Welcome to Coventry, your new home for the next few years!

Moving to a new city can be a daunting task - especially when you're leaving friends and family for the first time - but we're here to make life a little bit easier.

Wondering where the best places for a working lunch or a crazy night out are? Not packed enough pants?

Our ultimate freshers guide to the city tells you where you can eat, drink, shop, party, chill out and lots more.

Where to eat

Coventry is FULL of great places to eat and there's even more on the way.

The city's newest additions include German Doner Kebab and popular Italian chain Zizzi's.

Cathedral Lanes is the city's up and coming dining quarter with restaurants such as Las Iguanas, Wagamama's, Zizzi's and Bistrot Pierre.

In Fargo Village you'll find a number of independent outfits serving up delicious artisan treats including cakes, fresh sausage rolls, Caribbean cuisine and vegan snacks to name just a few.

Wagamama's Chicken Katsu Curry

West Orchards' new food court, Canteen, is a good go-to if you're feeling peckish in the city centre. It is home to KFC, McDonalds, Subway, Loveshake, Cocoa Cafe and Chopstix.

Some of the food stalls around Market Way are also hugely popular, especially Millie's Kitchen and Hummus House which both feature in TripAdvisor's top 10 for the city.

If it's a takeaway your after the city is served by Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats who will deliver from restaurants across the city straight to your door!

Check out our list of ten places in Coventry and Warwickshire where you can get something a little more interesting.

Where to drink

Coventry's streets are lined with pubs and bars where you can sit back and enjoy a drink with friends.

You won't have to venture far into the city centre before you stumble upon your new favourite hangout.

Popular bars in the heart of the city serving up creative cocktails and much more include Cosy Club and Las Iguanas at Cathedral Lanes, where brand new bar The Botanist will be opening soon.

Making cocktails

The city centre boasts three Wetherspoons pubs, which are always a favourite among students thanks to their cheap drinks and wide variety of pub grub.

You'll also find the Slug and Lettuce tucked away next to Holy Trinity Church, Draper's Bar and Kitchen on Earl Street and student favourite The Litten Tree next to the Bull Yard.

Around Gosford Street and Far Gosford Street, a hot spot for many students, you'll find lots of pubs including The Ivy House, The Phoenix and the Gosford Arms.

If you're after something more than a pint of Carlsberg, Coventry also has its own brewery. Fargo Village is home to the Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House which serves at least five different core beers each day as well as a pilot brew.

Twisted Barrel at FarGo Village

If you head just outside the city centre you'll find even more drinks spots on Earlsdon Street - The Tiki Hut, Millsy's, The City Arms and The Royal Oak are all popular hangouts.

Where to go for a night out

If it's a night of dancing and drinking you're after Coventry will not disappoint.

Clubs in the city go all out to please their student clientele with many holding mid-week late-night specials and offering cheaper drinks.

The city's most well known club is perhaps The Kasbah in Hillfields, which you may hear being referred to as The Colly by the locals.

The Kasbah on Primrose Hill Street

The venue holds three regular club nights - Bubble Luv on a Monday, where you'll get a free slice of toast as you leave, Kinky on a Friday and Tricky Disco every Saturday.

The Empire on Far Gosford Street has hosted some big name bands since its opening in 2015 including The Libertines, The Wombats and Cov lads The Enemy.

It's the home of indie and alternative in the city and has a mid-week special on a Wednesday night.

Coventry also has two LGBTQ venues in the city - Glamorous, on Short Street, and The Yard at the Bull Yard, both of which host live drag performances.

Scholars nightclub
Scholars nightclub

The city's newest club Ballxrs, located on Far Gosford Street, is a unique new venue which has retro games and beer pong as well as a huge adult-only ball pit!

It's the first of its kind outside of London and is set to be a huge hit with students.

Other popular clubs include JJ's at the Skydome, Scholars on Far Gosford Street and Samoan Joe's Tiki Bar on Spon Street.

