St Mary�s Guildhall Houses

St Mary's Guildhall served as the centre of King Henry VI's court during the Wars of the Roses and as a prison to Mary, Queen of Scots. William Shakespeare is thought to have staged his plays here and writer George Elliot, who knew the hall well, used it as the setting for a scene in one of her novels. Its kitchens have prepared banquets for visiting monarchs and have fed starving weavers. It has been the good-humoured starting point for the famous Godiva Processions and been damaged in violent election riots. It was scarred by, but survived, the Blitz of Coventry during the Second World War and it continues to this day to welcome visitors from all over the world.

Open: 10. 00am to 4. 00pm (summer season)

During the Summer Season (Easter to September) the Hall is generally open Sunday to Thursday and closed on Friday and Saturday. The Hall is occasionally closed to the public for civic ceremonies etc during these months and it wise to check its availability beforehand. .