[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Coventry Polytechnic[EBOLD][PARA]Coventry has a much longer history than most cities in the Midlands and, what with good connections all over the country, being sent to Coventry is far from the isolation it's supposed to be.  This is where Lady Godiva did her famous bare back horse ride, but trotting naked through the streets has fallen off somewhat as a local sport since the city was almost completely destroyed in a single night's bombing during the 2nd World War.  Despite the speed with which it was resurrected, there was some thought involved and [ITAL]it's interesting to look at if not exactly attractive - a huge futuristic machine with giant chimneys, vast boiling pots and intestinal roads woven amongst the buildings. [EITAL]  [ITAL]The city's heart is a shopping centre maze and getting lost is an inevitability at first.[EITAL]  This is where the University campus is spread, across 25 acres (only about 10 mins walk), near other civic buildings like the sports centre, the Art Gallery and Museum and the very impressive Cathedral opposite the SU Building.  The University buildings are made of red bricks and look modern, [ITAL]but are not brash or brutal.  An effort has been made to make them blend.  [EITAL]There are lots of sculptures, flower beds, paved squares and, bizarrely, gravestones.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Town/gown relations aren't so brilliant, but it's mainly those who act like pillocks who get picked on.  Students are stoical about it however, and friendly amongst themselves.  The large percentage of mature and part time students sets the tone - the silly but fun, first-freedom-from-home attitude is less common than the serious-minded, laid-back enjoyment of work and play.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]COVENTRY:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL][STAT][BULL] Population: 322,573 [BULL] London: 88miles [BULL] Birmingham: 16miles[ESTAT][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Rebuilt, Coventry's a new city with an old spirit which doesn't let the modern design interfere with the ancient heritage.  [EITAL]There are archaeological digs on view close to the campus and in the city centre.  There's a mile-long pedestrianised shopping centre, big enough to provide more shops than a student grant can withstand (including several bookshops and a number of stores open after 10pm).  The local heritage can be viewed in the city's museum and tourist attractions ([ITAL]although Coventry is hardly what you might call 'a holiday resort'[EITAL]), notably the Herbert Art Gallery, the Toy Museum, the Museum of British Road Transport, the Cathedral (restored and built anew by Basil Spence), the olde world shops, Lunt Roman Fort and statue of Lady Godiva (you may not recognise her with her clothes on).[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] Coventry Station is about 1 mile from the Coventry campus and on the main London (1:10mins, 3/hr) to Birmingham (20mins, 3/hr) line. It has other services to Bristol, Edinburgh  and elsewhere.[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] National Express services all over the place, including London (£9, 2hrs, 9/day), Newcastle (£22.50, 5:30 hrs, 3/day), Liverpool (£8, 3.20 hrs, 6/day).  Other services from Bharat, Harry Shaw and Flights.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] The usual Midlands ease of accessibility, via the M6, M69 and M45/A45, and just a few miles from the M1, M40 and A5. [ITAL]The one-way systems aren't good for the blood pressure.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Coventry Airport isn't terribly helpful[EITAL], but Birmingham International is a big one, 91/2 miles away.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[EBOLD] Apart from the student park'n'ride scheme (shared lifts), [ITAL]Coventry is excellent for roving thumbsters, with all them big roads and jumping junctions.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local:[EBOLD] There are 3 BR trains stops within the confines of Coventry, but the [ITAL]reliable [EITAL]local bus services are [ITAL]more useful for getting to places students haven't got the welly to walk to.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Taxis:[EBOLD] Coventry's small enough to mean £2 will get students a worthwhile whack across town by taxi.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD] The roads are busy, the thefts frequent. But it's flat.[PARA][BOLD]Others:  [EBOLD]Summer brings 'Lady Godiva Topless Tours'; for £3.50, you can tour Coventry in an open-topped bus.[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 250,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 2,000 [BULL] Study places: 1,000 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,500[ESTAT][PARA]Apart from the main Lanchester Library, which also includes a specialist collection, there's the Art and Design Library.  [ITAL]Together they provide a large but insufficient answer to a massive demand.  Computers are more readily available, including 3 UNIX multi-user systems.[EITAL][HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 15full/5part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 12.7%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL][ULNE]Warwick University[EULNE] is only 3 miles outside town on the number 12 bus.  [ITAL]Not a very special feature, but there you go.[EITAL][HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Mark Chase (TV presenter); Jerry Dammers (of The Specials); John Kettley (weatherman); Steve Ogrizovic, Alan Smith (footballers).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for full-time and part-time undergrads, postgrads, and guides for international students and students with disabilities.[PARA][PARA]