St Mary's Guildhall

Walking into St Mary's Guildhall feels like stepping into Coventry's backbone. This medieval structure, right in the heart of the city, is where you can actually see how the place functioned centuries ago - proper seat of power, this. The building itself is a knockout: timber-framed, Grade I listed, with that unmistakable late-medieval look that makes you understand why people fought to preserve it.

Inside, there's stained glass work and period features that tell you this wasn't just any civic building. It was where the real decisions got made. History types will spend a good hour here; families with younger kids might find it a bit dry unless they've got a specific interest in medieval governance. The real pleasure is standing in the rooms where centuries of civic life unfolded.

It's free to wander around, though opening hours can be a bit variable depending on who's running events that day - worth checking ahead. Allow an hour minimum, longer if you're the sort who reads every explanatory plaque. Best visited midweek when it's quieter.

If you're basing yourself at Hollyfast Caravan Park or Avon Wild Camping just outside Coventry, this is an obvious city centre stop to break up a holiday. Combine it with a wander around the ruins of Coventry Cathedral and you've got a solid afternoon of medieval atmosphere without leaving the city. It's not flashy, but it's proper history.