Coventry has been ranked the 5th best city for students living in the UK... so if you're currently considering Coventry University or University of Warwick for your further education, you're in for a treat. Coventry Uni is based right in the city centre and you'll find Uni of Warwick to the south of the city - two ideal locations for Coventry student living. 

The student population makes up over 33,000 of the people living in the city, so it’s fair to say the area is tailored to all student needs. From student accommodation to eating out, shopping out and going out-out. On the one hand, it’s got that big city buzz, with a multicultural population and something different going on every night of the week. On the other, it has those old town vibes, safe, peaceful and easy to navigate. It’s historic but new. Traditional, but modern. Comfortable in its own skin, but always looking to evolve.

It’s one of those cities that you appreciate more with every passing day and every new restaurant, bar, club, gig, green space and cultural spot you visit. It's the perfect city for student living.

Now, some of these new places are easy to find. Coventry Cathedral (new and old) is on the doorstep of Coventry University, as is the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.

Keep walking for 5 mins past the museum and you’re in the heart of the city centre, where you’ll find all of the big-name stores, coffee shops and chain pubs.

These are all places you’ll find in any Coventry city guide. And rightly so. We recommend having a wander around them all.

What we wanted to do though, was dig a little deeper to shout out a few spots we think make Coventry the brilliant city it is for students at Coventry Uni and Uni of Warwick. 

EATING OUT

AKBARS COVENTRY

The ‘in’ place for Asian culture, Akbars serves up the finest Indian cuisine — the kind that’s so good it becomes part of your weekly routine. The menu is packed with classic Indian dishes including old-time favourites, chef’s specials and vegetable dishes suitable for vegans and vegetarians. What’s also great about Akbars is that it’s more than a restaurant... Their first-floor bar and lounge, and outdoor terrace mean you can make a night of it. Enjoy your food downstairs, then wash it down with drinks upstairs.

THE BOTANIST

Think of The Botanist as a bar, restaurant and live music venue in the surroundings of a botanical garden that’s inside an antique shop... It’s quite unlike any other place you’ll eat or drink and it has a menu to match, with fruit, floral and herb-infused cocktails, hanging kebabs and botanist hot and vegan boards. Don’t worry if you’re not always into all this other-worldly stuff though. There are roast dinners, classic dishes, and extensive beers and gins to enjoy too.

COSY CLUB COVENTRY

A few steps away from The Botanist, but a world away in style and vibe, is Cosy Club Coventry, which (accurately) describes itself as having “like being at a terribly good house party, in a mansion, owned by a somewhat eccentric relative.” There are chandeliers, gold-frame artworks, wooden floors, mahogany walls, grand staircases and luxurious leather furniture. It’s quintessentially British, but with menus that reflect the flair of its surroundings. A lovely spot for a catch-up with uni pals or to take visitors.

SHOPPING OUT

FARGO VILLAGE

Just when you thought you wouldn't find a more eclectic collection of places next door to one another than a botanical garden and an eccentric mansion house party... a 10 mins walk along Gosford Street brings you FarGo Village in Coventry’s creative quarter.

FarGo Village isn’t somewhere you’d pop to for a few bits like you would a supermarket. It’s a day out. There are over 40 units, including a craft brewery, artisan food, vegan shop, print shop, book shop and a museum dedicated to Sgt Bilko. Plus more than 25 events a year ranging from vegan markets to peace forums.

It’s like that mate’s house you can go round to and make yourself at home, even if your mate is out and only her mum is in. You’re happy and content here.

GOING OUT-OUT

HMV EMPIRE

The CBS Arena isn’t the only big-time gig venue in town. The Coventry HMV Empire, which has long called Far Gosford Street home, is now even closer to Coventry Uni after relocating to Hereford Street (close to the centre for those pre-gig drinks). The Empire has a weekly line-up of themed nights, comedy clubs and tribute acts. It also attracts some of the biggest names in stand-up and music so there’s no need to catch the train to London or Birmingham for the best gigs.

BELGRADE THEATRE

Carry on a few mins past The Empire and you’ll find Coventry’s largest professional theatre (and, history fans, the first civic theatre to be built in Britain after the Second World War). Here is where you’ll catch the best touring and local drama and musical shows, as well as top comedy acts. They also run acting classes and a screen room showing independent and classic Hollywood films.

(ROCK THE) KASBAH

As you’d expect with a booming student city, Coventry is well catered for in terms of nightclubs. JJ’s, The Yard and Glamorous all offer a great night out, the latter two being Coventry’s top LGBTQ venues.

Kasbah is what you’d expect of a typical nightclub — themed rooms playing different types of music, weekly themed club nights, and big-name DJs and bands stopping by. But what makes it worthy of special mention is its Fresher’s Week events. For a full week every September, Kasbah welcomes students to enjoy drinks and loud music. It’s a good way to meet new people without having to worry about awkward small talk.

OUT & ABOUT

WAR MEMORIAL PARK

As good as it is, a student life of only dining out, shopping at FarGo Village and dancing to live music isn’t sustainable. Sometimes you need to let the food settle, legs rest and bank balance replenish.

If you want to recharge the batteries outdoors, War Memorial Park is the ideal place to do it. It’s a half-hour walk (or 10 min bike ride) away from Coventry Uni, but the vast green spaces, manicured lawns and flower beds make it a great place to get away from it all at the weekend. Enjoy a stroll around the circular footpath that takes you around the park, sunbathe on the grass, take a picnic or, if you’re up for it, get a few mates together for a game of footgolf.

Coventry is a city like no other – one of the largest student hubs in the UK, the UK City of Culture for 2021 and a city of thinkers, doers and difference makers. It’s a place to make your mark. Got any other recommendations for living your best student life in Coventry? Let us know @canvas_studentuk.