The meeting schedule has been posted.
Information on the 5k run has been posted.
 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology |  | |
41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology | | |
Latest InfoThe meeting schedule has been posted. Information on the 5k run has been posted. Navigation |
Local Attractions
Coventry is a busy city with extensive shops, clubs & bars. It was the birthplace of the British motor vehicle industry and is still an important industrial town, although as the UK is now based on a post-industrial economy the city is undergoing extensive redevelopment. Of particular interest is the "new" St Michael's Cathedral (the third on the site) designed by Sir Basil Spence and consecrated in 1962 it is noted for its works of art - Graham Sutherland's great tapestry of Christ in Glory, Epstein's statue of St Michael & the Devil, magnificent stained glass by John Piper, a great etched glass screen by Hutton and sculpture by Elizabeth Frink. Open Mon - Sat 09:00 - 17:00 entrance free (but donation requested) & Sun around services. Alongside the new Cathedral stands the evocative "old" (second) cathedral ruins (destroyed in 1940) and close by are the Priory Ruins where a visitor centre tells the story of the first cathedral and the archaeological finds discovered during its recent excavation. Cathedral ruins open during daylight hours, admission free. Priory visitor centre open Mon - Sat 10:00-17:00 & Sun 12:00-16:00. Free admission. The nearby Holy Trinity Church has one of the countries finest Doom paintings dating back to 1430. Open during daylight hours subject to programme of services. Entrance free Close to the Cathedral & Holy Trinity Church is St Mary's Guildhall one of the finest medieval guildhalls in England. Open Sun - Thur 10:00 - 16:00 but may occasionally be closed for private events. Free admission. The city museum and art gallery - The Herbert is open 10:00-17:30 Mon - Sat & 12:00 - 17:00 Sun. Free admission The city also has some notable 16th century "black & white" buildings Ford's Hospital, Bond's Hospital & Old Bablake School all of which can be viewed, externally only, free of charge. In the 19th century the city became a centre of bicycle production which later developed into the British motor industry - although the industry collapsed in the 1980's the city's Coventry Transport Museum in Millennium Place is home to the country's largest collection of British Road Transport. Open 10:00 - 17:00 every day. Free admission . KenilworthKenilworth is a small Warwickshire town with one of the largest castle ruins in the country. Once one of the most impressive castles in Elizabethan England visitors can wander round the impressive ruins and visit the restored Tudor gardens. Kenilworth Castle is open each day 10:00 - 18:00 Admission charges apply. Near the castle ruins are the Abbey Fields with St Mary's Abbey ruins, pleasant walks, lake & attractive old houses. Abbey Fields also has both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Open 10:00 - 20:00 Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, 10:00 - 18:00 Tues & 09:00 - 12:40 & 14:00 - 17:40 on Sat & Sun. Admission charges apply. The number 12 bus runs to & from the University to Kenilworth at 30-45 minutes intervals throughout the day. The U2 Unibus service also operates between the University & Kenilworth at approximately 30 minute intervals. The no.16 Unibus runs an hourly daytime service from the University to Kenilworth. The journey time is between 10-13 minutes. Warwick
The county town of Warwickshire is 11 miles from the University and is famous as the site of, arguably, the most complete of medieval castles; see Warwick Castle. During the summer months the castle has many special events such as "jousting". Admission charges apply.
Warwick itself is an interesting market town with many fine old buildings and antique shops. Amongst the finest of the buildings is the Lord Leycester Hospital & Masters garden an historic group of black & white timbered buildings. Admission charges apply. Usually open each day during daylight hours.
The Collegiate Church of St Mary in the Old Square is famous for its magnificent Beauchamp Chapel and is open daily from 10:00 - 17:40. Admission is free. The church tower is occasionally open and offers wonderful views over the town. It's a very steep climb to the top but once there, provided you've caught your breath, there are fantastic views. If the tower is closed then you can usually persuade one of the old ladies who work in the Church shop to open it up. Normally works if you smile nicely and cross their palm with silver.
