What’s been on (past events)

Photography competition

Amateur photographers are invited to submit their favourite photographs of London Road Cemetery.

The winners will be announced on Friday 28 August 2026.

Greg Abate Trio, 30 July 2026

From the USA one of America’s very best contemporary alto saxophonists – Greg Abate 

Accompanied by local musicians Tim Amann (keyboard) and Tom Marsh (bass)

The Time Machine by H G Wells

One man adaptation by Don’t go into the Cellar theatre group

Coventry Festival of Books

Abraham Webster – talk by Jo Phillips

Shakespeare’s natural world – Trudy Hillier

Spend a summer evening in the Anglican Chapel and London Road Cemetery – glass of fizz included.

Anglican Chapel Open Day and Cemetery Tour, 6 June 2026

• Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel
• 11.30am – Meet the Pioneers of Coventry’s Car Industry
• 2.00pm – Cemetery tour

Twelve Olympians Live – Richard Anthony Bean

Performance by Richard Anthony Bean – including music by Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis

Tomb Tales – Coventry Artists

‘Landscapes of spring’ workshop with Michala Gyetvai

Learn how to make textile images with artist Michala Gyetvai – create a unique spring themed gift or decoration

Shakespeare Day concert – Ayres & Graces

Song, music and poetry from Ayres & Graces to mark the bard’s birthday

Shakespeare’s theatre – Trudy Hillier

Jekyll & Hyde

Acclaimed actor Jonathan Goodwin plays both Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde as we journey to Victorian London.

Divorced, Beheaded, Died, An Audience with King Henry VIII

One man performance with Jack Abbot as Henry VIII – and the chance to petition or question the king about the events of his long reign.

Scotland Yard Investigates

During the course of this macabre performance, you’ll encounter many nefarious individuals from late Victorian London.

Anglican Chapel Open Day and Cemetery Tour, 14 February 2026

• Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel
• Valentines’ Day tour of London Road Cemetery
• Get a discount voucher for a wedding hire in the Anglican Chapel

Charles Iliffe, life and legacy

Dead and Buried – Adam Wood

…dead and buried.

Christmas gift voucher

Christmas gift vouchers are available in £10, £20 and £30 and can be redeemed against any Historic Coventry Trust event in 2026.

Echoes of Stillness

A Christmas Carol

Join Behind the Door Productions for this Christmas classic.

Christmas concert 11 December

Ayres and Graces present a double bill of Christmas music with the Sherbourne Singers.

Yule wreath workshop at Anglican Chapel

In this relaxed workshop, you will discover the origins of Yule and the symbols of season.

Learn about the different mystical properties of botanicals and flora, before you create your very own Yule Wreath to adorn your front door.

Christmas Yoga at Anglican Chapel

Step away from the holiday rush and enter a serene, candle-lit Anglican chapel for a unique Christmas yoga experience. Enjoy yoga with ayurvedic winter selfcare, traditional homemade sweets and mulled wine.

SOLD OUT

Winter landscape stitch workshop with Michala Gyetvai

Learn how to make textile images with artist Michala Gyetvai – create a unique Christmas gift or decoration

Anglican Chapel Open Day and Cemetery Tour, 29 November 2025

• Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel
• ‘First ten years’ tour of London Road Cemetery
• John Muir Trust with information about Charterhouse Heritage Park

It’s behind you! – Trudy Hillier

Sacred Funk Quartet

From Yoruba sacred music to English folk song, the Sacred Funk Quartet explore ancient music through a contemporary lens bringing new life into traditional songs.

Greg Abate, 8 November 2025

From the USA one of America’s very best contemporary alto saxophonists – Greg Abate – accompanied by local musicians Tim Amman (keyboard) and Tom Marsh (bass)

London Road Cemetery Armistice walking tours

10.30 – from Waterloo to the Somme, 11.30 – WWII heroes

M.R. James ghost stories

On Hallowe’en join Behind the Door Productions for an evening of ghost stories in the Anglican Chapel

Sherbourne Singers, Victorian themed singalong

Join our volunteer choir for a fun afternoon of singing – no experience required! Just come along and join in, or simply listen.

Sanctuary of Sickness – Coventry’s 1871 cholera epidemic, live experience

Step back in time to the 1871 cholera epidemic in Coventry – experience sanctuary in the Chapel and find out who of your fellow sanctuary seekers you can trust.  Who is hiding secrets? Who is hiding symptoms? Who will survive?

More than a Woman – Sounds Historical

Performing on a variety of fascinating instruments, Sounds Historical put women at the centre of their latest programme and introduce you to some remarkable females who left a tangible musical legacy in many ways –   from patrons to poets, printers to publishers and composers, students and scribes.

Generously supported by Continuo Foundation

Dead and Buried – Adam Wood

…dead and buried.

City Gates Heritage Open Days

Historic Coventry Trust are excited to be opening the restored Swanswell and Cook Street Gates to visitors, as part of Heritage Open Days. 

Priory Row Heritage Open Days

Historic Coventry Trust are excited to be opening the restored Lychgate Cottages at 3-5 Priory Row to visitors, as part of Heritage Open Days.

Digital Photography Course – Sept-Oct 2025

For anyone from beginners to keen photographers who would like to get to know their camera better, explore various settings, learn about effective composition and use a light to produce professionally looking images. 

London Road Cemetery Heritage Open Days 2025

Free tours of the cemetery, refreshments in the Anglican Chapel, Coventry Family History Society.

Tangerine Dream – live solo performance by Mark Jenkins

Hear music from TANGERINE DREAM the innovative German electronic rock and soundtrack band, performed by Mark Jenkins with images and lasers.

Celebrating Liszt

The great composer and pianist played in Drapers’ Hall on 7 September 1840 and his visit is celebrated by a day of words and music with various artists.

Morning talk 11.30am, £15 online, £18 on the door

Afternoon concert 2pm, 15 online, 18 on the door

Both events £28 online, £32 on the door

Summer Fridays at the Chapel

The Chapel will be open for drop-in visits. Refreshments will be available and there will be self-guided tours to pick up. There will be talks and tours arranged – keep an eye on this page for more details.

The Crew – by Fabularium

A windy tale of wisdom, woe and wonder for all ages

An evening with Ami

A delight-filled evening in the company of vocal quartet Ami with music ranging from light classics to barbershop.

Joseph Paxton Memorial Day

Jo Phillips, Coventry’s local tour guide and certified history wizard, will bring the story of London Road Cemetery to life with tales of smelly graveyards, waxwork caravans and just the right amount of gross.

After learning about Paxton in the Anglican Chapel you will go on a tour of the Cemetery to find out about the people who were part of bringing his creation alive for the people of Coventry.

For all ages.

Anglican Chapel Open Day and Cemetery Tour, 7 June 2025

• Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel
• ‘A Watery Grave’ tour of London Road Cemetery – a guided tour telling the stories of Coventry people who were lost at sea or tragically drowned and whose memorials are testimonies to their lives and loss.

Sound Bath, Anglican Chapel

Join us at the fabulous 1847 Anglican Chapel for a relaxing sound bath.

As you settle into this peaceful space experience a feeling of relaxation, a deeper connection to yourself, through the healing intention and sound frequencies.

Soothing instruments played include crystal and singing bowls, Koshi chimes, rain stick, gongs, voice and more.

Tribute to Stefan Grappelli & Django Reinhardt

Ben Holder (violin) and Stuart Carter-Smith (guitar) present an exciting tribute to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt

B.O.F.I.N.S.S.S. – Coventry University

Coventry University, Acting for Stage and Screen students, present B.O.F.I.N.S.S.S. – The Bureau of Futurological & Interconnected Natural Sciences, Studies & Surveys.

Wish you were here – music from Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish you were here’ album will be 50 in 2025.

Now music technology expert Mark Jenkins performs striking new all-synthesizer arrangements of this album accompanied by state of the art computer graphic projections in the spectacular setting of London Road Cemetery’s Anglican Chapel.

Digital Photography Course

The course is designed for beginners who would like to get to know their camera better, explore various settings, learn about effective composition and use a light to produce professionally looking images. The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the pre-set modes.

Spring Equinox at Anglican Chapel

600 years! From Hildegard to Haydn

Join ‘Sounds Historical’ for a whistle-stop tour of musical history from the medieval through to the 18th century! Recorders, lutes, crumhorns, flutes, viols, violin… composers will include Hildegard von Bingen, Isaac, Alfonso X of Castile, Machaut, Dalza, Schlick, Attaignant, Susato, Cima, Simpson, de la Barre, Telemann, and Haydn.

