Coventry Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England

The Coventry Cathedral quarter is notable, if not unique, in Britain for being able to trace its ecclesiastical past back through not one but three cathedrals.

The first, the only English cathedral to be destroyed by Henry VIII, has been brought back to life in recent years, thanks to a major programme of archaeological investigation. The site now boasts an award-winning visitor centre and is about to acquire a second tourist attraction. From Easter, the standing undercrofts of the great lost church will be opened to the public, offering an insight into cathedral life, going back into the 12th century.

The second, largely of 14th-century origin and once the largest parish church in England, was destroyed by the Luftwaffe on the night of November 14, 1940. Its ruins have become a place of pilgrimage for visitors from all over the world and are the focus of a global ministry of peace and reconciliation. Among many memorials is a Reconciliation sculpture, a replica of which also stands in Hiroshima. The ruins are also the setting for Coventry's medieval Mystery Plays, now performed every three years.

The third cathedral, designed by Basil Spence, was one of the wonders of post-war Britain when it opened in 1962. Four million people came to see it in its first year and it is still an iconic building - three years ago it was voted the nation's most popular 20th-century building in a poll conducted by English Heritage and Channel Four television. It also has a fine gallery of post-war British art, with major works by John Piper, Jacob Epstein, John Hutton and Elizabeth Frink, as well as Graham Sutherland's monumental tapestry.

DIRECTIONS TO THE CATHEDRAL FROM POOL MEADOW

Pool Meadow is situated in Fairfax Street: on leaving the bus station cross over Fairfax Street and turn left, proceed to Priory Street, turn right into Priory Street and the Cathedral is situated on the right hand side.

FROM THE STATION

Leave the station via Eaton Road and cross under the Ring Road by the subway into Warwick Road. Proceed along Warwick Road to Bull Yard and then go straight on into Hertford Street (which is pedestrianised). Take the right hand fork at the top of Hertford Street into Broadgate and then turn right into High Street. Cross the road and turn left into Bayley Lane. The Cathedral Ruins are a short way along on the right.

FROM THE RING ROAD

Leave the Ring Road at junction 5 and proceed along Little Park Street to the traffic lights at the Council House. Go straight over at light and then almost immediately left into St Mary?s Street. At the T Junction turn right into Bayley Lane and then left into Priory Street. The Cathedral is on the left.

PARKING

There is parking for coaches and cars only a few minutes walk from the cathedral; for coaches the Pool Meadow coach park and for cars the Pool Meadow car park. It is currently possible to use Priory Street, at the bottom of the cathedral steps, as a drop-off point.

Coventry Hotels near Coventry Cathedral with online reservations:
Express by Holiday Inn COVENTRY-A45 (EXP) , Kempass Highway, Coventry CV3 6PB
Hilton Coventry , Paradise Way, Walsgrave Triangle, Coventry CV2 2ST

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