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The Jigsaw of History Tour

7 Reviews 4.86 out of 5 stars Based on 7 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Coventry, England
Book online or call us

from $17.13 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.
2 hours 45 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

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.

What's Included

  • A guided historical walk with a local guide.

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Broadgate
    Coventry CV1 1NE, UK

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
    Read more

    Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

    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.
    Read more

    15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    15 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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!
    Read more

    3 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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'.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    20 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Coventry Market Shopping Centre

    Just a quick pop into the market. Not on Sundays.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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.
    Read more

    12 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    New Union Street

    Hear the story of Coventry's great survivor: Greyfriars Spire.
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Fords Hospital

    A travel writer in 1902 said "Perhaps there is nothing so exquisite in the whole Kingdon as Ford's Hospital in Coventry"...
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    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
    Read more

    5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

    Show 17 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Jigsaw of History Tour?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (GMT). Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-309963P2

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    4.86
    7 reviews

    Average 4.86 out of 5 stars based on 7 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    6
    4 stars
    1
    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
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    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 27 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (7)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the The Jigsaw of History Tour?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (GMT).
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • A guided historical walk with a local guide.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    The minimum age to participate is 14..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the The Jigsaw of History Tour is as follows:

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for The Jigsaw of History Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024
    Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
    A:

    Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

    Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

    If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

    Oct 2026

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • A guided historical walk with a local guide.

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • 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.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

    Report Product Issue

    Activity name