Songs & Stories

West End’s Simon Beck joins international pianist Julian Hellaby for an amusing evening of songs and stories about LIFE, celebrating the great writers of Broadway

Anglican Chapel Open Day 15 February 2025

• Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel
• ‘Valentine’s tour’ 11.30am
• Weddings at the Anglican Chapel – come and talk to us about having your wedding in this unique location

National Trust, volunteering open days at Charterhouse

National Trust will manage The Charterhouse, the charity’s first property in Coventry and open the property from spring 2025.

Find out more about joining the National Trust volunteer team at Charterhouse as preparations are made for opening.

There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities available and you will be able to hear from current volunteers about their experiences.

This is a drop-in session.

Christmas Yoga at Anglican Chapel

Step away from the holiday rush and enter a serene, candle-lit Anglican chapel for a unique Christmas yoga experience.

Christmas concert 12 December

Join us for a double bill of Christmas music with Ayres and Graces and our very own Charterhouse Singers in the cosy Anglican Chapel. The Chapel will be decorated for Christmas and there will be seasonal refreshments.

Christmas wreath making at Anglican Chapel

Head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi will be lending his creative skills to help you create a beautiful foraged wreath. You get to take your creation home and also enjoy festive mince pie and refreshments. Suitable for beginners.

Cinema 0 at the Chapel – Invasion of the Bodysnatchers

Brought to you by The Film Liberation Project in partnership with Historic Coventry Trust horror/sci-fi film.

Full moon night light photography workshop

Explore the magic of long exposure photography under the full moon, with Iva Dyke.

The Night Time Menagerie

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Thrill to a magical, lantern-lit trail around the NightTime Menagerie at London Road Cemetery on Friday 8th & Saturday 9th November.

Hear the amazing, true stories of some of the Cemetery’s residents and their encounters with animals.

Audience members will experience the Night Time Menagerie in timed slots in groups of 25. The experience will last up to 30 minutes.

Autumn fun with Nature-Makers

Nature-Makers will be taking up residence in London Road Cemetery over October half-term to provide an autumn festival – think pumpkins, squirrels, hedgehogs and much more!

Cinema 0 at the Chapel – Hallowe’en double bill

SOLD OUT

Brought to you by The Film Liberation Project in partnership with Historic Coventry Trust a double bill of horror films for Hallowe’en.

Digital Photography Course for Beginners

The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes. 

After the course you will be confident to use your camera on full manual setting and you will be able to deal with any difficult light situation.

Autumnal yoga – embrace the season

Balance yoga with Helen Campbell in the Anglican Chapel

Innovative Sounds for Defunct Objects

A captivating evening of immersive music and alternative soundscapes from local artists Alys Rain and Jude Rees, fusing ancient and modern sounds, dark folkish drones and analogue circuits

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Tomb tales – meet London Road Cemetery residents

Many of Coventry’s great and good from the 19th and 20th centuries are buried in London Road Cemetery, including quite a few mayors. Our volunteer researchers will talk about Thomas Soden and John Gulson and lead a tour to find them and other Coventry mayors in the Cemetery.

Television/Death – talk by Professor Helen Wheatley

What role do we expect television to play in our understanding of death and dying experiences?

Meet the author as Professor Helen Wheatley, Warwick University, explores these and other questions in a talk about her new book Television/Death (Edinburgh University Press, 2024).

Cinema 0 at the Chapel – ‘His Girl Friday’

In the setting of London Road Cemetery, Paxton’s Arboretum, one of the earliest garden cemeteries in the country, we will be presenting a series of  films, from early cinema silent short/ feature films to the classic talkies screened in the newly restored Anglican Chapel.

Brought to you by The Film Liberation Project in partnership with Historic Coventry.

Portals and contrasts: creative walking

Andy Howlett and Adele Mary Reed will lead a walk from Coventry Train Station to London Road Cemetery focusing on different senses and responding to overlooked areas.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

What does your funeral look like?

Kraftwerk – a tribute

For the 50th anniversary of the Kraftwerk’s international breakthrough album “Autobahn”, music technology expert MARK JENKINS presents a striking live solo performance of the band’s hits, experimental music they never play, and music they might have played.

SOLD OUT

Cloudscapes – Gobbledegook Theatre

Lie back, look up and contemplate the mutability of clouds, as well as the mutability of humanity, guided by the soothing voice of performer and creator Lorna Rees. Just turn up, no booking required.

London Road Cemetery Heritage Open Days 2024

Heritage Open Days at London Road Cemetery will offer free tours of the cemetery and refreshments in the Anglican Chapel.

On Sunday 7 September, Coventry Family History Society will be in the Anglican Chapel and tours at 2pm, 2.30pm and 3pm.

On Sunday 8 September the tour at 2pm will be led by Friends of London Road Cemetery.

Artist residency at London Road Cemetery – Karen Johnson

Over the six weeks of the Thinking Space summer programme, we are excited to be hosting a textile residency with local artist, Karen Johnson at London Road Cemetery. A longtime stitcher and maker, Karen’s work explores the structural forms and colourful vitality of the natural world in joyous textile

Charterhouse Heritage Open Day 2024

Heritage Open Days at Charterhouse will offer FREE entry to the venue, for booked tours, and also free entry to the garden. On the day, Coventry Morris Dancers will be performing and there will be refreshments available from Triumph Brewhouse.

Additional tours added due to demand!

Thinking space – London Road Cemetery

On Friday afternoons during the summer  we will be running activities inspired by the inventiveness and creativity of the designer of London Road Cemetery, Joseph Paxton, who also created the gardens at Chatsworth House, the great glasshouse at Crystal Palace and popularised the Cavendish banana! 

In our eclectic programme of activities we promise you challenges, stories, surprises and stuff to make. 

Pop-Up Parkour with Ascension Dance

Ascension Dance will get participants jumping, climbing, vaulting and rolling in an exploration of parkour, freerunning and movement.

 Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

National Garden Scheme open days at Charterhouse

Charterhouse gardens will be open through the National Garden Scheme on 16 & 23 August – the gardens were last opened through the scheme by Col Wyley in 1930. Bring a picnic and enjoy the scents and textures in our beautiful outdoor space.

There will also be a guided house tour at 1pm.

Storytelling and freelensing photography – summer holiday session

Freelens photography with Sinéad Patching from Mothers Who Make Coventry. and original storytelling with Peggy King. Try out creative lens techniques in this experimental photography workshop with artist Sinéad Patching.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Tomb tales – meet London Road Cemetery residents

Women in the cemetery are often portrayed as wives, sisters, daughters – our research volunteers will explore the lives of women in their own right. There will be two short talks and a tour of the cemetery to find out the stories of women.

Art exhibition at Charterhouse – Rupert Cordeux

Rupert Cordeux, Coventry artist, will be exhibiting his watercolours of Charterhouse and other historic sites in Coventry. Don’t miss this chance to come and view the paintings where they were created.

Charterhouse guided tours

Charterhouse is opening on  27 & 28 July, 17 & 18 August. Guided tours will take place at 11am on these days.

Archery out and about – Charterhouse

Have a go at archery in the walled garden at Charterhouse. Sessions will be at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm and bookable (included in entry ticket) when you arrive at Charterhouse.

For age 5+, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Charterhouse garden tour and pick a bouquet

An exclusive opportunity to tour Charterhouse garden and pick a bouquet with Head Gardener Gianni Antoniazzi.

Discovering nature in London Road Cemetery with Wild Earth – summer holiday session

Join us for an afternoon of outdoor adventure and fun in a unique and historic setting at the Anglican Chapel and London Road Cemetery with Wild Earth.  This engaging, family-friendly event combines a gentle stroll through the beautiful, historic cemetery with interactive activities tailored for children. Explore the rich biodiversity as we identify various plants and trees, participate in a fun-filled walk, and enjoy learning about the animals who might live here. 

Participants will be able to join a one hour walk at 2pm or 3pm and in the other hour join textile artist Karen Johnson in creating decorations for her installation in the Cemetery.

Age 5+, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

Making cyanotypes – summer holiday session

Printing cyanotypes with Ruby Nixon. This is a unique type of photographic print made using sunlight, resulting in stunning blue and white images. In this workshop, you will create personal pieces of art using objects that hold special meaning to you. 

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult

The Crew – performance by Fabularium

London Road Cemetery Tours – Anglican Chapel Open Day

Discover the story of Paxton’s Arboretum, stories of women in the cemetery and the symbolism of memorial stones.

Coventry Family History Society will also be in the Anglican Chapel with information about burials in London Road Cemetery – come and see them to find out where your forebears are buried.

