Parkrun – Godiva Travellers

Coventry War Memorial Park

17th Oct 202017th Oct 2020Posted in Coventry, History, Parkrun, travel, UK, WarwickshireTagged Airborne Services, Arthur Hutt VC, City of Culture 2021, Conroy's Coffee, Coventry, Friends of War Memorial Park, Godiva Festival, Parkrun, Visit Coventry, War Memorial Park, Warwickshire, West MidlandsLeave a comment

Coventry’s War Memorial Park is the city’s most popular leisure facility and one of the country’s most successful local parks. As a living memorial to the fallen of Britain’s 20th century wars, the park is up there amongst the best. The 48 acre park was opened in July 1921, originally, as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War. Memorials have since been added to commemorate the fallen of other conflicts in the twentieth century. 2021 will be the centenary of the park’s opening.

The park is a triumph of a 100 years of green space just a 15 minute walk from the city centre. Any visitor to Coventry should make the time to visit the park to enjoy its many features.

The park’s principal feature is the towering memorial monument. This imposing monument greets the visitor who enters the park from Kenilworth/Leamington Road entrance. Standing at the top of an avenue of trees, the memorial dominates the landscape by its silent, dignified presence. An eternal flame flickers at the top of the tower as a reminder of that Great War of a hundred years ago.

Alongside the avenue is a moving memorial to Athur Hutt, a Coventry born serviceman who was awarded the Victoria Cross. A few metres further on there is a memorial to the men and women of the WW2 airborne services. Trees throughout the park are dedicated to individual service men and women who died for their country. Plaques at the base of the trees commemorate their deaths. At the north end of the park are the concrete remains of a barrage balloon station. These barage balloons were used to protect the city against enemy air attack. Sadly, they did not prevent the city suffering from severe enemy air attacks in WW2.

The theme of the park is now reconciliation and a beautiful German garden has been constructed as a symbol of that reconciliation. A Japanese garden is in the process of being created and it should be complete by early 2021. The German and Japanese gardens are but two of many stunning gardens that decorate the park. Regardless of the season a walk through the park gives the eyes a spectacle of colour. Then there are trees cleverly spaced around the park adding to the park’s natural beauty. The park really is a nature lover’s delight.

Sport is not forgotten in the park. There are football pitches, tennis courts, a bowling green and a recently developed “Footgolf” course. A cross between football and golf, Footgolf is one of those novel features which makes the park so special. The park has a skate board area, swings, climbing area, an aviary and water play area. This makes it a great place to take the children.

The park has two cafes. One of the cafes is housed in the visitor centre which has a small picture history of the park.

The park is home to one of the country’s best attended Saturday morning 5K parkruns and a friendly welcome is given to all parkrun tourists. The park’s other cafe is a meeting place for these runners. Manageress Kim has a special smile on her face on Saturday mornings when she greets runners who come to her cafe for a post run cup of tea and a bacon batch. A bacon batch is a Coventry speciality and Kim makes one of the best. Sadly, the parkrun is temporarily postponed due to Covid-19.

The park hosts the annual Godiva Music Festival. The festival attracts musicians from around the country and from around the world. As an affordable alternative to Glastonbury, the Godiva Festival is a must for music lovers. See our blog post on the Godiva Festival for more information.

Click on the link below to see a map and a few photos of a walk we did around the park: https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JmXd8MgO

Coventry’s War Memorial Park has so much to offer and it is so much more than just another city park. The only way you can discover Coventry’s War Memorial park is to visit it. You will be pleased if you do.

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. See you again soon!

Brueton Park

24th Sep 2020Posted in Parkrun, travel, UK, WarwickshireTagged Birds custard, Brueton park, Chinese Wilson, Malvern park, nature reserve, Parkrun, Prancing horse, River Blythe, Solihull, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust3 Comments

Brueton Park in Solihull is one of the country’s best kept secrets. With nearly 130 acres of open space, the park is an oasis of calm surrounded by the bustling West Midlands conurbation. Walking through its wonderful, peaceful gardens, it is hard to believe that one is so close to Britain’s second largest city and that one of the country’s busiest motorways, the M42, skirts the park’s perimeter. A visit to the park is really a pleasure.

