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Car Hire in Coventry
Coventry
The Midlands city of Coventry is famous for two very different reasons - it was the victim of horrendous bombing raids during the Second World War, and it was the place where Lady Godiva rode naked on her horse! Godiva's husband, Earl Leofric, imposed excessive taxes on Coventry, and she took her daring ride as a protest, after asking all the citizens to stay indoors so that she would not be seen. However, one man took a look, and legend has it that he was struck blind; he was the original "Peeping Tom". Today, a statue to Lady Godiva stands in Broadgate. The cathedral was designed by Sir Basil Spence and was consecrated in 1962, and is now the city's main attraction. It was built on the site of the 14th century cathedral, and outside is the bronze masterpiece, St Michael Slaying the Devil, by Sir Jacob Epstein. The interior of the cathedral has stained-glass windows which reach from the floor to the ceiling, as well as a 21 metre high tapestry by Graham Sutherland which is considered one of the largest in the world. There is also a charred cross saved from the ruins of the bombed cathedral. Nearby is St Mary's Guildhall, one of the finest examples in England, which has stood since the 14th century. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here in 1569. For something completely different, try strolling along the Coventry Canal Art Trail, a 5½-mile stretch of waterway where many artists and sculptors show their works