Coventry Heritage Open Days

This years Heritage Open Day weekend will consist of 50 venues, by far the largest we have ever put together, having taken 9 months to arrange it. Its also the 20th anniversary of the event in Coventry. If you pick up a brochure, this year its been planned in clusters, so its more difficult to miss anything if you are in any one cluster. 6,000 have been printed and distributed all over. Some at various Tourist Information Centres in places like Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington, as well as the one in Coventry. Plus to many of the venues etc. Whitefriars is proving popular for booking, while you will be able to view the Godiva clock and visit Cheylesmore Manor, plus many other places. London Road Cemetery was being cleaned up today(Sunday), to prepare for the event. Interesting point regarding PR and Marketing, as its getting more difficult. Its had a lot of coverage in the Coventry Telegraph and also featured on the Coventry City Council website and on the national Heritage Open Day website that covers all sites open in the country on the same weekend(Its a UK and European event). Even featured it on local BBC radio. But more people are watching online and less reading printed material, so its proving more difficult to reach people. Facebook and other places are starting to be used, but please feel free to make further suggestions, all ideas are welcome. Thanks

Just an update. Coventry Heritage Open Day weekend has been featured very recently in national newspapers as part of the bigger picture. The Sunday Mirror did so with a photo for the Sunday just gone as did BBC Coventry and Warwickshire this weekend gone. But always open to other suggestions.

Hi all In between church organ duties, I was able to enjoy an interlude of living in the past. Travelling to Middle Wallop made a bit more sense. Having arrived at Middle Wallop, it was now time to return.

Had a wonderful day yesterday visiting the Heritage Day sites around the Cathedral. Draper's Hall was a revelation, such a lovely building and it could be a real asset to the city. Thank you to all those involved.

Hi all The dreaded crash-box gear stick, absent from all Coventry buses once the last of the Guys had been withdrawn. Except GKV 100. Our driver today had little problem, as he drove the bus through several of the worst of Coventry's junctions with ease. A true professional. Also absent from Coventry buses, the dropped upstairs walking floor, which allowed the vehicle to be fifteen inches lower in total height, giving it a better route availability with low bridge restrictions.

Great shots Philip I toured around a few sites but especially those areas I had not been to before. Journeyed around on my bike which was a real pleasure given the dry weather. Whitefriars being top of the list. I'm glad I booked as reservations for the 1/2 hourly tour were sold out. What a fantastic building. Can you believe the 1342 build date and yet I drive past many days without a second throught! It really does need to be in a grander setting TBH with the ring road barely a few metres away in places. I was slightly suprised to find the interior was being used by The Herbert as a collections storage facility - reminded me of that Indian Jones film with crates of valuables stored inside. However the numbers visiting shows that Coventry people truely love the building. I think this was the first time for 8-9 years it had been opened. Unfortnately photography is banned from inside but see my slideshow of a few images of the day below - Heres an example from the web though - truely stunning vaulted ceiling: With an equally superb upstairs as well: My images: Neils Slideshow Terrific day and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Lovely pictures Philip and Neil. Here are some my daughter took on our tour yesterday. Lovely day but very tiring. Council Chambers. Back of Weavers Cottage

Heritage Open Days 2015

Hi & thank you for that info That is in the middle of my fortnight off duty. Perfect.

I am actually looking forward to the Heritage weekend as there are several interesting venues that can be visited over a day or two. The council's website (from the link above) is very informative and all I need to do now is work out a logical route to see where I want to go. There are a couple at Baginton, the Railway Museum and the Classic Air Force. I'd also like to get to the Charterhouse and Ford's Hospital, along with the venues around St Mary's Hall. There are a couple of venues around Priory Row. And I'm definitely interested to have a look at the Godiva Clock and Civic Centre Crypt. It looks like it may need both days to do these places justice.

I am happy to realise that Coventry has something to offer then for the tourists.

Coventry has plenty to offer tourists but sometimes doesn't realise it. Unfortunately, most of those places are closed for most of the year.