The park comprises three separate areas: Malvern Park, Brueton Park and the Parkridge nature reserve. Malvern Park was laid out by the local council in 1926 on land which was originally part of the Malvern Hall estate. Entrance to the park is a short walk from Solihull town centre. Brueton Park was kindly given to Solihull council in 1944 by Ernest Brueton and the two parks were formally linked in 1963.

The river Blythe runs through the southern part of the park and this area is quite marshy and prone to flooding. The area became a haven for wildlife and it achieved Local Nature Reserve status in 2002 in recognition of its importance to wildlife. The reserve is now managed by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust as the Parkridge nature reserve.

The park has traditional sports facilities such as tennis for visitors to enjoy but the truly special feature of the park is the nature reserve. There are paths through the nature reserves and safe wooden walkways where the ground is marshy.

One can follow the river Blythe as it flows idly by or one can simply sit by the side of the lake and enjoy the sight of ducks, geese and swans as they glide across the water.

A walk through the reserve could then be followed by a well earned tea and cake at the excellent Parkridge visitor centre. There was a delicious carrot cake on offer when we last visited!

Access to the park is easy as it is so close to Solihull town centre. As mentioned, the M42 runs close by so making the park an easy driving destination for non-local travellers. The park has car parks but they are limited in space and tend to fill early. There is ample parking close by in Solihull town centre.

The park has many attractions for the visitor. The “Prancing Horse and Man” is a Victorian work of art which has greeted park visitors since 1944. It was donated by Oliver Bird of Bird’s Custard fame and created by the eminent Victorian sculptor, Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm.

The park is popular with joggers and runners as it is flat and has plenty of wide paths to run along. The park hosts a Saturday morning 5K Parkrun though this has been postponed till Covid 19 restrictions are lifted.

The park is home to colourful plants from around the world. Thanks for this diversity can be given to Ernest Wilson who travelled the world in a quest for exotic flora which he then brought back to decorate the park. The park has a small monument to “Chinese Wison”.

Brueton is a little gem . We have always enjoyed our visits. We hope you do too.

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. See you again soon!

Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun

24th Sep 201929th Aug 2020Posted in Parkrun, running, travel, UK, WarwickshireTagged Hilly 100, Parkrun, running, Shakespeare marathon, Stratford Leisure Centre, Stratford Upon Avon2 Comments

If you want to run a fast, well organised, and genuinely friendly park run, then the Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun is hard to beat. If you are a parkrun tourist and want your parkrun to be the start of a day out, or even better, the start of a weekend break, then Stratford offers something for everyone and is amongst the best.

Stratford’s free parkrun is a three lap course ran within the town’s Recreation Ground. The course is a scenic route using tarmac paths and some grass ways. You will see swans on the Avon, Shakespeare’s theatre and the beautiful flower arrangements of the town’s premier park area. A full description of the course can be found on the website here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stratforduponavon/course/

Part of the course follows the river so it can be wet if the river is running high. Similarly, the grass section may be slippery so care should be taken when running here. Stratford attracts up to 400 runners so the start can be a little congested. However, most of the course follows a good, flat, tarmac surface so the course provides PB possibilities.

If there is an event being held on the river, such as a boating regatta, an alternative 4 lap course is used. This course removes the river bank section so the 4 shorter laps are run to make up the 5K distance.

Remember to hand in your tokens at the end.

Post Run Refreshments

Stratford volunteers provide an excellent refreshment table for runners at the end of the race. A wide variety of cold refreshing drinks are available as well as hot teas and coffees. A great selection of fruits are there to be sampled and for those with a sweeter tooth, home-made cakes and other sweets are on display tempting you to taste them. Even dogs are catered for with a special dog biscuit area!

A small voluntary donation is all that is asked. The post race refreshments adds to the friendly ambience of the Stratford parkrun giving it a quality that makes it so special.

