Coventry (i/ˈkɒvəntri/) is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 21st largest English district by population. It is also the second largest city in the Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 316,900.
Historically within Warwickshire, Coventry is situated 95 miles (153 km) northwest of central London and 19 miles (31 km) east-southeast of Birmingham, and is further from the coast than any other city in Britain. Although harbouring a population of almost a third of a million inhabitants, Coventry is not amongst the English Core Cities Group due to its proximity to Birmingham.
Coventry was the world's first twin city when it formed a twinning relationship with the Russian city of Stalingrad (now Volgograd) during World War II. The relationship developed through ordinary people in Coventry who wanted to show their support for the Soviet Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad. The city is now also twinned with Dresden, Lidice and 23 other cities around the world.
Coventry Cathedral is one of the newer cathedral buildings, having been built after the destruction of the ancient cathedral by the Luftwaffe in November 1940. Coventry motor companies have contributed significantly to the British motor industry, and it has two universities, the city centre-based Coventry University and the University of Warwick on the southern outskirts.
Read more about Coventry: History, City Boundaries, Suburbs or Areas, Redevelopment, Twinning With Other Cities; "city of Peace and Reconciliation", Climate, Education, Venues, Sport, Economy, Transport, Waste Management, Local and National Government, Demographics, Closest Cities, Towns and Villages, Postcodes, Twin Cities, Accent, Honours, 2008 Bomb Scare