Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, built to woo Elizabeth I and stroll through the stunning restored Elizabethan garden.
Pedal it: Just 5.4 miles from Coventry station.
Castle Green, off Castle Road, Kenilworth CV8 1NG; english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle
Visiting the Mechanical Art & Design museum is a bit like stepping into Wallace and Gromit’s workshop. The interactive displays of mechanical art are the perfect antidote to smartphones, with everything from pinball-style installations and moving sculptures to micro-clocks. An exploration of kinetic ingenuity – some of it logical, plenty of it slightly baffling – but all of it interactive and excellent fun for kids and adults alike.
Pedal it: Twenty-two miles, approximately two hours by bike from Coventry.
4-5 Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6PT; themadmuseum.co.uk
A four-mile stretch of former railway track dating back to 1884, the Greenway cuts through 40 acres of spectacular parkland running from Kenilworth to Berkswell. It’s flat as a pancake and totally traffic-free, making it the ideal place to ride, run and walk.
Pedal it: The Greenway starts a quick four-mile hop from Coventry station.
kenilworthweb.co.uk/visitors/our-visitors/what-to-see-and-do/the-kenilworth-greenway
Show