And Karen Johnson, artist in residence at London Road Cemetery will be offering activities as part of her textile project this summer.

Creating colours – summer holiday session

A journey into colour mixing influenced by the amazing variety of hues and shades you find in nature.

Polly Merredew will take you on a journey into colour mixing influenced by the amazing variety of hues and shades you find in nature. You’ll learn how to create a whole spectrum of colours, from earthy tones to bright floral shades, all inspired by the palettes found in the London Road Cemetery.

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Nature Makers at Charterhouse – summer holiday session

Nature Makers Coventry will be running a summer holiday craft and play session at Charterhouse on Sat 27July 10.30 – 11.30am – making nature boats, rafts and watery fun!

Tubular Bells + Dark Side of the Moon

Two all-time classics of British rock music, Mike Oldfield’s “TUBULAR BELLS” and Pink Floyd’s “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” just celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Now music technology expert Mark Jenkins performs striking new all-synthesizer arrangements of both albums, accompanied by state of the art computer graphic and AI projections and wonderful vocal performances, in the spectacular setting of London Road Cemetery’s Anglican Chapel.

The Crew – performance by Fabularium

We will have crafts in the Anglican Chapel from 2-4pm and Karen Johnson, textile artist, will be doing screen printing as part of her residency in London Road Cemetery – come and join us for a creative afternoon!

Writing the senses

Tomb tales – meet London Road Cemetery residents

In the 1860s Coventry was in crisis due to the lifting of import duties on goods from France – suddenly Coventry’s long-standing ribbon industry was challenged by imported ribbons from France. Our  researchers will look at how some Coventrians reacted to situation, finding new opportunities and supporting distressed families.

Nature Makers at Charterhouse – summer solstice

Nature Makers Coventry will be running a summer solstice craft and play session at Charterhouse on Sun 23 June 10.30 – 11.30am

Charterhouse guided tours

Charterhouse is opening on  22 & 23 June. Guided tours will take place at 11am on these days.

Calm like a monk – contemplative yoga practice at Charterhouse

Contemplative practices combining modern neuroscience and traditional meditative techniques, to the calming sounds of nature.

Charterhouse garden tour and pick a bouquet

An exclusive opportunity to tour Charterhouse garden and pick a bouquet with Head Gardener Gianni Antoniazzi.

Head Gardener led tour of Charterhouse Garden

Explore the varied plant and tree varieties, understand how we planned an authentic heritage garden and enjoy a guided tour around the special landscape features including the Elizabethan rose garden, knot, herb and kitchen gardens. This is a sensory and seasonal guided walking tour with some sampling on route.   

Shape poetry workshop, Anglican Chapel

Joseph Paxton Memorial Day

Join us for poetry, tours and singing in memory of Joseph Paxton – architect of London Road Cemetery: Paxton’s Arboretum. Paxton died on 8 June 1865 and is buried in Edensor, Derbyshire, and has a memorial in London Road Cemetery.  Come and find out more about the creator of this tranquil space.

Paxton Arboretum anniversary tour

Introductory talk by Peter Walters, Coventry historian, tour of the cemetery with one of our experienced volunteers and a performance by Heart of England Companion Voices and refreshments in the Anglican Chapel

Creating acrostics

Digital photography course for beginners

Explore various settings, learn about effective composition and  how to use a light to produce professional looking images. The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes.

Yoga for grief at Anglican Chapel

A yoga practice to promote healing after loss, providing a safe space to move through grief and find release in the areas of our bodies where we hold pain from loss.

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Dead Good Death Festival

On Friday night, performance of ‘Tell it to The Bees’ in the Anglican Chapel.

On Saturday there will be stalls , talks and workshops, all free events.

On Sunday,  Yoga for Grief and the Dead Good Death Café . These three events are listed separately on the events page and need to be booked in advance.

Photography walk – Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery

Do you like walking in nature, spotting and taking images of what you see? Join us for a spring walk around Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery. Suitable for any level of experience from total beginner to experienced photographer. Come with friends, family or on your own.

London Road Cemetery Tours

Discover the story of Paxton’s Arboretum, stories of women in the cemetery and the symbolism of memorial stones.

Tell it to the Bees

Inspired by the old habit of telling the hive of a death Tell it to the Bees weaves
together wonder and folk tales, true life accounts and encounters with bees both in folklore and the natural world.
Presented as part of the Dead Good Death Festival (3-5 May at the Anglican Chapel) this performance is about travelling forward, hope, and life whilst still remembering those that have gone before. It is lively, funny and thought provoking.

Expect shapeshifting magic, wise women, and bee lore, nature imagery and travelling
companions who are not of this world

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust events at Charterhouse

Sherbourne Valley Project team lead sessions to learn about and investigate the wildlife in Charterhouse Heritage Park. Suitable for families.

Family bioblitz for City Nature Challenge – Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

Join the Sherbourne Valley Project team in this family bioblitz at Charterhouse! We will use the iNaturalist app to record as many wildlife species as possible to put Coventry on the map for the international City Nature Challenge.

Blossomise at Charterhouse

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and the band LYR celebrate the National Trust’s annual Festival of Blossom and the uplifting sight of spring at Charterhouse. The house and gardens will be open to explore and there will be free family activities in the new Blossom and natural play space.

Blossom Day at Charterhouse

Celebrate with us as we officially open the new blossom and natural play space in the grounds of the Charterhouse Heritage Park. 

Tomb tales – meet London Road Cemetery residents

On a military theme, our volunteers will tell the stories of some of the residents of London Road Cemetery using their own research. The talks will be delivered in the Anglican Chapel and followed by a short tour of the cemetery to show you the actual memorials.

Easter at Charterhouse 2024

There are lots of exciting activities taking place at Charterhouse this Easter, from egg hunts to yoga to photography to guided tours! And live music and food!

Triumph Brewhouse are providing refreshments every day we are open with local beers on tap and hot drinks.

Phoenix Collective from Leamington Spa are hosting local live music artists in the garden on Saturdays.

The Unlikely Life of Leif the Lucky

Set sail on a Viking voyage with Leif Erikson, as he discovers unfound lands, unknown creatures, and stories far from home! Coventry University Acting: Stage and Screen set sail to Charterhouse this Easter, with a family friendly outdoor performance inspired by traditional Icelandic folktales. Expect live music, puppetry, Nordic legends, and unlikely friends along the way.

Charterhouse volunteer led tours

Charterhouse is opening for six days over Easter – come and find out about the paintings and people of this fascinating building.

Photography walks – Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery

Do you like walking in nature, spotting and taking images of what you see? Join us for a spring walk around Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery. Suitable for any level of experience from total beginner to experienced photographer. Come with friends, family or on your own.

Yoga flow and sound bath

You will be invited to join in a yoga flow practice followed by relaxing breathing techniques accompanied by the harmonious tones of a gentle sound bath.

Easter nature art and crafts at Charterhouse

Nature Makers Coventry will be running mindful nature art, craft and play Easter themed sessions in the garden at Charterhouse for ages 3-11.

Calm like a monk – contemplative yoga practice at Charterhouse

Contemplative practices combining modern neuroscience and traditional meditative techniques, to the calming sounds of nature.

Spring equinox nature art and crafts at Charterhouse

Nature Makers Coventry will be running a mindful nature art, craft and play session for walking babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Charterhouse Heritage Park walk with John Muir Trust

Gareth Morgan from John Muir Trust will lead an exploratory walk into the hidden corners of Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

London Road Cemetery Tours

Discover the story of Paxton’s Arboretum, the lives of women buried in the cemetery and the stories of  Coventry’s cycle pioneers. 

Christmas wreath making at Charterhouse

Charterhouse head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi will be lending his creative skills to help you create a beautiful foraged wreath. You get to take your creation home and also enjoy festive mince pie and refreshments. Suitable for beginners.

Charterhouse festive late night tours

Explore Charterhouse after dark! Join us for special tours of Charterhouse at night and experience the building like never-before. Includes festive refreshment.

Christmas Yoga at Anglican Chapel

Take a break from the Christmas hustle and bustle to join us for a gentle yoga and relaxation in unusual settings of the stunning Anglican Chapel.

Christmas wreath making at Anglican Chapel

Head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi will be lending his creative skills to help you create a beautiful foraged wreath. You get to take your creation home and also enjoy festive mince pie and refreshments. Suitable for beginners.

Light night photography workshop

The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes. 

After the course you will be confident to use your camera on full manual setting and you will be able to deal with any difficult light situation.

Art in the Arboretum

This autumn London Road Cemetery will play host to Land Artists and Makers from across the UK to create work inspired by and in response to the unique environment and landscape the cemetery offers.

