Back to school – three words to strike equal amounts of delight and fear for many. It’s great that the household is getting back into a routine and ‘normality’ but it does also mean that summer is over (even if the weather is pretending otherwise).
The good news is that preparing for the kids to go back to school can be done in a day in Coventry City Centre. We’ve put together a route to cover the shops to tackle that back to school shopping list. To make a shopping trip successful, you need to stay hydrated and wear comfy shoes!
We would encourage you to take public transport to the centre and the bus stop in Well Street is a popular spot for a lot of routes and a good point to get off. If you’re driving, try the Belgrade Plaza NCP at Ringway Hill Cross, and if you park before 9.30am it’s just £3.30 for the entire day.
Start at Cat Ballou in The Burges – they are the school uniform specialists of Coventry. They also do school branded items like bookbags, PE bags and jackets. It’s great to get those essential school specific items bought early.
Next, head south (there’s a Greggs if you haven’t had breakfast!) and you’ll find Deichmann Shoes on Broadgate who stock a wide range of kids school shoes and trainers. There’s a Claire’s Accessories next door too, for hair bands etc.
Walk along Hertford Street and you will be able to get your first fix for stationary needs with both Rymans and The Works offering a great selection of books, pens, pencils and pencil case essentials.
Head back along to Upper Precinct and by the Fountain there’s a Waterstones for any required reading text books. Head into Lower Precinct for Clarks, the classic school shoe store.
Next to Clarks is Tiger (or Flying Tiger Copenhagen, for their full name) – a slightly quirky collection of home items, gifts, crafts and things you didn’t know you “needed” – it really is a fun stop, and with a wide range of stationery items it’s a good excuse to stock up pencil cases.
Smiggle, another stationery store is on Lower Precinct, along with Bags R Us – a great place for school bags.
If it’s about lunchtime, there are loads of places to stop for lunch including Pizza Hut, Caffe Nero, Red Panda, Falafel Corner… whatever you fancy, you’ll find it nearby!
At the Fountain again, you could head south for Sports Direct, great for sports kits, swim kits, socks and football boots, and other sports equipment. JD Sports is also near the Fountain for another variety of sports kits.
On the corner of Smithford Way you’ll find Marks & Spencer – their uniform basics are highly rated for quality. Within West Orchard there is also a WH Smith (every kid needs a maths set and calculator!) and Debenhams for any outstanding clothing items, lunch bags and water bottles.
Just outside Debenhams within West Orchard Shopping Centre you will find Supercuts – get their hair school ready, with reasonable prices.
And finally on Corporation Street, the shoe emporium Charles Ager awaits.
You’ll have bought everything the kids need to go back to school – and be almost back to your starting point!