With its superb arts, culture, music festivals and events you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can enjoy fishing on crystalline lakes and streams, hiking and cycling on the many local footpaths, or visit the awesome castles that are bursting with ancient tales. Soak up the history as you wander through Medieval, Elizabethan and little picture-post-card market towns, visit one of the great fortresses of Europe and see the birthplace and home of the greatest English writer of all time, William Shakespeare. Perhaps you would like to tee off at one of the numerous golf courses, the perfect stress beater where you can get away from it all. You’ll find charming hospitality in the cosy bed and breakfast in the West Midlands area excellent.
The south of the West Midlands offers unspoilt countryside, historic market towns of distinctive character and a wealth of varied landscapes, Worcestershire and Herefordshire boast superb activities and attractions with gently rolling hills, gorges and valleys sweeping from the creamy limestone of the Cotswolds to the peace and tranquillity of the unspoilt countryside with interesting towns, pretty villages and hamlets. Worcestershire is blessed with glorious Tudor and Elizabethan architectural heritage and the city of Worcester, widely credited with the origin of 'Worcestershire Sauce' since the early 1800's, and is also home of the famous fine porcelain, ‘Royal Worcester’ and one of the oldest Cathedrals in the country You’ll find unique quality attractions, and locations such as the spa town of Malvern and its outstanding natural beauty, famous worldwide for the 'Malvern Hills' mineral water, its highest peak being the 'Worcester Beacon' that provide awe-inspiring views of the valleys and beyond.
Enjoy the delights of the picturesque and ancient market town of Hereford, idyllically situated on the River Wye and celebrated for its beautiful cathedral established in the 7th century standing gracefully on the peaceful river’s bank since Saxon times. The Cathedral houses the world famous Mappa Mundi, a unique map of the world that was drawn up around 1300 and also the renowned Chained Library. Marvel at the impressive Eastnor Castle, a wonderful Victorian creation in the Gothic style by Sir Robert Smirke built between 1810 and 1816. The City is also famous for its books, cider, hops and salmon fishing, it is also an area providing a wealth of attractions including the medieval bridge over the Wye where you can relish and admire Wye Valley’s spectacular vistas. Apart from fishing, both kayaking and canoeing are popular summertime activities on the river. Enjoy the many museums and arts centres, and although rather hilly, cycling is without doubt one of the best ways to see the surrounding countryside. The famous British Special Forces known as the SAS are based in Hereford renowned as well for its white-faced cattle, the Herefordshire Bull.
Warwickshire, in the heart of England, is one of the most popular and most visited counties in the country. The twin cathedrals city of Coventry, which is also home to the legend of Lady Godiva, offers green parks and attractive city squares, beautiful gardens, woodland with rich native flora, bird watching and you’ll find a wide range of lakes and rivers suitable for coarse fishing. Other popular activities include canal boats cruises and you can elect taking up leisurely strolls along the interesting and longest waterside art gallery in Britain. There are many historic houses to visit together with a variety of castles, museums and stately homes. Coventry organises great summer festivals and provides good shopping and is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding countryside rich in heritage and culture. Not too far is the Butterfly farm and whatever the weather, you can hike through the wonderful world of an exotic rainforest, a lush landscape of tropical blossoms surrounding splashing waterfalls and fish filled pools, or for something totally different, visit the interesting Teddy Bear Museum where you’ll find hundreds of the cuddly toys from all over the world displayed in a house once owned by Henry VIII. Enjoy a stay in one of the wonderful and charming bed and breakfast in the West Midlands area quite rightly noted for its good value for money.
A must visit is the awesome Warwick Castle, a splendid and dramatic fortress built on a hill-top and rising majestically from the banks of the River Avon on a site first fortified by William the Conqueror in 1068, with its magnificent towers and ramparts, the chilling dungeon and torture chamber contrast with the elegant splendour of the State Rooms, baronial Great Hall and 'Royal Weekend Party' attractions, simply bursting with tales of treachery and torture, passion and power or visit the eerie Ghost Tower and the grounds include a beautiful conservatory, peacock garden and Victorian Rose garden to explore. A few miles away in a beautiful setting is the wonderful medieval riverside town of Stratford Upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare with its fine Elizabethan houses and intriguing shops set on the banks of the river Avon, arguably one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK as it is a true literary shrine to Britain’s greatest dramatist. You’ll be surrounded by memories of the great writer, you can see the lovingly restored house where he was born in 1564, while in Stratford take a short drive to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, visit Holy Trinity Church, one of England’s most beautiful parish churches where Shakespeare is buried, but no visit would be complete without taking in an evening at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Restaurants and bars opening late into the night are dotted along the town’s river and canal; there are horse drawn carriage tours to take you around the pretty streets. A short drive away you’ll find The Heritage Motor Centre, the largest purpose-designed road transport museum in the UK which houses the world's biggest collection of vintage British cars.
An interesting attraction is the historic museums such as the Black Country Museum at Dudley and Walsall Leather Museum. Walsall is also famous for its illuminations during the autumn each year and is one of the region’s most popular attractions. Shrewsbury, in the county town of Shropshire, the birthplace of Charles Darwin, it has a lot to offer with well over 600 listed buildings to admire and explore. You can browse the speciality shops, or follow in the footsteps of Brother Cadfael, the fictional Benedictine Monk featured in detective stories set in and around the town; this region also has a rich diversity of landscapes and attractions adjoining the scenic Welsh borders. Explore the ancient and magnificent Shrewsbury Abbey, ranked second only to Canterbury as a favourite destination for pilgrims. Discover the wealth of outdoor pursuits and International events, shopping and nightlife in and around Birmingham UK’s second largest city. Birmingham’s Cadbury World, for chocoholics is fun; go on a magical tour into Cadbury Land, where you’ll meet Dudley Sidebottom and his friends bouncy Buttons, Fudge and the rest of the chocolate gang. There are about 140 museums and art galleries throughout the region, including the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a diverse selection of restaurants with food from all corners of the globe.
In the Northern parts of the West Midlands lies amid soft rolling fields and wooded valleys the county of Staffordshire. The picturesque county town of Stoke-on-Trent known as 'The Potteries' is arguably the pottery capital of the world that provides something for everyone from fine porcelain such as Wedgewood, Minton, Spode and Royal Doulton to historic stately homes and ancient castles to beautiful gardens and exciting theme parks. An unusual attraction is the nearby Lichfield Cathedral, the only medieval English Cathedral with three spires.
The charming county of Shropshire with its gently rolling countryside and tree-lined streams, abrupt hills, bustling market towns, historic mansions and pretty little villages and quiet, hidden valleys attracts many visitor. A remarkable spectacular and beautiful destination is the famous World Heritage site of Ironbridge Gorge, with a rich tapestry of stately homes spread along the banks of the River Severn, ancient roman ruins, castles, abbeys, churches, beautiful parks, waterfalls and gardens. Ironbridge, the world's first bridge constructed of iron, had a considerable influence on technological advances in architecture and civil engineering in particular. Ironbridge Gorge Museum is known throughout the world as the symbol of the Industrial Revolution. Also in Shropshire is the interesting town of Telford, surrounded by tall glossy buildings, it has the biggest and best shopping centre in all of shop-alcoholic Shropshire. Children are well catered for with the 450-acre Telford Town Park, which includes Wonderland where nursery rhymes and fairy stories come to life. Other attractions are the Telford Ski Centre and nearby Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom. As a great destination for a weekend getaway or vacation for all the family, staying in a bed and breakfast in the West Midlands area will certainly provide fun and enjoyment to all.
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