Join in with James Brunt and friends as he creates sculptures of natural materials in the landscape or simply enjoy his artwork in situation.

The sculptures will stay in the landscape throughout remembrance weekend

London Road Cemetery walking tours

Discover the characters through time, deep dive into the meaning of Victorian symbolism or discover the stories of Women of the Cemetery.

Autumn half term family activities

Visit Charterhouse this autumn half term to discover the special childrens activities we have on offer.

Mortal

This Halloween, Coventry’s EGO Arts brings you Mortal, a gruesome tale performed at London Road Cemetery.

One dark evening in 1885, Dr Cornelius Hunter is looking to cut a deal. But finding himself caught between the Crows and the Perkins, he soon discovers he has more to fear from the living than the dead.

Charterhouse tours: architect David Mahony

Architect David Mahony leads a guided tour of Charterhouse.

David has been involved with the restoration of Charterhouse for the past 5 years, designing new aspects of the building needed for a functional visitor attraction whilst ensuring its heritage is preserved and celebrated.

Lasting approximately an hour and a half, the tour takes in elements of the house’s hidden history, uncovers interesting and unexpected finds from the restoration process and explores how the site we see today has changed over time.

Charterhouse witches’ marks tours

As Hallowe’en approaches, join one of our volunteer guides for a tour of ‘witches’ marks’ at Charterhouse. We will take a step back in time and investigate the hidden secrets of the building from days when belief in witchcraft was common and buildings were protected from the supernatural.

Tours will last 30-40 minutes and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Blossom Together autumn community day

Dig in alongside the community to support a day of planting the Blossom Together play space and garden for the future in partnership with National Trust.

Victorian-style lantern painting workshop

As the clocks go back and Halloween approaches, come and create your own jam jar lanterns to bring a splash of colour to darker evenings.

Inspired by EGO Arts’ sold out show Mortal, the creative team behind the show’s set and props will work with you to create Victorian gothic designs that you can take home. Decorate your lantern with glass paints or stickers, then get stuck into a range of other creative activities.

Spaces are strictly limited so you must book in advance to secure your place. This is not a drop-in session – please arrive at 10.30am so you don’t miss the start.

Light night photography workshop

The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes. 

After the course you will be confident to use your camera on full manual setting and you will be able to deal with any difficult light situation.

Charterhouse Revealed Conference

Join us for a day of fascinating talks and a deep dive into the history of Charterhouse Heritage Park, a scheduled national monument site with national archaeological significance.

Stitch and Draw at Charterhouse

Get crafty with local artist Michala Gyetvai in a series of arty workshops at Charterhouse.

Taking design inspiration from the history of the house and garden, participants can choose to stitch, draw or both.

Open to all ages and abilities, no experience required.

Head Gardner led tour of Charterhouse

Explore the varied plant and tree varieties, understand how we planned an authentic heritage garden and enjoy a guided tour around the special landscape features including the Elizabethan rose garden, knot, herb and kitchen gardens. This is a sensory and seasonal guided walking tour with some sampling on route.   

Silent Disco at Charterhouse

Join us in the big tent and under the stars in the walled garden for a welcoming silent disco, complete with bar, food and drink, nature crowns and eco glitter stations!

Charterhouse tours: architect David Mahony

Architect David Mahony leads a guided tour of Charterhouse.

David has been involved with the restoration of Charterhouse for the past 5 years, designing new aspects of the building needed for a functional visitor attraction whilst ensuring its heritage is preserved and celebrated.

Lasting approximately an hour and a half, the tour takes in elements of the house’s hidden history, uncovers interesting and unexpected finds from the restoration process and explores how the site we see today has changed over time.

There are two tours taking place on the day, 11am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3pm.

Priory Row Heritage Open Days

Historic Coventry Trust are excited to be opening the newly restored Lychgate Cottages at 3-5 Priory Row to visitors, as part of Heritage Open Days.

City Gates Heritage Open Days

Historic Coventry Trust are excited to be opening the newly restored Swanswell and Cook Street Gates to visitors, as part of Heritage Open Days. 

Drapers Hall Heritage Open Days

Drapers Hall will be open as part of Heritage Open Days, join us for tours of the magnificent building as well as engaging displays from the Coventry Society and other heritage groups.

Anglican Chapel Heritage Open Days

Discover the characters through time, deep dive into the meaning of Victorian symbolism or discover the stories of Women of the Cemetery. Drop into the Anglican Chapel for refreshments and connect with the Coventry Family History Society who will be on hand to support locating loved ones. 

Stitch and Draw at Charterhouse

Get crafty with local artist Michala Gyetvai in a series of arty workshops at Charterhouse.

Taking design inspiration from the history of the house and garden, participants can choose to stitch, draw or both.

Open to all ages and abilities, no experience required.

Trustee led tour of Charterhouse

Join Historic Coventry Trust Trustee Alan Durham on an in-depth walking tour of the house and gardens over 1hr 30 mins.  Alan has been part of the journey for over a decade bringing Charterhouse back into public use. Discover the history of the house and learn how community action saved Charterhouse as we know it today.  

Digital Photography Course for Beginners

The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes. 

After the course you will be confident to use your camera on full manual setting and you will be able to deal with any difficult light situation.

Cov’s Big Bike Ride and Charterhouse Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days at Charterhouse will not only offer FREE entry to the venue, but you can expect a whole host of activities as part of Cov’s Big Bike Ride, including: storytelling with author Aaron Ashmore, a cycle powered carousel, a Whittingham inspired marble run with Ludic Rooms, an archaeology trail, a British Cycling activity zone, Crazy bike arcade and community cycling stalls. Plus, live music, face painting, giant bubbles and street food!

Head Gardner led tour of Charterhouse

Explore the varied plant and tree varieties, understand how we planned an authentic heritage garden and enjoy a guided tour around the special landscape features including the Elizabethan rose garden, knot, herb and kitchen gardens. This is a sensory and seasonal guided walking tour with some sampling on route.   

Book launch, signing and Storytime with Aaron Ashmore

A book launch and storytelling workshop with Coventry author, Aaron Ashmore, who will be sharing the story behind his series of Coventry children’s books; whilst celebrating the launch of his brand new book.

Bike Decoration with Ludic Rooms

Make your bike turn heads with our quick and colourful makeovers. It will definitely help you cycle faster.

London Road Cemetery Tours

Discover the characters through time, deep dive into the meaning of Victorian symbolism or discover the stories of Women of the Cemetery.

Stitch and Draw at Charterhouse

Get crafty with local artist Michala Gyetvai in a series of arty workshops at Charterhouse.

Taking design inspiration from the history of the house and garden, participants can choose to stitch, draw or both.

Open to all ages and abilities, no experience required.

Head Gardner led tour of Charterhouse

Explore the varied plant and tree varieties, understand how we planned an authentic heritage garden and enjoy a guided tour around the special landscape features including the Elizabethan rose garden, knot, herb and kitchen gardens. This is a sensory and seasonal guided walking tour with some sampling on route.   

Beneath Your Feet

Part of the nationwide Festival of Archaeology, join us for a deep dive into the history of Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Charterhouse tours: architect David Mahony

Architect David Mahony leads a guided tour of Charterhouse.

David has been involved with the restoration of Charterhouse for the past 5 years, designing new aspects of the building needed for a functional visitor attraction whilst ensuring its heritage is preserved and celebrated.

Lasting approximately an hour and a half, the tour takes in elements of the house’s hidden history, uncovers interesting and unexpected finds from the restoration process and explores how the site we see today has changed over time.

There are two tours taking place on the day, 11am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3pm.

Stitch and Draw at Charterhouse

Get crafty with local artist Michala Gyetvai in a series of arty workshops at Charterhouse.

Taking design inspiration from the history of the house and garden, participants can choose to stitch, draw or both.

Open to all ages and abilities, no experience required.

Music recital evening at Drapers’ Hall

Coventry Music will be hosting a recital evening for our students to showcase the progress they have made and gain valuable performing skills

Come and join us for an evening of solo performances from some of our talented students, here at the Beautiful Drapers’ Hall,

The event is free to attend, but we will be asking for donations in aid of Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Foundation (charity number: 503108).
Some of the students who will be performing are supported by this charity, to enable them to continue to access music and progress, so all the money you donate will go to helping these students and others like them to keep learning music.

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Govinda with Bhangra Symphonica

A thrilling evening of music, from the Punjab to Peterborough via Stratford-upon-Avon and the world! East meets West, Bhangra meets Classical

Charterhouse tours: architect David Mahony

Architect David Mahony leads a guided tour of Charterhouse.

