The River Sherbourne is a small urban river flowing approximately 8 miles (13 km) through the city of Coventry in the West Midlands, England. Its name derives from the Old English Scir Burna, meaning "clear stream" — a fitting origin for a waterway that, despite its urban setting, continues to support a surprisingly diverse range of aquatic life. Rising from fields near Hawkes End in the parish of Allesley, the river flows in a generally southeastern direction before joining the River Sowe near Baginton. The Sherbourne is a modest, intimate waterway — more of a small stream than a large river in many stretches — and its character shifts considerably from its rural headwaters to its more urbanized lower reaches. Ongoing restoration work by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and Coventry City Council is steadily improving the river's ecological health, making it an increasingly interesting destination for anglers and naturalists alike.