Where to shop

Whether it's to top up your food cupboards or have an afternoon of retail therapy, it's easy to find the shops in Coventry.

Supermarkets include Sainsbury's Local on Trinity Street, Iceland on Corporation Street and a Tesco Express in Shelton Square.

There's also a number of oriental supermarkets including one at Priory Place and Wah Yan Hong on Hertford Street.

If you have a car you can venture outside of the city centre and find a Morrisons on Holyhead Road, an ALDI on Radford Road or an ASDA on Daventry Road.

If its clothes, toiletries, stationary or something else, you're likely to find what you're looking for in the city centre.

Near to Broadgate you'll find West Orchards shopping centre and Upper and Lower Precinct, with shops including Topshop, River Island, M&S, New Look and loads more.

There's also a huge amount of choice if you want to kit out your new room with some homely decorations - there's a massive city centre IKEA as well as Wilko, Argos and Primark.

Where to study

If the campus library isn't cutting it for you why not head into the city to find a cosy cafe or somewhere quiet to sit down with your textbooks?

Coventry has a public library on Smithword Way which could serve as an alternative to campus if you want a change of scenery.

There's also plenty of cafes and lunch spots to take a trip to if you need to fuel your studying with coffee and cakes, like Starbucks in Broadgate or the Rising Cafe next to the Cathedral.

And if it's a nice day you could venture outside to one of the city's open green spaces.

Cathedral ruins in the sun

War Memorial Park is vast so easy to find a quiet spot in, or if you want to stay in the city centre try Greyfriars Green or even the Cathedral ruins.

Where to NOT study

University life isn't all about studying so at some point you'll want to take time out to ditch the powerpoint slides and have a bit of fun.

Luckily there's lots on your doorstep to keep you entertained.

Head to the Skydome Multiplex, home of the Coventry Blaze ice hockey team, where you'll find ice skating rink Planet Ice and the Odeon cinema.

Planet Ice Coventry

The latest craze of escape rooms hasn't missed Coventry you'll be pleased to here. Escape Live at Fargo Village has two themed rooms to break out of.

There's a lazer quest arena just off Spon Street and a brand new go-karting track at the Charter Avenue Industrial Estate in Tile Hill.

Where to work out

If the thought of over-indulging in beer and kebabs has you thinking about a gym membership, we have that covered too.

The city has two PureGyms - one at the Skydome and another on Bishop Street.

Belgrade Plaza is home to JD Gyms Coventry and Future Fitness is located on Far Gosford Street, close to the Coventry University campus.

Pure Gym in Bishop Street, Coventry
Pure Gym in Bishop Street, Coventry

If you want to swim you can head to the Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre on Fairfax Street, which has a 50m pool. A new one is being built at the Alan Higgs centre to replace it in the near future.

In spring 2019 a brand new water park, The Wave, is opening in the city centre which will also have a gym, squash courts and a dance studio.

Many of the student accommodation blocks in the city centre even have their own gyms for residents.

Where to get your hair cut

There are several hairdressers and barbers located in the city centre for when you decide you need a trim.

It's always a daunting task trying to find somewhere for a new do when you move to a new place - and there's a lot of choice in Coventry.

It's worth popping in before committing to a cut to have a chat with the stylist about what you want.

Time for a trim?

Some of the salons located in the city centre include Cuts and Colours on Trinity Street, The White Room on Hay Lane, Cabello on Hill Street, Stylistics on Corporation Street and E11ven at West Orchards.

There's even a brand new barbers in Coventry that lets clients have a game of pool!

Where to post something

There'll be lots going on at university but don't forget those family birthdays during your first year away from home!

Royal Mail
Royal Mail

The Post Office in West Orchards shopping centre will sort you out with stamps and envelopes and send your packages on their way.

If it's just a birthday card you want to post you'll find post boxes across the city centre including one on Fairfax Street, one on Spon Street and one outside the Herbert Art Gallery.

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