David has been involved with the restoration of Charterhouse for the past 5 years, designing new aspects of the building needed for a functional visitor attraction whilst ensuring its heritage is preserved and celebrated.

Lasting approximately an hour and a half, the tour takes in elements of the house’s hidden history, uncovers interesting and unexpected finds from the restoration process and explores how the site we see today has changed over time.

Tai Chi at Charterhouse

See in the summer solstice and make the most of the longest day of the year at Charterhouse, by relaxing into a special tai chi session by the river, delivered in partnership with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

River Festival Coventry 2023

Join the fun at the brand new River Festival! With a completely FREE programme of live music, theatre, DJs, crafts, dance workshops, poetry, installations, film, face painting… there’s something for everyone!

Stitch and Draw at Charterhouse

Get crafty with local artist Michala Gyetvai in a series of arty workshops at Charterhouse.

Taking design inspiration from the history of the house and garden, participants can choose to stitch, draw or both.

Open to all ages and abilities, no experience required.

Mostly Piano : Linda Merrick and Julian Hellaby

Dead Good Death Café

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

The Coronation at Charterhouse

Celebrate the King’s Coronation at Charterhouse, with live screening of the event and specially themed family friendly activities exploring the site’s right royal connections!

Mostly piano: Amit Yahav

Blossom Together in Coventry

Join the National Trust for a day of free family fun at Charterhouse’s soon-to-be blossom and natural play space!

Charterhouse Crafts

Get crafty and creative at Charterhouse with fun, family friendly activities.

Activity Space | 11am – 3pm
Paper marbling workshop with artist Rosie Bolton.

Walled Garden | 11am – 3pm
Creating nature prints workshop with Head Gardener Gianni.

Enjoy both activities free of charge as part of your general admission ticket to Charterhouse!

The Dead Good Death Fair

Explore what a good death means to you with our alternative ‘death fair’.

Drop by and visit the positive talks tent, explore a range of stalls in the Anglican Chapel, enjoy a historical walking tour of London Road Cemetery and discover the meanings behind the array of Victorian symbolism found throughout the site, and immerse yourself in a live soundscape by local musician Tim Seeley.

All are welcome, regardless of their religion, non religion or personal beliefs.

Mara Simpson

Talented composer and songwriter, Mara paints a beautifully rich soundscape, setting the scene as she takes her audience on a journey with her, through the beauty of every day to the magic of remarkable.

A natural observer, her lyricism contrasts curious narratives and inquisitive character sketches with personal detail

– Clash Magazine

Creatures of the Night

A dusk to dark tour of the Heritage Park, led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Starting at Charterhouse and armed with moth traps, bat detectors and the i-Naturalist app, venture on a guided monitoring walk around the park and river and see what wonderful wildlife there is to be found!

Jozef Van Wissem

Jozef van Wissem is an avant-garde composer and lutenist playing his all black, one-of-a-kind custom-made baroque lute all around the world.

Easter at Charterhouse

There are lots of exciting activities taking place at Charterhouse this Easter, from sculpture making to street art, deep-dive talks to Easter egg hunts!

Create a land art sculpture at Charterhouse

World renowned artists James Brunt and Jon Foreman will be joining forces to co-create three amazing land art sculptures as part of the Easter weekend fun happening at Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Join in and be part of creating the artwork, or just watch these master craftsmen at work.

They’ll be setting up in the garden at Charterhouse (Thurs 6 April), the Charterhouse archery field in front of Charterhouse (Good Friday 7 April). There is an additional one to discover over in London Road Cemetery: Paxton’s Arboretum, over the Easter weekend. Pop along, say hello and join in.

Mostly piano: Naoko Inoue and Richard Evans

Charterhouse unlocked – opening weekend

Be amongst the first to explore Charterhouse as we unlock the house and gardens as a new visitor attraction this opening weekend.

Three floors of immersive storytelling, a halo of beautiful green space filled with wildlife surrounding the building, and a brand new café bar Purnell’s at Charterhouse. One of Coventry’s most important heritage sites and the centre of Charterhouse Heritage Park welcomes you to spend the day there, learn about the Carthusians that once called the place home, and how this historic building played an important role in the history of Coventry.

Earthcycle: Night Owl

Orchestra of the Swan return to Drapers’ Hall for Earthcycle. The work contemplates humanity’s impact on Earth’s environment and the disruption of its natural rhythms. Vivaldi’s pioneering quartet of programmatic concerti, written almost 300 years ago, is performed alongside a newly commissioned version by baroque/jazz musician and composer David Gordon and interspersed with traditional folk songs related to the theme of the seasons.

Mostly piano: Robert Mitchell

Cosy creative: story telling workshop

Unleash your family’s creativity with Windswept Workshops and Daz Dolczech’s interactive, musical and crafty storytelling workshop! In two hours, you will learn a brand new eco-folktale, create a soundscape, write a song, and create your own fantasy world.

Part of the Coventry City of Culture ‘Cosy Creative’ programme.

Grow with us – volunteering open day

Another chance to find out more about joining our expanding volunteer team as we prepare to open Charterhouse, our flagship heritage attraction in Spring 2023.

There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities available in the Visitor Experience and Nature teams.

Tour the venue and hear from some of our current volunteers about their experiences.

The session lasts for two hours and you’ll be able to get any questions you have answered, register your interest or make an application to join the team on the day.

Cosy creative: yoga and wellbeing

Join us at the Anglican Chapel for a range of free taster classes focused on relaxation and movement for wellbeing, with yoga instructor Rossana.

Part of the Coventry City of Culture ‘Cosy Creative’ programme.

Cosy creative: stitch and mend

Have you got old jumpers or other clothes or textiles with rips and holes that you would like to repair? These taster sessions will explore a variety of ideas to embrace visible mending and turn a repair into wearable works of art.

Bring your own sewing kit, with some materials provided. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy bottomless hot drinks on us to keep warm and cosy.

Part of the Coventry City of Culture ‘Cosy Creative’ programme.

Ill Considered INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

Combining riotous free improvisation and deep groove, UK-based outfit Ill Considered will be performing at Drapers’ Hall as part of Independent Venue Week.

This is a seated show.

Mostly piano: Jill Crossland INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

Our popular lunchtime piano concert series, Mostly Piano returns with Jill Crossland.

Dead Good Death Cafe

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Jaz Delorean and K.O.G for INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

Not only do we have rescheduled headliner, Jaz Delorean (front man of Tankus the Henge) performing a solo set in our beautiful ballroom, but we’ve also added the sensational K.O.G (“Ghana’s finest” – Jools Holland) to the bill. A double headline show with two firm festival favourites, not to be missed.

This is a seated show. Supported by the National Lottery and Arts Council England as part of Independent Venue Week.

Grow with us – volunteering open day

Find out more about joining our expanding volunteer team as we prepare to open Charterhouse, our flagship heritage attraction in Spring 2023.

There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities available in the Visitor Experience and Nature teams.

Tour the venue and hear from some of our current volunteers about their experiences.

The session lasts for two hours and you’ll be able to get any questions you have answered, register your interest or make an application to join the team on the day.

Film Liberation Club present: Gremlins (PG)

Never screen it after midnight! Film Liberation are returning to the Anglican Chapel this December for a festive screening of classic, comedy horror ‘Gremlins’.

This screening is in partnership with Historic Coventry Trust and funded by CineCov/ Flatpack

Festive heritage open day

Join Santa in his workshop at the Anglican Chapel for Christmas cracker making, exchanging jam jars of joy, community spirit and festive cheer!

Autumn Winter Programme – London Road Cemetery: Paxton’s Arboretum

Enjoy a range of seasonal workshops, activities and special events this autumn winter as we launch the Anglican Chapel as a new community space which is also available to hire.

Christmas Wreath Making

Foraged wreath making with festive panettone and a glass of Prosecco with Charterhouse head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi. You get to take your wreath home and display in time for Christmas.

Coventry and Warwickshire’s ‘Winter Wonderland’ Carol Concert

A Christmas Carol Concert that reflects the multicultural community of Crisis members. Including a variety of fun and festive Christmas songs, member stories and enough mince pies and mulled wine for all to enjoy.

Yuletide yoga with Rossana

A beginners extended yoga class to ease you into the holiday season, beginning with a warming yoga practise and finishing with a Yoga Nidra (guided meditation)

Midwinter

Join Orchestra of the Swan for a breathtaking tribute to winter and the festive season featuring music and words from across the centuries – ancient carols, folky fiddling, traditional Christmas songs and classical favourites.

