Walk Description
This is a great circular walk that takes in some of the history and local culture of Coventry. We are starting our walk from the Aspire Family Hub, located alongside Gosford Park Primary School. From the main gate we walk up to St Georges Road, turn left and then take a right to walk down Welland Road.
When we reach the end of the road, we walk straight across Terry Road and down the alleyway that is directly ahead of us. We follow the pathway, walking through the archway in the old wall to our left.
Barriers here will make it challenging for double buggies and wheelchair users. If you find you can’t get through – turn right until you reach Humber Avenue. Here you need to go left until you reach London Road. From here, it’s a left and then turn left into the car park for Charterhouse Car Park.
Charterhouse, recently taken over by the National Trust, has a history dating back to 1381. It is a former monastery of the Carthusians. It’s worth taking some time to explore the site and the green spaces that run beyond it. There are plans for the cafe to be reopened here – it is a great spot to sit and enjoy a drink while soaking in some of the history of the city.
When you’re ready, we’re heading down towards the car park, crossing over the river where on the opposite side you’ll see a great playground for children to enjoy. On the right here is the pedestrian entrance to All Saints C of E Primary School. As we reach the main road, London Road, care should be taken as this is a very busy road. We’re going to use the pedestrian crossing as we’re headed through the stone arch on the opposite side and into the cemetery.
The London Road Cemetery is divided into two parts by the railway line. As we enter we’re turning right and walking past some beautifully carved stone monuments to the dearly departed. To our left is one of the chapels that hosts funeral services here. As we approach the gate to leave, you can’t help but notice a very grand monument on your right. The information board alongside tells us that this is dedicated to Joseph Paxton – the architect of London’s Crystal Palace and designer of this cemetery. He was also MP for Coventry from 1854 until his death in 1865.
Exiting the cemetery, we need to use the pedestrian crossings to get ourselves back to the other side of London Road again. We then turn right before taking the first left onto Acacia Avenue. On our right is St Annes Church. Just past here we turn left, along Harper Road and continue right the way to the far end of the road where we meet Gulson Road. Here we turn right and carefully cross the road. We cross the River Sherbourne and then take the footpath to the left that runs alongside the river before coming out on Far Gosford Street.
Here we turn right and continue walking up the road. On the left you may notice The Pod. This is more than just a cafe – it’s a cultural and social hub. Offering a vegan/plant based food that has been mainly sourced either from their own allotment or Coventry’s Indoor Market. It’s wholesome food at affordable prices and well worth a visit.
Continuing on from here, on our right, we come to FarGo Village. This has to be one of the hidden gems of Coventry. It’s home to a micro brewery, local independent creative businesses and is a vibrant event space. There are various classes and workshops you can attend here.
We leave FarGo and turn left onto Grafton Street and then turn right onto Binley Road. This is a very busy road – but the cycle path means it feels safe for pedestrians. That said, keep an eye on your little ones and any dogs you may have with you! We follow the path, passing another entrance to Gosford Park Primary School and use the pedestrian crossings to safely get across to the open green spaces ahead of us. We’re sticking to the path along the main road though until we get to Tick Tock Park on Stoke Green (it’s the one with the Joseph Levi Clock in it – there’s an information board to tell you more about why its here!).
After Tick Tock, we head into the park and follow the path around the perimeter, turning right and walking up past the tree with a face, until we get to the far end of the park. Here we step onto Bolingbroke Road and turn right and continue straight on until we come to Humber Road (with The Humber Pub in front of us). Using the pedestrian crossing, we head over the road and take the road alongside the pub, Humber Avenue.
We continue along the road, taking the alleyway at the end that is ahead of us and find ourselves back outside the entrance to Aspire Family Hub once more. Here you may want to step inside for a hot drink and a warm welcome before continuing with the rest of your day.
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