The Mill Garden in Mill Street close to the river is a delightful garden offering fine views of the castle. Open daily From 09:00 - 18:00. Admission charge applies. Few people know abot this garden so it's normally very quiet. It's situated down a cobbled street with houses from the medieval period, and the garden itself is next to the medieval river bridge. The 16 Unibus services runs between Warwick & the University at approximately hourly intervals during the day. Alternatively you can catch a 12, U1 or U2 to Leamington and connect with a bus to Warwick from there. Leamington SpaRoyal Leamington Spa is just under 10 miles away from the University is an attractive town with fine Georgian & Victorian buildings. The Jephson Gardens are pleasant to walk in and are just over the road from the Royal Pump Rooms - now a cultural & tourist complex housing the Museum & Arts Gallery. Leamington is served by the 12, U1 & U2 buses. The journey time is between 18-30 minutes depending on which bus you use. Stratford upon AvonPhoto Shakespeare birth place, ann hathaways cottage, mary arden's house. Many visitors to the University like to visit Stratford upon Avon to visit the many properties associated with Shakespeare; Shakespeare's birthplace, Ann Hathaway's Cottage, Mary Arden's House, New Place, Nash's House & Hall's Croft - all but Mary Arden's House are in Stratford itself. One of the easiest ways to see them and the rest of the town is by taking an open-topped bus tour which take in all the properties and run a 60 minute tour (you can get off to visit a property and then get back on the next bus to continue your trip), The buses offer a multi-lingual commentary as well as a children's commentary and run every 15-30 minutes every day. Bus tour: charges apply. Admission charges also apply to most of the Shakespeare properties. Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church - a short walk along the riverside. Open during daylight hours. Admission free. Younger visitors may enjoy a visit to the Stratford upon Avon Butterfly Farm - a short walk from the main town - Open daily. Admission charges applies. The town itself has many shops, restaurants & cafes. There are often walking tours around the town or you may take a horse-drawn carriage - please check at the Tourist Information centre for times & prices. There are river cruises on the Avon or you can hire a rowing boat for the hour or for the afternoon - charges apply. The world-famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre is currently closed for major refurbishment. The 16 Unibus from the University runs to Stratford during the day at hourly intervals. Alternatively you can get the bus to Leamington and get an 18 from Leamington to Stratford. Useful websites:
BirminghamBirmingham is just over 18 miles away and is most easily reached by train from Coventry Railway Station. It is renowned for its shopping facilities in the strikingly designed new Bullring Centre (avoid Saturdays as these can be particularly busy) & The Mailbox. It's Britain's second biggest city and is modern, vibrant and multicultural. I love it! It has a fine Art Gallery & Museum -housed in a spectacular Victorian building the Art Gallery houses an outstanding collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and artworks - Open daily till 17:00 Admission free. The nearby Gas Hall & Water Hall Galleries also house occasional exhibitions. Of more interest to younger visitors perhaps would be the National Sea Life Centre a short walk from the city centre or the Thinktank - an interactive modern science museum which now includes a Planetarium (no.26 or 27 buses from Birmingham city centre) - Admission charges apply to both. The Birmingham Back to Backs in Hurst Street are the last surviving court of back-to back housing and they have been restored to reflect working people's life over four periods from 1840 - 1977. Visiting is by booked tour and you should phone 0121 666 7671 for details. Admission charges apply. The city has an outstanding Symphony Hall which has a wide programme of classical & modern performance. The recently restored Town Hall is also a performance venue - Call +44 (0) 121 780 3333 for details of both venues. The city has numerous squares, restaurants, cinemas, clubs & bars. Take the bus to Coventry Railway Station and then catch a train to Birmingham New Street. Useful websites:
Coach ToursHarry Shaw - a local coach tour operator has two day trips scheduled for the conference period - more may become listed at the end of June. Currently on offer are coach trips to:
Tours do not depart from the University but from Broadgate in Coventry City Centre and leave early in the morning. Regrettably, tours are not run by either the University or the Conference and you should make your own arrangements to book, join & stay with the tour. Other attractionsThere are various National Trust properties in the area as well as some museums of interest - unfortunately few are served by public transport and it would be necessary to hire a car to reach them. Admission charges apply. The National Trust and the Landmark Trust offer self catering accommodation in cottages and unusual historic buildings across the UK, from lighthouses to prisons! NT Charlecote Park (superb Tudor house with Victorian interiors & landscaped deer park) 16 miles from University. NT Baddesley Clinton (15th century house with Elizabethan interiors, chapel, lakeside & garden) 13 miles away. Near to Baddesley is NT Packwood House (restored Tudor house, park & garden with yew topiary) 19 miles away. NT Hidcote Gardens (one of England's great gardens, Arts & Crafts masterpiece) 34.5 miles away & next door to Kiftsgate Court (not National Trust) (famous gardens with possibly the tallest rose - Kiftsgate Rose). Heritage Motor Museum 19.5 miles away & National Motor Cycle Museum 8 miles away. |
Coventry Skydome incorporates an ice-skating rink - Planet Ice & an Odeon multi-screen cinema. Planet Ice has some public skating sessions - for skating session times & prices please contact Planet Ice Arena direct on: + 44 (0) 24 7663 0693 or 