Mostly piano: Olga Stezhko

Christmas Wreath Making

Foraged wreath making and festive panettone with Charterhouse head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi.

Christmas Wreath Making

Foraged wreath making and festive panettone with Charterhouse head gardener Gianni Antoniazzi.

Tipi Theatre: Lady Herbert’s Garden

*MORE TICKETS ADDED*

Cosy up in our twinkling tipi for a bout of theatrical fun in Lady Herbert’s Winter Garden!

This year marked the 380th anniversary of the siege of Coventry, when Charles I tried and failed to breach the city’s medieval walls. It is also the 360th anniversary of Charles II’s order to tear those walls down. Today, one of the last remaining sections of the once imposing city wall stands in the city centre, framed by Lady Herbert’s Garden.

Join us in the garden on Sunday 4 December for two special performances by Shake It Up, inspired by the heritage Coventry’s medieval city walls.

Whatever the weather, we’ll be keeping toasty warm in our tipi theatre, pitched in the shadow of the wall that started it all!

Wellbeing taster day with Rossana

A calming and restorative day of taster sessions in yoga, chair yoga and meditation with Rossana.

Wellbeing taster day with Rossana

A calming and restorative day of exploring wellbeing through yoga and meditation with Rossana.

Artist in Residence James Brunt

Join in with James Brunt as he creates sculptures of natural materials in the landscape or simply enjoy his artwork in situation.

The sculptures will stay in the landscape throughout remembrance weekend

Drapers’ Hall anniversary show feat. Kansas Smitty’s

Drapers’ Hall is 1 year old! Come along to a very special anniversary show to mark a year since we reopened Drapers’ doors, and raise a glass to what has been a wonderful inaugural year as a venue for music and music education in Coventry.

Mostly piano: Ben Holder and Dave Browning

Immortalising Nature with Michala Gyetvai

Taking inspiration from the trees at London Road Cemetery, a 2-hour taster session exploring the creative possibilities of stitch with local textile artist Michala Gyetvai.

Beginners welcome!

Do Touch Monsters by Julia Snowdin

Drop in and play with tactile tentacles and soft spikes in Do Touch’s sculptural world of squishy monster-like characters.

Accompanied by roaring and rumbling sounds, the audience are invited to immerse themselves in this installation, exploring art through touch.

Dead Good Death Cafe

Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.

Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.

Film Screening – Night of the Living Dead

Experience this truly chilling classic film in the atmospheric Anglican Chapel set within London Road Cemetery. Brought to you by Film Liberation Project, funded by CineCov.

Beginners ‘One Day Course’ Stone Carving with Amanda Randall

Taking inspiration from the trees at London Road Cemetery, this full day course will teach you the basic skills of stone carving.

Inspired by Paxton’s Arboretum tree trail, Amanda has selected leaves from significant trees in the cemetery.

Beginners welcome!

‘Have a Go’ Stone Carving with Amanda Randall

Taking inspiration from the trees at London Road Cemetery, this 2-hour taster session and beginner have a go stone carving session offers the chance to have a go and take your creation home.

Inspired by Paxton’s Arboretum tree trail, Amanda has selected leaves from significant trees in the cemetery.

Beginners welcome!

The Unthanks

Choose between 3pm and 7.30pm performances.

These shows are in place of the cancelled Warwick Arts Centre show.

Immortalising Nature with Michala Gyetvai

Taking inspiration from the trees at London Road Cemetery, a 2-hour taster session exploring the creative possibilities of stitch with local textile artist Michala Gyetvai.

Beginners welcome!

Lady Herbert’s Beer Garden

We have created our very own beer! Brewed by the award winning team at Dhillon’s Brewery and inspired by the historic City Gates, ‘Olde Tower Mild’ will be launched on Sat 8 October in Lady Herbert’s Garden. Visitors are invited to try it for the very first time in a day of food, drink and live music. 

Both city gates will also be open 11:30-5 on the day for visitors to explore.

Mostly piano: Andrew Thayer

Immortalising Nature with Michala Gyetvai

Taking inspiration from the trees at London Road Cemetery, a 2-hour taster session exploring the creative possibilities of stitch with local textile artist Michala Gyetvai.

Beginners welcome!

Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

Pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason performs at Drapers’ Hall.

Peter Broderick

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Peter Broderick performs at Drapers’ Hall.

Heritage Open Days: Drapers’ Hall

As part of Heritage Open Days, visit Drapers’ Hall on Sun 18 Sept between 11am-4pm to see how the building has been brought back to life.

Heritage Open Days: The City Gates

Discover the newly restored City Gates as part of Heritage Open Days.

Visit Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate on Sat 17 Sept between 11.30am-4pm for a special open (gate)house day to see how the gates have been repaired and revived.

Drop ins only, no booking necessary.

Heritage Open Days: Charterhouse hard hat tours

As a mark of respect, we have taken the decision to make some small changes to our Heritage Open Days event at Charterhouse, although we will still be hosting (now fully booked) tours. We will welcome our visitors to this beautiful site, associated with silence and contemplation at this time of reflection.

Our booked tours are now fully booked (if you have a ticket, please feel free to turn up at the original time if you wish). The tours will see how the restoration of the building is progressing. Due to open in spring next year, the tours will see the craftmanship close up and hear about the opening plans and Charterhouse’s future.

Heritage Open Days: London Road Cemetery

As a mark of respect, we have taken the decision to make some changes to our Heritage Open Days event at London Road Cemetery. We encourage our visitors to visit this beautiful landscape at this sad and significant time in our history to reflect on life and death and to deepen connection with nature.

Explore the beauty and heritage of London Road Cemetery: Paxton’s Arboretum with one of our new self-guided tours. Visitors are advised to visit the Anglican Chapel on arrival where refreshments are available. The Coventry Family History Society will also be on hand to support families in locating graves of loved ones in the cemetery.

Explore the recently restored Anglican Chapel and see this Victorian landscape designed by Joseph Paxton. You can pick up headphones to listen to podcasts specially designed to be enjoyed in this beautiful relaxing setting.

Our booked tours are now fully booked (if you have a ticket, please feel free to turn up at the original time if you wish), but we’ll try to squeeze people onto a tour if there is space.

Mostly piano: Da-Hee Kim

Mostly Piano presents piano led recitals in our grand ballroom.

Lady Herbert’s Afternoon Tea

Join us for afternoon tea on the lawn in the newly-revived Lady Herbert’s Garden.

Thanks to the success of last year’s event, Lady Herbert’s Afternoon Tea is back by popular demand! The garden has recently undergone a transformation thanks to extensive new planting by Coventry City Council and Historic Coventry Trust. Hidden in plain sight in Coventry’s city centre, the historic garden in now looking lovelier than ever. To mark this new chapter and celebrate the garden’s heritage, we are hosting a series of summer events in the garden.

On select Sunday afternoons we will be dishing out traditional afternoon teas on the main lawn. What better way to spend a summer’s Sunday!

The Wind in the Willows

Journey into the Wild Wood and join us for a summer picnic followed by some brilliant, family friendly outdoor theatre from award winning Calf 2 Cow.

A not to be missed, rambunctious retelling of Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale ‘The Wind in the Willows’ by Coventry’s own riverside. ‘Poop poop!’

Time is of the Essence: Show Windows

Featured at Forbidden Planet on the Burges, ‘Time is of the Essence’ by Rachel Taylor has given a nod to Coventry’s watch-making history as well as depicting the city’s shared experience of lockdown. The piece is made from 100 per cent recycled material collected through the pandemic.

Sculptural Healing: Show Windows

Coventry-based artist Ross McCormick, has created ‘Sculptural Healing’ inside the window at Cat Ballou. It features a Navy Chair – originally commissioned by the US Navy to ‘withstand torpedo blasts’ – set within a tranquil, reflective garden.

Paper sculpture: Show Windows

Paper sculpture artist, Clare Pentlow, has created a positive piece about the future in the window of Milk Vintage on Hales Street. She has combined architectural structures and patterns in Coventry with flowers and leaves winding round a central column.

Blossom project meeting

Your vote counts! Join us to discuss the key decisions around a new community blossom garden in Charterhouse Heritage Park. This is the first project team meeting, and everyone is welcome.

Metropolis exhibition – Camp

Drop by the Metropolis building on Earl Street to discover the free art exhibition called ‘Camp, Do We Go Around the Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us?’ by artist Lucy Tomlins.

Dyskinetic

Infernal Machine – Night Owl

An illuminating performance featuring baroque specialist, jazz musician and composer David Gordon.

This is a seated show.

