Nuneaton

Understand

"Eaton" means a settlement next to water, and the "nun" was added when a Benedictine nunnery was founded in the 12th century. In the 17th century, Nuneaton manufactured silk ribbons, and in the 19th century, it became a coal-mining town. That era was captured by George Eliot (penname of Mary Ann Evans, 1819 – 1880); born locally, her novels depict rural provincial life as it becomes challenged by the march of industry, and they refer to the town as "Milby".

Getting there

Nuneaton is 20 mi (32 km) east of Birmingham.

By car The town is close to the M6, M1 and M42 motorways, so is easy to reach by road from anywhere in England.

By train 1 Nuneaton station. On an important railway junction and is served by trains on the West Coast Main Line, the Birmingham-Leicester-Peterborough Line and the Nuneaton to Coventry branch line. Direct trains from London St. Pancras International and London Euston. (updated Jul 2023)

See

1 Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery, Coton Road, Riversley Park, Nuneaton, CV11 5TU, ☏ +44 24 7635-0720, [email protected]. Permanent displays related to George Eliot and local history. Temporary and touring exhibitions. (updated May 2016)

Do

1 The Abbey Theatre, Pool Bank St, CV11 5DB. Theatre seating 248, opened in 1969, mainly run by volunteers. (updated May 2016) 2 Pingles Leisure Centre, Avenue Rd, CV11 4LX. Includes a gym and swimming baths. (updated May 2016) Coventry Canal passes through town. It courses 38 miles (61 km) from Coventry via Bedworth, Nuneaton, Atherstone, Polesworth and Tamworth to Lichfield and has a firm towpath for hiking or cycling. It has 13 locks and is navigable throughout for narrow-boats not exceeding 72 ft / 21.9 m length, 7 ft / 2.1 m beam and 6 ft 6 in / 1.98 m headroom. It has junctions with several other canals and forms part of the 106 mile circuit of the "Warwickshire Ring".

Buy

1 Ropewalk Shopping Centre, Chapel St, CV11 5TZ, ☏ +44 24 7664-1714, [email protected]. M–Sa 7AM–7PM Su 9:30AM–5:30PM. Multi-storey shopping centre that sells clothing, jewellery, food and electronics. (updated Jul 2017). Buy market produce at the market in the town centre.

Eat

1 Crossed Khukris Gurkha Restaurant, 115 Abbey St, CV11 5BX, ☏ +44 24 7634-4488. (updated Oct 2017)

Drink & nightlife

1 The Felix Holt, 3 Stratford St, CV11 5BS, ☏ +44 24 7634-7785. Wetherspoon's pub with meals named after a character created by George Eliot. (updated Apr 2017) The Silk Mill Nuneaton, 42 Newdegate St, Nuneaton CV11 4EU, ☏ +44 24 7632-0589. Friendly pub that shows sports, and serves meals, unlike some pubs in Nuneaton. For those who don't drink, there's coffee. (updated Jul 2021)

Sleep

1 Holiday Inn Express Nuneaton, The Bermuda Park, St Davids Way, CV10 7SD, ☏ +44 24 7635-7370. (updated Apr 2017) La Tavola Calda Hotel, 68 Midland Rd, Nuneaton CV11 5DY, ☏ +44 20 8089-8579. Cheap hotel in quite a central location, next to the quarry. Nice cooked breakfast and does Italian food in evenings. (updated Jul 2021)