Visiting the Borough
Our market towns
Visitors to Nuneaton and Bedworth are always made welcome in these family friendly towns and can quickly see the rich variety and unexpected delights of both towns.
Both are included in the Domesday Book and have a rich history. Nuneaton's present shape was influenced by the Priory, which also brought a name change from Eaton to Nuneaton. Bedworth originally was a small farming community but, like Nuneaton, grew as coal, clay and granite were extracted for the industrial growth of the Midlands in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Nuneaton has evolved into a major retail centre with a new covered and completely pedestrianised shopping centre, Ropewalk. It features lots of new retail outlets including many major retailers, with restaurants and cafés and an integrated multi-storey car park.
Nuneaton's 13th century street market takes over most of the town on market days, creating a vibrant, friendly and bustling feel to the town. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday.
Both towns were ribbon-weaving centres and they both suffered as that industry declined. Engineering and mining sustained both towns in the last century, along with some textile and hat production.
Our central position on the motorway network has ensured more recent prosperity, with new businesses investing in the towns and surrounding areas.
The visitor now sees towns with modern shops and shopping malls, plentiful car parking, town centre CCTV, a shopmobility scheme, and delightful open spaces and award winning parks.
Bedworth has a colourful covered market hall with the feel of an outdoor market. It opens on Tuesday mornings, and all day on Fridays and Saturdays. There are opportunities to take refreshments in the market hall and absorb the bustle of the market but feel relaxed.
Highlights of the year include Nuneaton's colourful carnival, which passes through the town centre and both towns have entertaining, fun filled Christmas light switch-on.
Nuneaton has some fine late Victorian buildings in its attractive, friendly town centre. Bedworth has the breathtaking 1840 Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses in its town centre. The Civic Hall in Bedworth welcomes artists from all over the world and is a leading centre of entertainment for people of all ages.