Heritage Park Reveals – Part of Wildlife Gathering

Drop in for a family day out to uncover the past and discover the future of Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Part of the city-wide Wildlife Gathering, join us for a fun-filled family-friendly day out as Charterhouse walled garden springs back to life and is revealed for the first time.

New Piano Music by Robert Ramskill

Two daytime performances celebrating new piano work from Robert Ramskill.

This is a seated show.

Two collections of new piano music by Coventry composer Robert Ramskill will be given their world première performances on May 22nd at Drapers’ Hall.

In the morning a set of pieces written for the use of elementary and intermediate level pianists will be played by local pupils. One of these pieces is called ‘Land of the Tiger’ and that title is also given to the group of pieces as a whole.

In the afternoon the complete set of 24 Preludes for Piano will be played by local virtuoso pianists Julian Hellaby, Cecilia Xi and Darren Leaper. The pieces display the many influences (ranging from Bach, Chopin and Debussy to Bartok, Popular Music and Jazz) from which Robert has developed his own personal style.

Coventry Opens: Anglican Chapel

Explore and interact with this site-specific installation that examines how the inside of the ear works and how movement affects the sounds we hear. In this creative interpretation we’ll see how movements of air allow us to hear sound.

Drawing from weaving, one of the industries that Coventry is most famous for, dance artists interpret this process in the live performances using a hanging warp of silk threads. The collaborators join the visitor in questioning the changing sounds of the City through time in industrial Coventry and what they hear here and now.

By collaborators Karen Wood, Lily Hayward-Smith, Louisa Petts (C-DaRE), Petra Johnson and Vip Artpradid 

Coventry Opens: Charterhouse Reveals – Elizabethan wall painting

Part of Coventry Opens, be amongst the first to view the black and white Elizabethan wall painting since it’s restoration.

Listen to ideas from local researcher and history enthusiast, James Rose, on how it can be interpreted today.

Inspired by the wall painting, local street artist Katie O will be creating contemporary murals.

Coventry Opens: The City Gates

Discover the newly restored City Gates as part of city-wide ‘Coventry Opens’.

Visit Swanswell Gate and Cook Street Gate on Fri 6 May between 10.30am-1pm for a special open (gate)house session to see how the gates have been repaired and revived.

Drop ins only, no booking necessary.

Coventry Opens: Priory Row

Discover newly restored Priory Row as part of city-wide ‘Coventry Opens’.

Visit the cottages on Fri 6 May between 2-4.30pm for a special open house session and see how they have been transformed.

Drop ins only, no booking necessary.

Oz and Armonico: Gin & Phonic

In the third instalment of this hugely successful programme, the Oz & Armonico team present ‘Gin & Phonic’, a unique performance dedicated to music and measure, full to the brim of incredible facts and fizzing fiction.

Sit and sip in Drapers’ beautiful ballroom and explore the highs and lows (mainly highs) of the relationship between pieces, people and the perfect pour.

Mostly piano: Jonathan Fashole-Luke

Mostly Piano is the lunchtime series of piano led recitals in our grand ballroom at Drapers’ Hall. Jonathan Fashole-Luke performs a solo piano recital of jazz standards and own compositions in his own unique style

Historic Coventry Trust tours

The guided walking tours of our city centre sites will be running regularly on the first Sunday afternoon of every month. The route will take in the City Gates and Lady Herbert’s Garden, Priory Row, Drapers Hall and the Burges, lasting approximately 1.5 hours.

The Wicker Man

The Film Liberation Project and Historic Coventry Trust present a special May Day screening of ‘The Wicker Man’, the 1973 British folk horror film directed by Robin Hardy and starring Edward Woodward, Britt Ekland and Christopher Lee. Screening in the atmospheric location of the Anglican Chapel in London Road Cemetery.

Grow with us – online volunteering meeting

Historic Coventry Trust invites you to join our expanding volunteer nature team and grow with us! If you enjoy gardening, growing and looking after green spaces, we have the perfect opportunities for you in Charterhouse Heritage Park.

To find out more, join us for an online meeting to discover what outdoor volunteering opportunities we have on offer. You will also be able to speak to some of our current volunteers about their experiences and the benefits of volunteering. Speakers will also include representatives from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

This meeting will be taking place on Microsoft Teams on Thursday 28 April at 6pm.

Booking is essential, so make sure to reserve your free ticket. New to Microsoft Teams? No problem, you will receive guidance on how to use Teams once you have booked.

Cinecov movie night: School of Rock

The night will begin at 5pm with a live performance from one of our young Live on Stage bands to get you in the mood, followed by a showing of the movie “School of Rock”.

Tickets are priced at only £4. The venue bar will open for drinks and snacks. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Coventry Music Trust which supports children access music activities.

School of Rock is a comedy about a Dewey Finn, who after being kicked out of his rock band, becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band. It is a fantastic family movie with a great line up including Jack Black, Mike White and Joan Cusack.

Charterhouse Reveals – Crucifixion wall painting

Be the first to view the internationally significant medieval wall painting at Charterhouse since its restoration.

Dive deep into the  history of the wall painting with a talk led by conservator Mark Perry.

Drop into a live demonstration of medieval techniques of wall painting by Saskia Huning.

New Music Biennial: She Who by Jessica Curry & National Youth Chamber Choir

Experience the National Youth Chamber Choir of Great Britain perform their commission of She Who by BAFTA award winner Jessica Curry as part of the critically acclaimed New Music Biennial 2022.

New Music Biennial: The Crossing by Roopa Panesar

The Crossing is created by eminent sitarist Roopa Panesar with pianist Al MacSween and sound designer Camilo Tirado, and commissioned and produced by Opera North. Agile improvisers, the two musicians offer a deep immersion in the changing emotional states generated by Indian classical raag, through exchanges between themselves and the audience. Their sound surrounds the listeners, creating an intimate environment inspired by traditional Hindustani ‘baithak’ concerts, and offering a collective movement from loss towards renewal.

New Music Biennial: 13 Vices by Brian Irvine and Jennifer Walshe

For ensemble, improvisers, conductor & voice, 13 Vices melts boundaries between theatre, poetry & contemporary music. Exploring the weird, humorous, dark & exotic world of contemporary vices, it is the creation of pioneering compositional voices – Brian Irvine & Jennifer Walshe. Featuring Red Note Ensemble, Paul Dunmall, Paul Rogers, & Mark Sanders.
First performed in 2015, the seed was planted many years before when Brian chanced upon sculptures by Mihail Chemiakin in Moscow. The collection of slightly grotesque figures, each representing a particular adult vice that is damaging to children was the springboard to the project, which would eventually become, in Brian’s words, “a wonderfully messy, chopped up, beautiful, bewitching cocktail of the best people making the best sounds and is a project that myself, collaborator Jennifer (Walshe) and all the gang are very proud of!”.

13 Vices will stick with you. It is truly some of the most imaginative and exhilarating music around.

New Music Biennial: The Moon has Become by Yazz Ahmed

Created by British-Bahraini composer and trumpeter Yazz Ahmed, this piece is presented as a surround-sound sonic artwork and performed live by an 11-piece ensemble. Inspired by the ethos of WOMAD and celebrating ‘a world that has no boundaries’, Ahmed invites audiences into the world of electronic-Middle-Eastern-rave-jazz. ‘The Moon Has Become’ has been conceived as a response to artist Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon installation (previously at Coventry Cathedral), and showcases new sound palettes and studio techniques explored by Ahmed during the pandemic.

New Music Biennial: Skip Dash Flow by Jason Yarde

Wonderbrass present Jason Yarde’s ‘SKIP DASH FLOW’.

SKIP DASH FLOW ploughs a journey from the host city of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing, to the carnival and samba style of 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. The piece takes the audience and players alike on a cultural voyage crossing continents to celebrate the 2012 host city of London exploring British folk music and some London grime along the way.

New Music Biennial: Urban Birds by Arlene Sierra

Arlene Sierra is a composer of critically-acclaimed orchestral and chamber music whose compositional beginnings were in the electroacoustic field. Urban Birds is a return to Sierra’s electroacoustic roots, and brings together three international soloists who specialise in new music for piano plus electronics. Urban Birds combines harmony, rhythmic drive, and sounds from nature in a tapestry of environmental sound and virtuosic performance. The work engages musically with one of the central preoccupations of our time: Our relationship with the natural world.

Humankind rehearsed reading

Sleight of Hand present a rehearsed reading of Humankind, an adaptation of the medieval morality play Mankind, set in a contemporary context.