Tip: Stratford are trying to improve the environment by phasing out plastic cups. Please bring your own cup for drinks and so help reduce plastic consumption. Thank you.

Parking

There is ample parking available in the Recreation Ground car park which is literally by the start and finish of the run. Car parking fees are on a pay and display system and are quite reasonable.

Post Race Shower/Swim

Stratford Leisure centre is located at about a 600 metre walk from the start of the race, A post race shower can be had here for £1.50 at present prices. The centre has a superb swimming pool so runners can enjoy a post run swim if they are feeling more energetic!

The Recreation Ground car park ticket is not valid for the Leisure Centre’s car park.

Here is a link to the Leisure centre’s website: Stratford Leisure Centre

For more general information on parkrun including details of where they are held see the Parkrun website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Other Running in Stratford

For those who want to run more than just the park run, then Stratford is a great location for general training. Stratford’s Greenway provides a 5.5 mile traffic free tarmac route from Stratford to Long Marston for general training. The Greenway is easily accessible by running from the Recreation Ground. There are small car parks along the Greenway if you wish to drive to a different start. More information about the Greenway can be found on its website here: Stratford Greenway

The town hosts a number of prestigious races throughout the year, including the Shakespeare Marathon to commemorate the Bard’s birthday in April. Stratford is a top rated marathon and a great alternative for anyone disappointed in not being able to run the London race. A half-marathon can be ran for those who would prefer to run the shorter distance. Details are available here: Shakespeare Marathon

Stratford is the venue for various 10K and other races during the year. Stratford is also the start and finish of one of England’s best long distance relay races: The Cotswold Hilly 100. This is a 100 mile 10 person relay race for athletic club teams. The route traverses the beautiful hills of the nearby Cotswolds. The race is held on one of the May bank holiday Sundays, Details of this, and other Stratford races, can be found on the Stratford AC website: Stratford AC

What to do after your run?

You have just got your PB for the year at Stratford: what do you do now? There is so much to do it is almost an impossible question. Take a stroll through the park, visit Holy Trinity church, attend an afternoon play at one of the two theatres or see a movie in the delightful Stratford Picturehouse. Stratford has so much to offer the visitor. We will give you more ideas of what to do in Stratford in a later blog on this site.

You may be interested in our blog on the Forest of Dean parkrun and also our Oban blog which has details of the Ganavan Sands parkrun.

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please follow and share with anyone you think may be interested. See you again soon!

Symonds Yat: England’s Secret Beauty

26th Aug 201915th Aug 2022Posted in History, Parkrun, running, travel, UKTagged Biblins, Biblins Tea Garden, Canoeing, Dean Heritage Centre, Forest of Dean parkrun, Lime Kiln, River Wye, Symonds Yat, Wye, Yat Rock, Ye Old Ferrie Inn6 Comments

Symonds Yat, in the heart of the Forest of Dean, is one of the country’s most picturesque tourist locations. Besides its natural beauty it has a wealth of activities for visitors to sample. There are actually two Symonds Yat: Symonds Yat East and Symonds Yat West, two small hamlets which face each other on opposing sides of the River Wye.

There is a picturesque, flat circular walk from Symonds Yat East which takes approximately 1.5 hours, depending on how often you stop to admire the views or take photographs! We walked from the Saracen’s Head pub, keeping the river on our right until we reached a footbridge crossing the river.

After crossing the bridge there was an enticing sign to Biblins Tea Garden where we went for a short break. As it was such a beautiful day we sat outside and what a joy it was to see a swallow’s nest above us. The swallows were feeding their young and didn’t seem bothered by the people nearby.

Biblins tea room, Symonds Yat — Biblins Lodge, Symonds Yat

The owners of the Tea Gardens are very friendly people who are renovating the 500 year old property adjoining the gardens. It’s a wonderful building and blends in perfectly with the landscape. You can visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/BiblinsTeaGarden

We then continued our walk, still keeping the river on our right walking back towards Symonds Yat West.

You can catch the hand ferry across the river. It costs about £2 each and it is a quick way to get to the other side where you can stop for a break at the Saracen’s Head if you wish.

