England’s ‘most central city’ is an unexpectedly trending destination for 2026

This underrated UK city has a lot to offer, if people will listen (Picture: Getty Images)

Glasgow, Belfast, and Buxton — these are just a few of the towns and cities named in TripAdvisor’s Summer Travel Index, which reveals where is trending among British travellers.

And we get it. Belfast is the birthplace of the Titanic, Glasgow has a buzzing nightlife, and Buxton is one of the finest spa towns in England.

But amongst these obvious choices, one unlikely city has made the cut: Coventry.

Widely considered the most central city in England, this West Midlands destination has never had the best reputation.

From its brutalist buildings, hurriedly built after World War II, to high crime rates in certain areas, there’s also the ‘sent to Coventry’ idiom which is used to deliberately ostracise someone.

However, Coventry has been working hard to shake that narrative.

@discovermoreuk

#Coventry #cityofculture #westmidlands #ukhiddengems #Englandtravel #ukplacestovisit #ukdaysout

♬ Love Of My Life – Metrow Ar

In 2021, it was named the UK City of Culture, which brought significant investment in local infrastructure and arts, and celebrated the city’s diversity, youth, and history.

WIN! Business Class flights to Australia

Fly in style to Sydney and discover the very best of New South Wales (Picture: Getty Images)

Inspired to explore the wonders of New South Wales for yourself? We’re giving you the chance to win two return Business Class flights with Singapore Airlines to Sydney.

The winner can choose to fly from London Heathrow, London Gatwick or Manchester, to a choice of two Sydney airports: Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport or the airline’s newest gateway, Western Sydney International Airport.

Then strike out to explore the riches of this iconic Australian state, from the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains to the wines of the Hunter Valley, breathtaking beaches to sultry rainforest.

Enter by June 15, 2026, and you could be travelling in style to New South Wales with Singapore Airlines.

For your chance to win two Business Class flights with Singapore Airlines , visit Metro.co.uk/Singapore-Airlines

Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 09:00 on 26/05/2026 and closes at 23:59 on 15/06/2026. Entrant must enter by visiting metro.co.uk/singapore-airlines. One prize of two Singapore Airlines Business Class return tickets is available. One entry per person. Full T &Cs apply.

It’s also recognised as one of the UK’s fastest-growing destinations for investment and development. In 2024, it saw record-breaking visitor numbers.

Here’s everything you need to know about Coventry, a city reclaiming itself as a vibrant, future-looking hotspot that’s proud of its grit.

A complex past

Coventry is steeped in history.

After springing up around a Saxon nunnery in 700AD, it became a hub for the cloth trade in medieval times. Then, it transitioned into a British bicycle and motor powerhouse in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Coventry was known as ‘Britain’s Detroit’ in the 1950s, as its contribution to the UK automotive industry reflected that of the US city.

Sadly, World War II changed all of this. Coventry was devastated by the Blitz because it produced 25% of all British aircraft at the time.

The city is steeped in history (Picture: Getty Images)

In November 1940, a massive Luftwaffe raid aimed to destroy war-production factories and flattened a third of the city, including the medieval St Michael’s Cathedral.

Historic England’s Coventry Blitz report states that around 568 people were killed, with over 1,200 injured. However, some estimates are much higher.

Overnight, Coventry went from a thriving industrial hub to a city left picking up the pieces. It was hastily rebuilt using modern and urban planning techniques, responsible for the concrete city centre that many now deem unattractive.

The war is also blamed for the loss of much of medieval Coventry, a city once known for its half-timbered houses.

Top things to do in Coventry

With the experts at TripAdvisor urging us to give Coventry a chance, let’s find out what the travel site recommends.

Parts of medieval Coventry remain (Picture: Getty Images)

First up it’s Coventry Cathedral, a unique example of ancient ruins coexisting with modern designs.

After parts of the building were destroyed in WWII, architect Sir Basil Spence constructed a contemporary cathedral alongside the preserved ruins of the original.

Entrance to the cathedral and ruins is free, and highlights include the ‘Blitz Museum,’ a treasure trove of 1940’s memorabilia and artefacts, and art installations.

Elsewhere on your history tour, you can walk in the footsteps of former kings and queens at St Mary’s Guildhall.

Once a meeting place for the medieval residents of Coventry, it’s now a cool events venue offering dining experiences, workshops, and yoga.

St Mary’s Guildhall hosts a range of events (Picture: Getty Images)

In summer, the Grade I-listed building offers immersive ‘Tales after Dark’ events, where visitors can dine on tapas, sip on Sangria, and listen to live jazz.

Or, join special events like ‘Pimm’s and Paint’ beneath the stone arches.

For automobile enthusiasts, don’t forget to check out the Coventry Transport Museum, which houses the ‘largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles on the planet.’

Adult advance tickets cost £15.50.

Wander along the Canal Art Trail

Coventry also boasts its own immersive art walk. Dubbed the ‘Coventry Canal Art Trail’, the 5.5-mile route takes creatives past murals, mosaics and sculptures created by 31 talented artists.

The trail starts at the Canal Basin and ends at Hawkesbury Junction.

Coventry Canal Basin is the start of the art walk (Picture: Getty Images)

Stop at spots including the University of Warwick Sculpture Park, and marvel at notable artworks like the Lock Gates sculpture, which celebrates the area’s rich industrial heritage.

Coventry also has its own ‘Peace Trail,’ a walking tour that takes in over 30 sites in the city centre.

The route was designed to spotlight Coventry’s history as a centre of ‘peace, reconciliation and friendship’ after the destruction of World War II.

Created by the Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace & Reconciliation, it starts at the cathedral and passes key locations like Millennium Place, the Reconciliation Sculpture, and the Herbert Museum, where temporary art exhibitions explore the city’s social history.

Coventry’s growing craft beer scene

All that walking deserves a refreshment. Luckily, Coventry has an emerging craft beer scene.

FarGo Village is at the centre of this movement — a creative quarter that’s been active since 2014.

The Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House is the area’s resident artisan vegan craft brewery. Its motto is to ‘create great tasting beer for great people.’

The independent business offers 12 of its own brews, and also houses premium beers and ciders from other local and UK-based breweries. There are gluten-free and non-alcoholic options, too.

Quiz nights, a homebrew club, and brewery tours are also part of the agenda, along with live music and themed events.

Booze isn’t the only thing you’ll find in FarGo Village, though. Repurposed shipping containers combine artisan food stalls, vintage shops, and a vinyl record store.

There’s even a skateboard shop and a Parkour centre. Honestly, it sounds like a mini Manchester.

Where is Coventry, exactly?

Coventry is located in the West Midlands, just 19 miles from Birmingham, and around 94 miles from London.

It’s also a 30-minute car journey to the picturesque Tudor market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, renowned as the birthplace and burial place of William Shakespeare. Not a bad base to city hop, if you ask us.

Coventry — home to approximately 369,026 people — has experienced significant growth in recent years. Between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, the population has risen by 8.9%.

This is only expected to increase, due to Coventry’s status as a university city.

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source