Binchois Consort

The Binchois will be performing early music, much of it directly connected to Coventry in the 15th century. This includes two movements of the Missa Caput, of which a manuscript fragment remarkably survives in Coventry. This great work may have been performed for Henry VI when he attended Mass in St Michael’s Church in 1451.

The performances will be introduced by Andrew Kirkman and will be connected with his talk at the associated conference at Drapers’ Hall ‘Celebrations, Communities and Performances: festival occasions in Coventry from the 15th to the 17th century’, 20-22 April, which can be booked separately via the following link: Celebrations, Communities and Performances

Metropolis Exhibition

Drop by the Metropolis building on Earl Street to discover the free exhibition Metropolis: Coventry’s medieval and modernist ambitions. Learn more about Coventry’s distinct contribution to the history of the built environment in Britain, from industrial premises including workshops, topshops and factories, to major religious buildings containing some of the finest decorative art in the country.

The exhibition’s curators, Sabine Coady Schäbitz and Mark Webb weave medieval and modern stories together in five themes: movement, enterprise, culture resilience and the future. Through photographs, sculpture, an excerpt of a VR model and archival film material, the exhibition invites you to take a closer look at Coventry’s impressive built heritage, spanning from the medieval religious buildings that were once nestled together in the centre of the city, as well as the ambitious plans of Donald Gibson and others in the 20th Century.

The Great Middlemarch Mystery

Gather clues as the story unfolds between four historic venues in central Coventry before coming together to solve the mystery in this interactive adventure.

From the novel Middlemarch – Scenes from Provincial Life by George Eliot Adapted by Josephine Burton with Ruth Livesey

Grow with us – volunteer tours

Historic Coventry Trust invites you to join our expanding volunteer nature team and grow with us! If you enjoy gardening, growing and looking after green spaces, we have a range of opportunities for you to get involved in the Charterhouse Heritage Park.

Join us for a free tour of the historic garden at Charterhouse and learn more about our outdoor volunteering roles: Garden Volunteer and Heritage Park Volunteer. As part of the tour, you will also be able to speak to some of our current volunteers about  their experiences and the many benefits of volunteering in your community.

Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.

Heritage crafts presents: Making Places

Skilled craft and manufacture has shaped our towns, cities and regions over generations, reflected in the buildings, street names and dialects, but often there is a disconnect between this rich heritage and our sense of place and personal identity. What can we do to help reconnect people with their craft heritage and show how the skills of the past are reflected in the making activities of today… and can continue to be a source of productivity, wellbeing and community into the future?

Braimah Kanneh-Mason

Violinest Braimah Kanneh-Mason performs with pianist – Junyan Chen.

Supported by the National Lottery and Arts Council England.

This is a seated show.

Alternative Trails: Mapping South Asian Women’s Activism

Resonate Festival returns to the project and event that lifted the rafters at the Assembly Gardens Festival in the summer of 2021.

In the beautiful surroundings of the newly-restored Drapers Hall, this glorious event is full of song and dance – enjoy a live performance of Giddha (an all-female Punjabi dance) and listen to the stories of activism placed on a map and converted into new boliyan (folk music genre of music, song and sound).

Despite a trailblazing history of South Asian women’s activism in Coventry, these stories are rarely featured in the city’s heritage imagery – this performance perfectly encapsulates them all into boliyan and giddha.

The Resonate Festival : And (M)other Stories

This textile based workshop brings together women from all over the world to tell their stories (not normally heard in public spaces) about their mother, grandmother, aunt and wider family. who may have been part of activist movements for equality and social justice in either in their country of origin or in Britain.

In the course of the workshop, the collaboratively created piece will represent these stories in material form using fabrics. Get involved…

Grow with us – volunteering tours

Historic Coventry Trust invites you to grow with us! If you enjoy gardening, growing and looking after green spaces, we have a range of volunteering opportunities for you in Charterhouse Heritage Park. Join us for a tour (starting at the Anglican Chapel at London Road Cemetery) to learn about our volunteer programme and find out how you can get involved.

Guz Khan

Buckle up for an evening of hilarious stand-up comedy featuring Coventry’s own Guz Khan.

Guz grew up in Hillfields and has featured on Taskmaster and Live at the Apollo, as well as his own comedy show Man Like Mobeen.

Part of CVX Festival – produced by Coventry City of Culture with Positive Youth Foundation and Birmingham Hippodrome

Historic Coventry Trust Tours

The guided walking tours of our city centre sites will be running regularly on the first Sunday afternoon of every month. The route will take in the City Gates and Lady Herbert’s Garden, Priory Row, Drapers Hall and the Burges, lasting approximately 1.5 hours.

Deliaphonics : Lia Mice kids gig

Created by the UK’s premiere experimental music festival, Supersonic Kids Gigs are designed for families as a way of introducing children to experimental music – BIG sounds for little people!

This special Kids Gig taking place at Draper’s Hall in Coventry will see electronic musician and instrument maker Lia Mice perform experimental techno-pop through immersive soundscapes. Lia will be bringing her latest self-designed instrument, ‘Chaos Bells’ – a very large (2 metres wide and tall!) sculptural instrument with 20 pendulums that produce bell-like chimes and chaotic drones.

Deliaphonics : The Oram awards

Deliaphonic has teamed up with The Oram Awards – a platform for innovation in sound, music and related technologies. Named after Daphne Oram, one of the founding members of the original BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the awards aim to build on her legacy. Along with other women of the workshop, including Delia Derbyshire, Glynis Jones, Jenyth Worsley, Maddalena Fagandini and Elizabeth Parker, Oram played a vital role in establishing women at the forefront of innovation in newly-emerging audio technologies not only in the UK but around the world.

In this special presentation we bring together past award winners for an evening of innovative electronic music in the beautifully refurbished historic Drapers’ Hall.

The Oram Awards is a partnership between The New Radiophonic Workshop & PRS Foundation to elevate the work and voices of the next generation of women, girls and gender minority music creators in electronic music.

Portrait of a Brain

A sculptural representation of a ‘spiky’ neurodiverse cognitive human profile, the piece’s colour and light describe the glory of individual, intersecting strengths and challenges in the brain workings of a (particular) autistic woman. Drop ins only, no tickets or pre booking required.

Mostly piano: Darren Leaper and Cecilia Xi

A new lunchtime series at Drapers’ Hall. Mostly Piano presents piano led recitals in our grand ballroom.

This is a seated show and will be at half venue capacity in light of recent Covid conditions*

*this is subject to change.

Darren Leaper and Cecilia Xi present a programme of piano duets including music by Debussy, Kapustin, Ravel and Schubert.

This concert is dedicated to the memory of pianist Peter Rossiter.

Talvin Singh

Percussionist, producer and composer, Talvin Singh, performs at Drapers’ Hall. Supported by the National Lottery and Arts Council England.

Rebel Rebel – Night Owl

Rebel Rebel examines the cultural impact and far reaching legacies of two visionary artists who challenged the weight of received ideas and accepted musical norms during their respective lifetimes.

Harold and Maude

The Film Liberation Project will celebrate this Valentine’s Day with a special screening of Harold and Maude, a rare romantic comedy which sees Bud Cort as Harold, a death obsessed young man, develop a romance with 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon), a Nazi concentration camp survivor, who teaches Harold about the importance of living life to its fullest.

Directed by Hal Ashby, the film is a cult classic coming of age black comedy and a landmark entry of the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.

Made in the Midlands with Jess Philips MP

The outspoken and independent-minded Shadow Minister and onetime Labour leadership candidate was born and raised in Birmingham, and has been MP for the city’s Yardley seat since 2015.

How has her Midlands upbringing influenced her politics and unique style? Which Midlands people and places have shaped the person she is today?

Made In The Midlands is commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust and produced by Loftus Media.

Dele Sosimi INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

Dele Sosimi, one of the most active musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene, comes to Drapers’ Hall. Supported by the National Lottery and Arts Council England.

This is a standing show.

Mammal Hands INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

The semi-classical drums/sax/piano trio Mammal Hands perform at Drapers’ Hall.

This is a seated show and will be at near full capacity.

Mostly piano: Sarah Beth Briggs INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK

A new lunchtime series at Drapers’ Hall. Mostly Piano presents piano led recitals in our grand ballroom. The first in the series, Sarah Beth Briggs plays piano music by Haydn, Chopin and Debussy.

This is a seated show and will be at half venue capacity in light of recent Covid conditions*

*this is subject to change.

Haiku Salut lamp show

Haiku Salut, an instrumental dream pop and electronica trio from the Derbyshire Dales, perform at the newly restored Drapers’ Hall.

This is a seated show.