# Nuneaton

Nuneaton is the largest town in Warwickshire, with a population in 2021 of 89,000. It was heavily bombed in the Second World War and rebuilt in typically unsympathetic post-war style. Its best-known landmark is Mount Judd (aka the "Nuneaton Nipple"), a 518-foot spoil heap.

## 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".

## Get in

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

* 52.5264-1.46361 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

* 52.5202-1.466061 Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery, Coton Road, Riversley Park, Nuneaton, CV11 5TU, ☏ +44 24 7635-0720, museums@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk. Permanent displays related to George Eliot and local history. Temporary and touring exhibitions. (updated May 2016)

## Do

* 52.52294-1.47511 The Abbey Theatre, Pool Bank St, CV11 5DB. Theatre seating 248, opened in 1969, mainly run by volunteers. (updated May 2016)
* 52.5154-1.46272 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

* 52.5218-1.46951 Ropewalk Shopping Centre, Chapel St, CV11 5TZ, ☏ +44 24 7664-1714, ropewalk@key-lime.co.uk. 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

* 52.523826-1.4702431 $^{[deadlink]}$ Crossed Khukris Gurkha Restaurant, 115 Abbey St, CV11 5BX, ☏ +44 24 7634-4488. (updated Oct 2017)

## Drink

* 52.52297-1.469221 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

* 52.49694-1.476741 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)

## Connect

As of May 2024, Nuneaton and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from EE, O2 and Three.

## Go next

* Coventry