West Midlands is a region and a metropolitan county in England’s west. The county includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton and the towns of Dudley, Solihull, Sandwell and Meriden. West Midlands county is located between Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire. In addition, the West Midlsnds region includes Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, Hereford, Stafford and Rugby.
Must See and Do Tourist Attractions in the West Midlands
Places of interest in the West Midlands:
- Coventry Cathedral
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
- Sea Life Centre in Birmingham
- Walsall Art Gallery
- Birmingham Hippodrome
- Dudley Zoo
- Dudley Castle
- Sarehole Mill
Family Days out in the West Midlands
The West Midlands Safari Park offers entertainment for both adults and children.In addition to its wildlife attractions, you can also enjoy a ride in its amusement area/ fair.
Cadbury World and the Redpoint Climbing Centre in Birmingham, Dudley Zoological Gardens, Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre and Croft Farm Leisure and Water Park are also great locations for kids.
Sport in the West Midlands
If you are searching for a location to spend your golf holidays, then the West Midlands will be ideal for you. Aston Wood Golf Club, The Alison Nicholas Golf Academy, Calderfields Golf Acedemy, Ansty Golf Centre, Brandon Wood Golf Course, Newbold Comyn Golf Course, Herefordshire Golf Academy, Bromsgrove Golf Centre, Gaudet-Luce Golf Club, Little Lakes Golf Club, Ombersley Golf Course, Sutton Park Golf, The Vale Golf Club and Ravenmeadow Golf Club are only a few of the numerous golf courses the West Midlands offer.
The county of West Midlands is home to several football clubs, such as the Aston Villa FC, West Bromwich Albion FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC or the Birmingham City FC. There is also a cricket club, a basketball team and a rugby football club.
Shopping in the West Midlands
Hatton Shopping Village, Royal Priors Shopping Centre, CrownGate Shopping Centre, Darwin & Pride Hill Shopping Centres, The Potteries Shopping Centre, Freeport Outlet Shopping Mall, Dudson Factory Outlet, The Parade Shopping Centre and the Reindeer Court Shopping Centre offer all conveniences you could wish for.
Nightlife in the West Midlands
Nightlife in the West Midlands consists of venues such as The Glee Club in Birmingham, Bar 87 in Coventry, numerous restaurants, pubs, theatres and cinemas to keep you entertained.
Transport in the West Midlands
The West midlands region is perfectly located as the motorway network (M5, M6, M1, M50, M54, M42, M40) cross the region.
Coventry Airport (CVT) and Birmingham Airport (BHX) serve the region with national and international flights.
Official Tourism Office for the West Midlands – www.visitengland.com/places-to-visit/central-england-and-midlands
West Midlands Tourist Attractions
If you are planning a holiday in the West Midland then here is a list of popular tourist attracion which are great for family days out in the school holidays.
Cadbury World, Birmingham
Love Chocolate? Indulge your senses at Cadbury World, Birmingham’s very own chocolate paradise and a unique adventure into the world of chocolate. One of the main attractions in the West Midlands, Cadbury World attracts over 500,000 visitors from all over the UK and beyond every year.
Discover how from humble beginnings in a shop in Birmingham the Cadbury brothers created a chocolate empire that now has factories around the world. Learn the history of chocolate, how cocoa beans are grown and how they came to be imported to Europe and made into the chocolate that we know today. How has chocolate changed over the years? And what made Cadbury’s so successful?
There is an excellent factory shop where visitors can purchase a wide range of Cadbury products at factory prices and of course the famous tour of the factory. Special features include a 3D video story and an interactive theatre which deals not only with chocolate, its manufacture and its advertising but also provides an insight into the Cadbury family who created the UK’s favourite chocolate produce.
Address: Cadbury World, Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham, West Midlands B30 2LU
Official Website: www.cadburyworld.co.uk
Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield
Opened in 1975 and located in Sutton Coldfield, just 1 mile away from the Marston Farm Hotel, the Kingsbury Water Park continues to expand and sits on a massive site of 620 acres with 15 lakes. Warwickshire’s premier waterside attraction, 2007 saw 350,000 visitors at Kingsbury Water Park and no wonder as there is just so much to do here!
