The Jigsaw of History Tour Discount Tickets

4.9
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 7 reviews |
location pin icon Coventry, England
location pin icon Coventry
4.9 /5
7 reviews
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View all The Jigsaw of History Tour photos

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The Jigsaw of History Tour
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Overview

This tour zig-zags through the city centre away from the cathedrals, and takes participants on a walk through a city which has kept making history by inventing the future. It’s a history that fits together like a jigsaw, come and explore it with us. Highlights include: The industrial booms which saw Coventry as the centre of weaving, watch making, bikes and cars. The most complete part of the City Wall, and learn where the Civil War really started. The Royal Palace in the city centre where the King and Queen stayed when Coventry was the capital of England. The story of the inventors who brought us the bicycle and the jet engine. Different theories as to where the phrase “Sent to Coventry” came from. Explanations and information about of dozens of artworks around the city centre. Details of the rich cultural history of Coventry. Stories of the Phoenix City, the 'City of Tomorrow', risen from the ashes of the Blitz.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Broadgate, England, CV1 1NE, United Kingdom

The meeting point is in Broadgate, between the statue and the clock. If there is an event or stalls in Broadgate, the meeting place will be under the clock on the south wall. Either way, just look for the man with the Sky Blue top hat, tailcoat and flag. (9.50am Tues/Thurs/Sat, 12.50pm Weds/Fri)

Language Offered

English-GUIDE

Itinerary

1. Lady Godiva Statue
We start off the tour Broadgate around Godiva's Statue, at the heart of the 'City of Tomorrow', Donald Gibson's masterplan for the post-war reconstruction of Coventry.
Duration: 15 mins
2. New Buildings
At the last surviving former ribbon weaving factory in the City Centre, hear about the rise and fall of this industry, next to the surviving wall of the original Coventry Cathedral; St Mary's.
Duration: 5 mins
3. Sir Frank Whittle statue
Next to his statue, here the story of Earlsdon born Engineer and RAF officer, Sir Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine.
Duration: 5 mins
4. Lady Herbert's Garden
In and around Lady Herbert's Garden, you'll find out about the birth of the bicycle industry and how the modern bike came into being. Turn around and we see the start of the best preserved section of the Coventry City Wall, the story of how it was built and why industrialist Alfred Herbert saved if from destruction, before hearing the tale of the one time the wall was needed, the tale of the true beginning of the English Civil War.
Duration: 15 mins
5. A4053
That's right, we'll spend a couple of minutes on this tour to learn about the engineering marvel that is the Coventry Ring Road!
Duration: 3 mins
6. Millennium Place
Next to the Coventry Transport Museum, hear the story of the Coventry Motor industry; How Coventry became the motor city of England and a global centre of car manufacture, and then how it almost all disappeared forever.
Duration: 10 mins
7. Palmer Lane
Very much off the beaten track see a few things in the heart of the city that many of the locals don't know are there.
Duration: 5 mins
8. Old Grammar School
On one street corner, you can see the building we shouldn't call the Old Grammar School, an artwork celebrating the Coventry motor industry, and the building names after the most famous poet from the city.
Duration: 5 mins
9. Belgrade Theatre
Walking around the outside of the Belgrade Theatre, various artworks will be used to help tell the stories of the theatre itself, the long history of plays which Coventry was famous for, Ira Aldridge who 200 years after Othello was written became the first Black man to play the led character, and the three most prominent women of the arts in the history of the city.
Duration: 10 mins
10. Bond's Hospital
Here we spend 5 minutes to take in a few things including the building built in1505 by Thomas Bond, which are still used for the same purpose he intended today, over 500 years later.
Duration: 5 mins
11. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist
Outside this church, originally built as a private church for the richest in the city, your guide will explain why it is claimed to be the original of the phrase 'Sent to Coventry'.
Duration: 5 mins
12. Historic Spon Street
In and around Spon Street, we'll talk more about industries like dying, tanning, watchmaking and bicycles as well as how the street was for centuries one of the major roads in the country, and while not everything is as it may first seem in the area.
Duration: 20 mins
13. Coventry Market Shopping Centre
Just a quick pop into the market. Not on Sundays.
Duration: 5 mins
14. Bull Yard
In The Bull Yard and Shelton Square find out more about the 'City of Tomorrow' and the stories behind some of eclectic public artworks in the area, as well as finding out what the area had been back in days gone by.
Duration: 10 mins
15. Cheylesmore Manor House
Here highlights of the story of one of the real hidden gems of Coventry, Cheylesmore Manor House, a 700 year-old Royal Palace in the heart of he city.
Duration: 12 mins
16. New Union Street
Hear the story of Coventry's great survivor: Greyfriars Spire.
Duration: 5 mins
17. Fords Hospital
A travel writer in 1902 said "Perhaps there is nothing so exquisite in the whole Kingdon as Ford's Hospital in Coventry"...
Duration: 5 mins
18. Hertford Street
To wind up, we spend a couple of minute looking at a handful of things in Hertford Street as we meander back to the starting point
Duration: 5 mins

Inclusion

A guided historical walk with a local guide.

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

The walk is just over two miles and should take two hours and forty-five minutes. It is mostly flat with some inclines and ramps and one small area of cobbles.

Supplied by Sky Blue City Walks

Reviews

4.9

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 7 reviews

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