Coventry’s hidden gem, St Mary’s Guildhall, is one of the finest Guildhalls in the country. A rare survivor of the English Civil War and the Blitz, it has reopened as a visitor attraction following a £6 million programme of restoration.

With its rich history of partying, power and propaganda, St Mary’s Guildhall has acted as the centre of power in England during the War of the Roses, housed the crown jewels, been the prison of Mary Queen of Scots and hosted famous literary figures, such as George Eliot.

Located on Bayley Lane in Coventry city centre’s Cathedral quarter, St Mary’s Guildhall is now open seven days a week. Visitors of all ages can discover its many stories with brand new cutting-edge digital tours and augmented reality, where figures from the past come to life.

A Guildhall full of fascinating stories

Ruling the city: The ancient St Mary’s Guildhall survives the Second World War as an emblem of medieval Coventry’s resilience and rebirth.

Food and feasting: The Guildhall’s medieval kitchen became a soup kitchen to feed Coventry’s poor and destitute during great hardship in the 1800s.

Masters of the medieval era: The Guildhall’s Armoury room became the weapon store for the successful defence of the city following repeated royalist attacks.

Fit for royalty: Between 1569 and 1570, 27 year old Mary Queen of Scots was detained at St Mary’s Guildhall on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I ‘for her own protection’.

Accessibility

For everyone to enjoy St Mary’s Guildhall, there is a lift to the first floor and rising platform into the Muniment Room. There is a new spiral staircase to the 2nd floor and where access is not step free, 360 panoramic views of the rooms are available on the digital tour tablets.

There are toilet and baby changing facilities on the ground floor located opposite the Cloisters.
Please note we are currently operating a cashless environment and will only be accepting card payments.

*Please note due to unforeseen circumstances and private events, opening times may differ. Before traveling you are advised to check our ticket booking calendar to view availability.