Hidden Britain AtlasOpen the map
All places › Legends
Legend

Lady Godiva

Coventry, West Midlands

A noblewoman who rode naked through the streets to cut the people's taxes.

Lady Godiva was a real Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, married to Leofric, Earl of Mercia. Legend says she begged him to lower the heavy taxes on the people of Coventry.

Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.

Open Lady Godiva on the mapReport a sighting here
When
About 1040s
Where
52.4080, -1.5100
Group
Legends

Visiting

Her statue stands in Broadgate. A clock in the city centre shows Godiva and Peeping Tom.

Nearby mysteries