Ye Old Ferrie Inn

If you don’t want to cross at the Saracen’s Head, you can continue your walk for a few hundred metres to another pub called Ye Old Ferrie Inn. They also have a hand ferry crossing the river here too. On the other side you can follow the riverside path the few hundred metres back to the Saracen’s Head. Ye Old Ferrie Inn was named in the Guardian newspaper (August 2022) as one the best waterside pubs in the UK. We agree! We visited recently and had a delicious meal there and it was lovely to discover all the food was sourced locally. They also have rooms to book if you want to stay for longer.

Yat Rock

A few metres from the Saracen’s Head is the path to the top of Yat Rock. It’s a steep climb up to the top through shaded woodland, but the climb is worth it for the stunning views that will greet you when you arrive. You can see for miles, what a view! Don’t forget your binoculars.

There is an alternative slightly longer, but gentler walk which we took on the way down avoiding the steep steps. For those unable to undertake the climb there is road access and a parking area at the top. You can also enjoy a cup of tea in the cafe here.

On the walk we saw an interesting site we have never encountered before. People have hammered coins into a fallen tree so producing a remarkable piece of artwork. We were visiting with our friends from Australia, so if you look closely you may see a couple of Australian coins.

Peregrine Falcons, deer and wild boar

The forest is home to a wide variety of wildlife. From the top of Symonds Yat Rock you may be lucky enough to see a peregrine falcon as it swoops down from the cliffs looking for prey. More common are the goshawks who also make their homes in the rocky surrounds. Deer, though shy of humans, are plentiful in the forest. We were lucky enough to see a foal dancing in and out of the trees below on our most recent visit to Yat Rock. On a previous visit we even saw some of the forest’s wild boar. Farm pigs released into the forest have bred and are now happily living there as wild boar. There are not many areas in Britain where wild boar live but the surrounds of Symonds Yat is one of them.

Arguably, the most majestic animal in the area is the salmon. Yearly, salmon swim up the river to their breeding grounds. There are some wonderful pictures of caught salmon in the local pubs. If you are very lucky, River Wye salmon may be on the menu in one of them!

Canoe trips

If you don’t want to walk along the river you could always go by canoe. There are lots of options for you to do this, from a half day trip to a few days, you can choose whichever suits you best. You’ll get a unique view along the way and can stop off wherever you want. There are a number of companies offering canoeing activities catering for individuals, families and groups.

Getting Around Symonds Yat

Though the area is very small, travelling around it by car can take a long time as there are no road bridges across the river. The local roads are also narrow and single lane in places. This means there can be considerable congestion in the busy summer months and at Bank Holidays. Be aware!

Parking

The largest car park is at Yat Rock where there is also a cafe and toilet facilities. You may also find parking at the riverside, but it may be busier, particularly at Symonds Yat East which is the more popular of the two Symonds Yats. Parking is also available at the Paddocks Hotel, Symonds Yat West. Some of the canoe activities start from here.

History of the area

The river now only lazily meanders through the forest but it was once at the head of a great glacial, ice age movement which created the magnificent gorge which is Symonds Yat today. Beneath the surface, those same historic events were creating a unique geological foundation for the area, rich in coal, iron ore and limestone. An excellent account of how the special geology of the area gave birth to modern Symonds Yat can be found at this link: https://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2014/09/the-forest-of-dean-scowles-sheep-ancient-oaks

Because of its rich mineral deposits, Symonds Yat has been a mining area since ancient times. In the Middle-Ages, local miners gained special Royal privileges and the rights of “Free Miners” are held by families to this day. The Industrial Revolution saw a massive expansion of coal mining and iron production. Valuable limestone deposits were also mined and the remains of a limestone kiln can be seen on the banks of the river at Symonds Yat West. There is a record of a coal mine in Symonds Yat, but I have not been able to find its location. However, evidence of the forest’s numerous coal mines can be found all around the area. The 20th century saw a decline in mining and iron production and tourism gradually became the main industry of the area. If you wish to learn more of the industrial heritage of the area, then I’d recommend a visit to the nearby Dean Heritage Centre which is trying to keep that heritage alive. Details are at this link: https://www.deanheritagecentre.com/

Running in Symonds Yat

Although people think of Symonds Yat as a great place for walking, it is also a great place for running. There is a path along the riverbank from Symonds Yat which goes all the way to Monmouth. It’s about 5 miles in length. You can use a visit here to do some great traffic-free training on this path and at the same time enjoy the stunning scenery.

