Category: Warwickshire

Coventry War Memorial Park

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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

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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!

Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire

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Chesterton Windmill is a stunning 17th century windmill which sits on a hilltop just a few miles outside the Warwickshire towns of Royal Leamington Spa and Warwick.  The windmill was restored to its original splendour in the 1970’s and is now a preserved monument. Any visitor will be treated to wonderful views of the surrounding Warwickshire countryside and the nearby Roman town of Chesterton. 

In the distance the Fosse way, the Roman road that connected Chester with Lincoln can be seen.  The site is both a place of natural beauty and ancient history.  The windmill is definitely worth making a detour to visit especially if you are a photographer.  Sunset shots are amongst the best in the country.

There is an excellent 100 metre grass path from the layby to the monument.

The windmill is easily accessible from a layby on the Windmill Hill Lane.  The site is popular so the layby may be full when you arrive.  Many people park further down the road and walk the extra distance to the windmill.  Please be considerate to others if you do this.  For those that wish to do a little more walking, there are some pleasant walks to be enjoyed close to the windmill. 

Nearby places of interest

The Stag at Offchurch is one of the closest local pubs, just a 10 minute drive away.  The pub has real character and has a reputation for good food.  The regency spa town of Leamington is just a few minutes further drive away and it has numerous excellent restaurants and shops.  The town of Warwick is equi-distant away and it too, has a wide range of excellent restaurants to tempt the hungry traveller as well as its famous castle to visit.   The towns are attractions in their own right and a must see for anyone new to the area.  Allow a long time for any visit as a short trip would not do the towns’ justice.

The British Motor Museum resides a 15 minute drive away at Gaydon.   The museum is a car enthusiast’s Mecca.  It would be a sin not to find the time to visit it.

South Warwickshire is one of the most attractive, yet under-rated parts of the country.  Chesterton Windmill is perhaps the county’s best kept secret.  We recommend you visit Chesterton and the lovely countryside around it.  We know you’ll enjoy it.

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!

Sunset at Chesterton Windmill

Stratford-upon-Avon parkrun

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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!

Godiva Festival Coventry

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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.

Godiva Festival

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

  • Levellers
  • Feeder
  • Busted

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.

War Memorial Park, Coventry

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.

  • Lady Godiva Statue
  • 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!