Stroll along the flat surfaced paths, explore hidden corners, spot birds and wildlife, hire a bike, join an organised event or host your own event. Whatever your idea of a countryside visit is, you will find it at Kingsbury. From cycling on the miles of surfaced paths around the park, bird and wildlife spotting, guided walks and the miniature railway, there is something for everyone.
Of course there are many water related activities to enjoy as well, such as sailing, power boating, jet biking, model boating and fishing. The Old Barn Coffee Shop and café provides refreshments, the Information Centre is there for all enquires and there is a Gift shop for souvenirs. There are disabled facilities with three mobility scooters for hire.
Address: Bodymoor Heath, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 0DY
Birmingham NEC
The Birmingham NEC is the busiest exhibition centre in Europe, staging more than 180 exhibitions and accommodating up to four million visitors each year. Ever since it opened in February 1976, Birmingham NEC has held popular exhibitions and even music concerts.
The first event to be staged at the venue in 1976 was the International Spring Fair which has returned every year since.
The Birmingham NEC hosts exhibitions ranging from world famous public shows to international trade shows, some of which are listed below.
Brook Hotels offer several hotels near Birmingham NEC, these are the Marston Farm Hotel and Honiley Court Hotel, both only 10 miles away. These are both superb choices for a Birmingham NEC hotel, as are far enough away in the tranquil Warwickshire countryside to avoid the congestion around the Birmingham area yet near enough to reach Birmingham NEC easily.
Golf at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield
Situated in Wishaw, Warwickshire – just 10 minutes north of the Birmingham NEC, The Belfry is the one of the world’s most famous golfing destinations and is the adopted home of the Ryder Cup. The UK headquarters of the PGA, its two superb Championship golf courses sit within 550 acres of picturesque North Warwickshire countryside, and have provided some of the most dramatic moments in golfing history. With three courses in total, play the internationally recognised Brabazon – home of the Quinn Insurance British Masters, the PGA National course – England’s only PGA course, or for players of all levels, the shorter and more relaxed course The Derby. Or why not play all three, and even enjoy a game on the mini 18 hole Brabazon Putting course.
Want to improve your game? The highly trained, handpicked team of over 20 PGA qualified Golf Professionals offer world-class golf tuition, practice facilities and custom fitting of clubs and equipment. Led by Golf Monthly ‘top 25 coach’ Gary Alliss, they are continually developing the level of tuition by training with the biggest names in golf. A 34 bay floodlit driving range is housed within the PGA National Golf Academy, and other state of the art facilities include a Nike Golf shop and Custom Fitting suite, Video analysis and launch monitor technology and a short game practice area. Golf society packages are for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 32 golfers. Just 2 miles away from the Marston Farm Hotel, for the ultimate golfing experience come to The Belfry.
The Brabazon
The majestic fairways and carpet-smooth greens of The Brabazon, the world-famous 7196 yard course are where some of golf’s most exhilarating dramas have played out over the years. This is your chance to create some of your very own! The spiritual home of the Ryder Cup, the bunkers and lakes have tested some of the greatest players including Ballesteros, Woods and Faldo and you too can experience this challenging course.
- Par 72 Yardage – 7196
- Handicap requirements: Gents 24, Ladies and Juniors: 32
PGA National
The only PGA branded course in England, the PGA National championship golf course offers a unique challenge and is a must for golfers who enjoy the creativity and shot making required for links golf. The harder and faster running fairways, quicker, wide open undulating greens, more severe run-offs and its deep bunkers, all combine for a thrilling golfing experience. Fast becoming one of the top courses in the country, The PGA National is recognised by the PGA as a world class tournament course and has hosted two European Tour Events.
- Par 72 Yardage – 7053
- Handicap requirements: Gents 24, Ladies and Juniors 32
The Derby
The Derby 6057 yard parkland designed golf course offers golfers a true test of skill with strategic placed bunkers, several water hazards and well designed risk and reward holes. The course demands accuracy right from the 1st tee, a good selection of clubs and intelligent play to have a good round. With cheaper round prices than the other courses, the Derby is also perfect for players of all levels with no handicap required.
- Par 69 Yardage – 6057.
Address: The Belfry, Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 9PR
Official Website: www.thebelfry.co.uk
