Stays near Ball Hill and Gosford Green, Coventry

Ball Hill is a locality within Stoke, east of Coventry city centre, with Walsgrave Road as its main street. The name is usually given to the shops along Walsgrave Road from the top of the hill east to the junction with Clay Lane and Brays Lane. It probably comes from the Old Ball Hotel, still standing at the top of the hill; before the early twentieth century the hill was called Stoke Knob and was mostly houses.

Walsgrave Road is a major route from the city towards Leicester. Leaving the centre, it passes Gosford Green about half a mile out and reaches Ball Hill a little over 200 yards further on. The Victoria County History describes Stoke Green as an extension of Gosford Green, with Walsgrave Road heading north-east and Binley Road east towards Rugby.

Gosford Green has a long history. The duel between Henry Bolingbroke (the future Henry IV) and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, is linked with this edge of the city. The green was also the first choice for the junction of the Coventry and Oxford canals before the plan moved to Longford.

Music is the modern draw. The Coventry Music Museum and the 2-Tone Village are both on Walsgrave Road, celebrating the city's ska and 2 Tone records of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Stoke Lodge and Stoke House are under a mile by road from Ball Hill, Sullivan Heights about 2 miles and Humber Hub about 2 miles. Humber Hub is about a mile from Gosford Green. Coventry University is about a mile from Humber Hub, so the area also suits families visiting students.