If you are here for the weekend then I do recommend you pop down the few miles to Coleford for the local Saturday morning parkrun. Click here to read our blog on the Forest of Dean Parkrun

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. See you again soon!

Oban: Gateway to the Western Isles

5th Aug 201929th Aug 2020Posted in History, Outer Hebrides, Parkrun, running, Scotland, travel, UKTagged Bagpipes, Calmac, Catholic churches, ferry journey, Oban, Oban Distillery, Outer Hebrides, Parkrun, Piper, running, Scenic train journey, Scotland, Seafood, St Columba, Visit Scotland, War Memorial, Western Isles5 Comments

Our journey to Oban on the west coast of Scotland began with a 3 hour scenic train journey from Glasgow. The journey is ranked amongst the top train journeys in the world and it didn’t disappoint. After leaving urban Glasgow the journey follows the wonderful river Clyde as it meanders through the glens on its slow voyage down to the coast. We felt like we were on holiday right from the start. We’d bought advance tickets for only £10.50 each, so this was definitely a bargain buy. Another bonus was the amazing things you can learn on journeys like this by talking to your fellow passengers. We learned about the art of sailing from two delightful people who happened to be sitting next to us. Oban is now a centre for yachting holidays and our two companions were going on sailing trips from Oban. Here are a few photos from our train journey.

We stayed in a small B&B a short walk from the town centre and train station. A great location and full Scottish breakfast.

If you still feel the need to eat later in the day after your breakfast then there are lots of places where you can eat. One of the most popular spots was the Oban Fish and Chip Shop – claimed as one of the best chip shops in Scotland according to The Scotsman newspaper. We thought it a little pricey and crowded so we ended ended up eating our fish and chips in the excellent Wetherspoons situated by the harbour. Great value, quick service and lovely views.

Another popular place to visit is Oban distillery in the heart of Oban. A great place to visit if you have a rainy day, or if you would like to try a wee dram or two!

McCaig’s Tower was one of the sites we wanted to see. This is a circular monument built in the 19th century by a local dignitary. It’s a steep walk up the hill from the town centre to see the structure which from a distance resembles the Colosseum of Rome. It gives you a great view of the harbour and bay. Unfortunately for us it was raining when we went up there but it was still worth it for the panoramic views it gave. It is accessible by car for those who don’t wish to walk and there is car parking nearby. For the more energetic, it’s well worth the effort walking up the hill, even if it’s raining!

Oban harbourside

The harbour is an ideal place to watch the ferries coming and going and to eat some of the freshly caught seafood. The harbour’s fame for good seafood now attracts many Chinese visitors so do not be surprised if you hear more Mandarin being spoken than English as you eat your meal!

As we left Oban for our onward journey to the Outer Hebrides we saw a young piper on the harbourside. Visitors and locals alike enjoyed listening to the young man who proudly played his pipes and who we thought, was very good. It was certainly unexpected entertainment for the many travellers waiting at the ferry terminal. The terminal is the onward transit point to many of Scottish islands. It is here that we later boarded the ferry to the first stop on our Hebridian adventure, the small, but lovely Island of Barra.

History of Oban

Oban began life as a small fishing port on the West coast of Scotland. It only started to grow with the establishment of a distillery in 1794. The railway which connected Oban with the hinterland arrived a century later in 1880 so the town experienced little of the rapid Victorian urban growth that some Scottish towns experienced.

Oban was an important military base in the Second World War when it was used as a centre for anti-submarine warfare. Since the 1950s, tourism has been the dominant industry in the town and Oban now acts as the ferry port for both the Inner and Outer Hebridean islands.

Despite being only a small town, Oban has a number of impressive churches with the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Columba being particularly impressive. If St. Columba isn’t to your liking then you can visit one of the many other denomination churches. In Oban you are spoilt for choice!

Scotland has many war memorials and Oban’s memorial is particularly emotive and worth viewing. Situated at the side of the road going out towards Ganavan, the memorial is a statue depicting two soldiers carrying their wounded comrade. The statue has a silent dignity that expresses so much about human nature. Personally, I rank the Oban memorial as one of the most memorable war memorials I have visited. I recommend it for a few minutes of contemplative respect.

Running in Oban

The free local Saturday parkrun attracts park run tourists from all over the UK and beyond. In the Summer months there could be more tourists running the race than locals! The race starts by a local caravan site near Ganavan Sands, hence the parkrun is called the Ganavan Sands Park Run. With 275ft of climbs the run is ranked as one of the toughest 40 park runs in the UK so do not expect a PB. The start is in a wonderful setting, by the sea which some runners go into for a post run cool down and swim! All visitors are treated with wonderful Scottish hospitality which helps to make Oban’s parkrun one of the top rated amongst park run enthusiasts.

When you go to Oban you should make a special effort to do the parkrun. You’ll enjoy it.

We only had a short stay in picturesque Oban before we continued our journey to the Western Isles. We wished we had longer and it’s on our list of places to visit again.

Forest of Dean Parkrun

8th Jul 201929th Aug 2020Posted in Parkrun, running, travel, UKTagged Forest, Forest of Dean, Parkrun, running, Wye valley3 Comments

If you want to experience a truly enjoyable trail parkrun, then it is hard to beat the Forest of Dean parkrun. It is set in the heart of the forest, a recognised area of outstanding natural beauty, on the outskirts of the small town of Coleford. The friendly parkrun volunteers offer a warm welcome to parkrun tourists and other visitors to this beautiful part of the country.

Getting there and Parking

The parkrun start is just off the A4136 about 6 miles from Monmouth. This is a good road and easy to drive. However, should you come from the Ross-on-Wye direction, you may be tempted to take the short route via Symonds Yat East. This route is stunningly scenic but some of the roads are very narrow with only a few passing points. If you are not used to driving on such narrow country roads, particularly in the busy Summer months, the longer route via Monmouth may be advisable.

The website recommends parking at the local Berry Hill Rugby club, which is an 8 minute walk from the start. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/forest-of-dean/course/

However, if you arrive before 8.25 am you should be able to park in the local school, The Five Acres High School, which is literally just across the road from the start. In the holiday season it may be wise to park at the rugby club as up to 250 runners could be running and parking places will be taken early at the school.

Insect Bites

Just a little word of warning: as you will be in a forest you may get bitten! Mary got bit 5 times just watching me as I ran the course! Oh why didn’t we remember to bring the Avon Skin So Soft spray with us? Lesson learnt – bring insect repellent to any parkrun in a wooded area or near water during the summer mosquito season!

Course Features

The course is a fairly flat route with only a couple of gradual inclines. However, it is a trail course and so it could get muddy after rain or if the days or weeks before have been rainy. Trail running shoes may be more appropriate footwear for wet conditions. When I ran the weather had been dry so my normal running shoes sufficed. However, there were still a few muddy patches remaining despite the dry weather.

Logs, branches on the course- any chance of a PB?

As the course is through a forest you have to be careful with your footing. There may be the occasional log to jump or tree root to avoid. You just have to take care. Needless to say, such a course means the Forest of Dean parkrun is not a PB course but the lack of steep gradients makes it a relatively fast run.

A nice feature about this run is that the course is permanently marked so you can run it any time if you are in the area. The excellent markings make it easy to follow the route. There is also a large map at the start of the run showing a detailed outline of the course

Just to add a little bit of fun there is a bell at the end of the run in the finishing funnel. The sign says: ring if you have a PB, birthday, you’re a tourist or ring just because you want to. What a nice thing to do. I rang it is as I was a first-timer and it brought a smile to my face and to the faces of the other runners there.

It wouldn’t be a good parkrun without tea and coffee at the end. We loved the refreshment set up here. Only 50p for a tea or coffee, and a variety of delightful cakes were on sale for the the same price. We left the Forest of Dean after our refreshments saying we would definitely come again. We hope you do, too.

History of Parkrun

The first parkrun was back in 2004 in Bushy Park, Teddington, London. The brainchild of Paul and Joanne Sinton-Hewit, the parkrun idea spread rapidly spread throughout the UK and Ireland. It is now a global phenomena which holds true to the founding principles wherever it is run. A short history of the parkrun can be found at this link: https://www.parkrun.com/about/our-story/

For more information on parkrun including details of where they are held see Parkrun website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Godiva Festival Coventry

1st Jul 20197th Oct 2020Posted in Coventry, Godiva Festival, History, Parkrun, travel, UK, WarwickshireTagged Busted, Coventry, Feeder, Festival, Godiva Festival, Lady Godiva, Leofric, Levellers, Parkrun, Peeping Tom, War Memorial Park5 Comments

If you love family friendly festivals, and are on a budget, then come to Coventry! Feeder will headline the festival in 2019 and crowds of over 40,000 are expected on the Saturday alone. There are many other bands playing during the festival so you can experience different styles of music during the three days of the event. Families with children can enjoy a funfair and lots of other activities dotted around the site. The Godiva Festival is a festival that caters for everyone and we hope you enjoy your visit.

2019 headliners are: Levellers on Friday, Feeder on Saturday and Busted on Sunday.

The Godiva festival has taken place every year for over 20 years. The location is Coventry’s War Memorial Park, just outside the centre of Coventry, on the Kenilworth Road. This year’s event is happening from 5-7 July 2019.

For the first time this year there are charges, but it is only £2 per person, per day – it must be the cheapest festival tickets in the UK? Tickets can be bought at the gate, but to ensure you get in it’s probably best to buy in advance online. Car park charges on-site are £10 per day, however, expect to queue. It might be easier to park in one of the city centre’s many car parks where parking is easier and fees are less. It’s a pleasant 1 km stroll to the park from the city centre. If you come by train then it’s an even shorter stroll to the park. There is no camping available. Tickets available from this site: https://godivatickets.co.uk/

History of Godiva

If you’ve read the “About Us” section on our site you will see that we’ve called our blog “Godiva Travellers”. Lady Godiva is Coventry’s symbol and it why so many local events, such as the Godiva Festival, are named in her honour.

Lady Godiva and her husband Earl Leofric are real historical figures from pre-Norman England of 1030-1060s. Earl of Mercia Leofric was one of the most powerful nobles in the country. The legend says that during a banquet feast Lady Godiva pleaded with her husband to reduce the heavy taxation on the people of Coventry. Maybe having had too much wine, Leofric joked that he would reduce Coventry’s taxes but only if Godiva agreed to ride naked, on horseback, through the city’s streets.

To Leofric’s astonishment, this is what Godiva did. Out of respect, the townsfolk closed the shutters on their windows so no one would see Godiva as she rode by. Only Peeping Tom opened his shutters to gaze on the naked Lady Godiva and for this, God is said to have blinded him. Leofric kept his promise and reduced the town’s taxes.

Leofric’s family lost power after the Norman conquest of 1066. There is another legend that says Lady Godiva and Earl Leofric were the parents of Hereward the Wake, the leader of the last English resistance to the Normans. The historical evidence for this legend has not been verified. It is a good story though so we believe it!

If you go into the city centre you will see a statue of Lady Godiva and the Peeping Tom Clock.

Running at the War Memorial Park

This is the place where the Coventry Parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9.00 am. It’s a free 5k run around the park. It’s one of the largest parkruns in the UK attracting hundreds of runners of all abilities every week.

There is no parkrun while the festival takes place, but it is ran on all the other Saturdays in the year (weather permitting).

Martin became the runner to run the 1 millionth kilometre at the Coventry parkrun in June 2019!

We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. See you again soon!